Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks
The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are a collection of protected areas in Orange County, California in and around Irvine. They encompass almost of land which was once a part of the Irvine Ranch owned by the Irvine Company. Almost of the landmarks were designated a National Natural Landmark in 2006 and a California Natural Landmark in 2008.
Irvine Ranch contains a remarkably complete stratigraphic succession ranging in age from late Cretaceous to the present. The primary biological features at the site include coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities, including rare Tecate cypress woodlands.
History
The Irvine Ranch started out as a cattle ranch in the 1860s. By the late 1970s the cattle business had been sold.Natural landmarks
- Big Canyon
- Black Star Canyon
- Bommer Canyon
- Buck Gully
- Coal Canyon Ecological Reserve
- Crystal Cove State Park
- Fremont Canyon Wilderness Area
- Irvine Lake
- Irvine Regional Park
- Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
- Limestone Canyon Regional Park
- Mountains to Sea Trail
- Orchard Hills Park and Trail
- Peters Canyon Regional Park
- Quail Hill
- San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary
- Upper Newport Bay
- William R. Mason Regional Park
- Weir Canyon Wilderness Area