Upper Newport Bay Reserve

   I like to explore the trails of Upper Newport Bay Preserve and Ecological Reserve, both with my camera to capture bird sightings and a journal to take field notes. There’s nothing like fresh scenery to add a little spring to your step and pull time off your mile.

    Several hundred visitors a year walk or cycle along the edge of Upper Newport Bay. But very few hike the trails on the west side of the bay. Upper Newport Bay preserves the bluffs surrounding the bay & offers the hiker a special vantage point for observing one of the most pristine of Southern California’s wetland estuaries.

  The bluffs look down on birds that gather here in large numbers—more than 35,000. The estuary is home to nearly 200 species of birds, including several endangered ones such as the Savannah sparrow; almost exclusively a marsh sparrow that cannot thrive in any other habitats. Three uncommon bird species have spotted by the bluffs, including the burrowing owl, San Diego cactus wren and the California gnatcatcher.

The reserve is a home to a broad spectrum of avian life. 

     Waterfowls in shallow sand consists of Dowitchers, Gray Willets, Marbled Godwits and Long-billed Curlews. The still waters of the bay also harbored, among other birds, Forester's Terns, Western Gulls, Brown Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants,Pied-billed Grebes, American Coots, Snowy, Great, Blue herons and Great egrets.


   The duck mix is heavy on - Mallard & American Wigeon  but also  includes Northern Pintail & Ruddy Duck. The raptors are hourly visitors, hovering over the patches of salt grass looking for a delightful snack or meal. They are mostly harriers, vultures, red-tailed hawks, and unmistakable Osprey who is an exclusive fish eater. 

  While the bay nourishes salt water marsh and wetland habitats, the adjacent slopes powered by abundant sunlight lets sage scrub and chaparral flourish. Mash plants are the common ones of any coastal wetland; plants such as Pickle weed, Bull rush, Salt grass, Salt wort and Crystalline ice plant etc.

  However, if one does not want to miss out on the ever green and lush riparian woodland, he or she must find the way to big canyon. Big canyon has it all; Western sycamores, Cottonwoods, Black and Narrow-Leafed willows, Laurel sumacs, White alders, Giant reed and Mule fat. 

The gentle slopes nearby the big canyon trail have scattered patches of Coast prickly pears, Spiny rush, Coast sunflower and California rose. 

   An ecosystem as exquisite as the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve and Ecological Reserve demands repeated visits. This is a big deal, considering both the outstanding avifauna this part of California can deliver as well as the other superlative habitats along the stretch of this Bay. Below you will find the   Map of the trail and driving directions. Best time to hike this breathtaking portion of california coast is as early as dawn and stay till dusk to experience ecosystem's diverse forms throughout the day. 

Directions to Trailhead:

From the San Diego Freeway (405) Northbound, take the Jamboree exit and turn Left. Drive a few miles and turn Left again on San Joaquin Hills Rd which will end at the back bay drive. Parking is free along the back bay street. Back bay expands on both sides of the bay edge. Follow the map!


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