Directions to UCI Ecological Preserve

I’ve gotten so used to finding pretty much everything with either Wikipedia or Google, that sometimes I’m a little shocked when there’s something I can’t find. On Friday I found myself trying to puzzle out the exact location of the UCI Ecological Preserve, allegedly one of the best sites to find Cactus Wrens in Orange County. It’s also a good picture of just what most of Irvine would look like if it hadn’t been irrigated and suburbanized beyond all recognition.

I was able to establish that the preserve was probably on the main campus, and not a remote site, but nothing I found anywhere said more than that; and I’ve been told that UCI has the second largest campus in the U.S. Only Stanford’s is larger. However after looking at Google Maps satellite pictures, I did manage to narrow it down to only a couple of possible undeveloped locations. And with a little on-site reconnaissance I found it. So here’s how you get there:

If you’re on foot, go out the south end of Aldrich park past the Parkview Classroom Building and along the west edge of Parking Lot 12. Cross East Peltason and enter on the northeast corner of the preserve. (Pedestrians only. No dogs, horses, or mountain bikes, please.) This time of year be ready for mud. All times be ready for cactus. I suggest boots and heavy jeans.

If you’re driving, you’d like to park in Parking Lot 12, but you can’t unless you’re faculty. Instead, turn onto Los Trancos Drive from East Peltason. Park at a small park where Vista Bonita Drive meets Los Trancos, and walk in. Here’s a map:

There you are!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 AM and is filed under Birding. You can follow any responses to this entry through the Atom feed. You can skip to the end and make a comment. Pinging is currently not allowed.