A Guided Walk in West Coyote Hills

Immerse yourself in the beauty of North Orange County's newest nature preserve. Explore the rare coastal sage habitat of West Coyote Hills, one that is only found in the terraces and foothills of southern California and northwestern Mexico.

Learn about the biodiversity of West Coyote Hills, including the threatened California gnatcatcher, the preserve's most famous resident, and why this nature preserve is so important to its survival.

✦ Special Bee Talk — May 9, 2026 Only 🐝✦

Discover one of West Coyote Hills' most fascinating residents — the Diadasia australis. If you've strolled the trails in past springs, you may have spotted the telltale pencil-sized holes it digs in the earth. Join UCI bee expert Kristal Watrous to learn all about this ground-nesting solitary bee native to Southern California.

Come see these remarkable bees in action and learn why they play a vital role in the local coastal sage scrub ecosystem. It's a rare opportunity to get an up-close look at the hidden life buzzing beneath your feet!

✦

Discover the inspiring story of how a local grassroots group successfully fought to conserve this vital green space for the over two million residents of park-poor areas in South Los Angeles and North Orange County.

This is a naturalist-guided nature walk. It is rated easy to moderately strenuous but with plenty of stops to discuss points of interest. The total roundtrip distance is about 3 miles with a total vertical ascent of about100 feet.

Comfortable shoes, a hat, sunglasses, water, snacks, and sunscreen are recommended. If you have binoculars, bring them to get a closer glimpse of birds. Most of the walk will be on wide dirt trails. Children must be accompanied by adults.

*Please click on this link for directions to the meeting location. A bus stop is steps away if you want to use public transportation.