For more than a century, Irvine Ranch cowboys were the only ones to roam scenic Limestone Canyon, one of the wildest lands remaining in Orange County. Now, hikers can experience what is now known as Limestone Canyon Reserve by taking a guided hike.

Limestone Canyon, located in southeastern Orange County, borders Cleveland National Forest and Whiting Wilderness Park. The 5,000-acre reserve encompasses coastal sage scrub, chaparral and grassland communities, as well as oak and sycamore woodlands and even fern-surrounded dripping springs.

Limestone Canyon’s name came from the cement-making operation of early Santiago Canyon settler Samuel Shrewsbury. Limestone rock was melted, hammered into a powder, then mixed with sand and used as mortar.

Currently, public access includes The Nature Conservancy-led tours oriented to specific user groups, including hikers, cyclists and equestrians, as well as to kids, artists, and bird-watchers. Once a month, Limestone Canyon is open to the public. Call the Irvine Ranch at (714) 508-4757 or check the hike schedule at www.irvineranchwildlands.org 

The hiking in Limestone Canyon ranges in distance from a 2.5 mile out-and-back to an overlook of The Sinks to a 15-mile loop. Depending on the hike, guides offer a range of nature interpretation from a little to a lot.

The 10-mile Limestone Canyon & Loma Ridge hike takes in a lot of the reserve and gets high on the ridgelines for spectacular views of Orange County. The 6-mile round trip jaunt to Dripping Springs is a particularly fine hike as is the 6-mile hike to Bolero Spring via “Hangman’s Tree” Canyon.