Visitation and exploration of The Nature Reserve is managed by The Reserve Connection. The Reserve Connection is a public 501(c) (3) non-profit, that serves to provide opportunities to the community to visit and enjoy The Nature Reserve. Through the many hikes, walks, astronomy programs, family events, and volunteer opportunities offered, visitors can discover and learn about the importance of the habitat reserve.
Upcoming Events
NAN
99
public
Aug|2|2025-08-02
FOR PUBLIC
Tuesday Afternoon Open Access on Chiquita Ridge
Free |All Ages (recommended 10+) | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00PM - 5:00PM
NAN
99
residents
Aug|5|2025-08-05
NAN
99
volunteer
Aug|7|2025-08-07
FOR PUBLIC
Tuesday Afternoon Open Access on Chiquita Ridge
Free |All Ages (recommended 10+) | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00PM - 5:00PM
NAN
99
residents
Aug|12|2025-08-12
NAN
99
residents
Aug|16|2025-08-16
FOR PUBLIC
Tuesday Afternoon Open Access on Chiquita Ridge
Free |All Ages (recommended 10+) | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00PM - 5:00PM
NAN
99
residents
Aug|19|2025-08-19
FOR PUBLIC
Sycamore Loop and Shady Canyon Hike
$5-$10, Free/Supporter | 8 and up | Easy-Moderate
8:00AM - 10:00AM
NAN
99
public
Aug|23|2025-08-23
NAN
99
residents
Aug|24|2025-08-24
FOR PUBLIC
Tuesday Evening Open Access on Chiquita Ridge
Free |All Ages (recommended 10+) | Moderate-Strenuous
5:00PM - 8:00PM
NAN
99
residents
Aug|26|2025-08-26
FOR PUBLIC
Tuesday Afternoon Open Access on Chiquita Ridge
Free |All Ages (recommended 10+) | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00PM - 5:00PM
NAN
99
residents
Sep|2|2025-09-02
FOR PUBLIC
Presentation: Tarantulas and Other Many-Legged Critters of the Night
Free | 8 and up | Indoor Event
7:00PM - 8:30PM
NAN
99
public
Sep|4|2025-09-04
NAN
99
volunteer
Sep|6|2025-09-06
FOR PUBLIC
Tarantulas and Other Many-legged Critters of the Night Walk
$5-$10, Free/Supporter | 8 and up | Easy
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
NAN
99
public
Sep|6|2025-09-06
NAN
99
residents
Sep|7|2025-09-07
FOR PUBLIC
Tuesday Afternoon Open Access on Chiquita Ridge
Free |All Ages (recommended 10+) | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00PM - 5:00PM
NAN
99
residents
Sep|9|2025-09-09
FOR PUBLIC
Tuesday Afternoon Open Access on Chiquita Ridge
Free |All Ages (recommended 10+) | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00PM - 5:00PM
NAN
99
residents
Sep|16|2025-09-16
NAN
99
public
Sep|18|2025-09-18
FOR PUBLIC
Knee-High Naturalists: Goodnight, Nature Reserve
Free | Ages 2 - 5 (with adult) | Easy - Moderate
9:30AM - 10:30AM
NAN
99
residents
Sep|21|2025-09-21
FOR PUBLIC
Tuesday Afternoon Open Access on Chiquita Ridge
Free |All Ages (recommended 10+) | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00PM - 5:00PM
NAN
99
residents
Sep|23|2025-09-23
NAN
99
public
Sep|27|2025-09-27
FOR PUBLIC
Tuesday Afternoon Open Access on Chiquita Ridge
Free |All Ages (recommended 10+) | Moderate-Strenuous
2:00PM - 5:00PM
NAN
99
residents
Sep|30|2025-09-30
FOR PUBLIC
Turkey Trot on the Ranch
$10 - $40 (Early-bird Pricing)| All Ages | 10K, 5K, & 1K
8:00AM - 10:30AM (Race start times vary.)
NAN
99
public
Nov|27|2025-11-27
Rancho Mission Viejo Resident Only Events:
- Some events are exclusively for residents of Rancho Mission Viejo.
- Registration for these events require proof of a current address in Rancho Mission Viejo.
All Events Specify A Minimum Age For Participation:
- Six (6) is the minimum age for most Nature Reserve programs.
- Refer to specific event listing for details.
- Be sure to review our policies.
Pre-Registration Required For All Programs:
- Contact us for large groups or to arrange a special group outing.
- Your registration enables us to contact you about program changes or cancellations. Please see our policy on Cancellations and Refunds.
- All visitors to The Nature Reserve must present a signed release waiver upon entry to the property. Families may submit a single form, as long as all entrants are identified on the form. Waivers are also available at the event.
Enjoy an evening outdoors, as you gaze into the night sky, learn the constellations, and peer through the telescopes of our guest astronomers. The Nature Reserve astronomers are all volunteers who enthusiastically share their telescopes and expert sky knowledge with you. (What to bring: warm clothing, flashlight with red cellophane/lens to reduce light pollution, binoculars, optional beach chair.)
Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 8 and up
WHEN
August 2, 2025, 8:30PM - 10:30PM
WHERE
The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy
This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Trail Length: 2.2 miles (one way)
Ages: Recommended 10 and up
Open Access events are for Rancho Mission Viejo residents only
show moreWHEN
August 5, 2025, 2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE
Chiquita Ridge
Help out your community by becoming a South Orange County Fire Watch volunteer!
Offered only once a year, this training is the first step to join our fire watch team. The session will focus on: understanding basic fire behavior, identifying signs of wildfire, dealing with suspect behavior, providing useful fire information, and contacting proper fire authorities.
Ages: 18 and up
show moreWHEN
August 7, 2025, 6:00PM - 8:00PM
WHERE
Ladera Ranch Fire Station 58 (58 Station Way, Ladera Ranch)
This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Trail Length: 2.2 miles (one way)
Ages: Recommended 10 and up
Open Access events are for Rancho Mission Viejo residents only.
show moreWHEN
August 12, 2025, 2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE
Chiquita Ridge
Saddle up for Home on The Ranch, a family-friendly celebration of Rancho Mission Viejo's rich heritage, history, and agricultural roots! Enjoy mouthwatering BBQ from Bad to the Bone, fresh locally grown tastings from RMV Farms, roping demos, campfire stories and animal visits with The Nature Reserve, leather craft, lawn games, and more. Connect with your community under the open sky in true ranch-style spirit.
Tickets are just $15 per person and required for entry. Spaces are limited!
Click Register button to visit the RanchLife Portal for more information!
View Home on the Ranch flyer HERE.
show more
WHEN
August 16, 2025, 6:00PM - 8:00PM
WHERE
Ranch Camp, Rienda
Rancho Mission Viejo
This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Trail Length: 2.2 miles (one way)
Ages: Recommended 10 and up
Open Access events are for Rancho Mission Viejo residents only.
show moreWHEN
August 19, 2025, 2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE
Chiquita Ridge
This single track trail follows along hillsides of grassland, coastal sage scrub and oak woodland. Enjoy this two-mile hike out along our Sycamore Loop Trail and back along Shady Canyon.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Easy-moderate. 2 miles, loop.
Ages: 8 and up
Please note: participants must be registered or on the wait list by 4:00 pm on Friday, August 22.
show moreWHEN
August 23, 2025, 8:00AM - 10:00AM
WHERE
Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy
Coyote, rabbit, bobcat, deer...who is that walking near? Look for animal footprints on the trail and learn to identify tracks of our most common local animals. Make and take your own animal track craft.
Interpretation Level: Medium
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: All
All attendees must be registered or on the wait list on or before Friday, August 22 at 4:00PM.
show moreWHEN
August 24, 2025, 9:00AM - 10:30AM
WHERE
Nature Reserve Headquarters
33101 Ortega Hwy
This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Trail Length: 2.2 miles (one way)
Ages: All (recommended 10 and up)
A little more about Open Access Events...
Open access events are exclusively for Rancho Mission Viejo residents. Open Access events are non-guided events on The Nature Reserve trails, which are otherwise protected by locked gates. These events are your chance to explore on your own time and at your own pace. During the event time, participants have open access to designated trails.
Trail maps and safety information is provided during check-in. Staff and volunteers are available during the event, on the trail, and at start and end points. Participants must exit by the event end time, regardless of arrival time.
Open Access events are perfect for family groups, solo hikers, non-professional photographers, nature journalists, trail runners, or anyone that likes to spend time in nature at your own speed.
show moreWHEN
August 26, 2025, 5:00PM - 8:00PM
WHERE
Chiquita Ridge
This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Trail Length: 2.2 miles (one way)
Ages: Recommended 10 and up
Open Access events are for Rancho Mission Viejo residents only
show moreWHEN
September 2, 2025, 2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE
Chiquita Ridge
Join us with guest speaker, Bob Allen, for an evening of photographs, stories, and specimens of tarantulas, other spiders, and night-time insects of Orange County.
Ages: 8 and up
show more
WHEN
September 4, 2025, 7:00PM - 8:30PM
WHERE
The Guest House in Rancho Mission Viejo
Please join us for Volunteer Orientation and Training!
This fun and informational orientation is the first step in joining us as an official Nature Reserve Volunteer. Learn about The Nature Reserve's history, philosophy and mission, as well as skills for working with the public. Meet other volunteers and learn how you can help preserve Nature Reserve lands through conservation and education.
Ages: Adult, 18 and up
Thank you for expressing interest in volunteering for The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo.
show moreWHEN
September 6, 2025, 9:00AM - 10:30AM
WHERE
The Ranch House in Rancho Mission Viejo
Join guest leader, Bob Allen, to get up close and personal with tarantulas and other arthropods! We'll be on the lookout for male tarantulas making their annual late summer search for females. We will also look for trap door spiders and other critters of the evening.
This event will partially take place alongside a private road overlooking oak groves, grasslands and more. Participants will initially drive on the road from site to site to look for tarantulas and other many-legged critters and later take a stroll on the trail to view them.
show moreWHEN
September 6, 2025, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
WHERE
The Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy
Enjoy a morning hike along the valley floor of Chiquita Canyon. This hike will take place along an old ranch road which runs along the canyon floor. Take in views of Chiquita Ridge above and Ranch agriculture along the way.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Trail Length: 4 miles (2 miles each way)
Ages: 10 and up
WHEN
September 7, 2025, 7:30AM - 9:30AM
WHERE
Chiquita Canyon
This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Trail Length: 2.2 miles (one way)
Ages: Recommended 10 and up
Open Access events are for Rancho Mission Viejo residents only
show moreWHEN
September 9, 2025, 2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE
Chiquita Ridge
This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Trail Length: 2.2 miles (one way)
Ages: Recommended 10 and up
Open Access events are for Rancho Mission Viejo residents only
show moreWHEN
September 16, 2025, 2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE
Chiquita Ridge
Join The Nature Reserve for a special evening learning about Birds of Prey - with LIVE owls, hawks, and falcons. We'll begin the evening hearing from Tom Millington from The Nature Reserve, as he shares photos and stories about The Nature Reserve's most common bird of prey, the red-tailed hawk. Then, see live birds of prey with the Orange County Bird of Prey Center as they discuss local raptor species, their ecological role, and their efforts to aid them.
show moreWHEN
September 18, 2025, 7:00PM - 8:30PM
WHERE
The Guest House in Rancho Mission Viejo
Goodnight, Nature Reserve. Goodnight Moon. Goodnight owl and the striped raccoon. Join us for a morning hike on Oak Canyon trail as we say “goodnight” to animals that sleep all day and are awake all night! Learn how nighttime animals see in the dark and make a nocturnal animal craft.
Interpretation Level: Medium
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: Recommended 2 - 5 years
Children must attend with a participating adult. However, please only register the participating children.
show moreWHEN
September 21, 2025, 9:30AM - 10:30AM
WHERE
Esencia Farm Tables/Oak Canyon Trail
This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Trail Length: 2.2 miles (one way)
Ages: Recommended 10 and up
Open Access events are for Rancho Mission Viejo residents only
show moreWHEN
September 23, 2025, 2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE
Chiquita Ridge
Enjoy an evening outdoors, as you gaze into the night sky, learn the constellations, and peer through the telescopes of our guest astronomers. The Nature Reserve astronomers are all volunteers who enthusiastically share their telescopes and expert sky knowledge with you. (What to bring: warm clothing, flashlight with red cellophane/lens to reduce light pollution, binoculars, optional beach chair.)
Interpretation Level: High
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ages: 8 and up
show more
WHEN
September 27, 2025, 8:00PM -10:00PM
WHERE
Richard and Donna O'Neill Conservancy
This is a strenuous trail with hills that follow the ridgeline between Sendero and Esencia.
Interpretation Level: Low
Difficulty Level: Moderate - Strenuous
Trail Length: 2.2 miles (one way)
Ages: Recommended 10 and up
Open Access events are for Rancho Mission Viejo residents only
show moreWHEN
September 30, 2025, 2:00PM - 5:00PM
WHERE
Chiquita Ridge
Rancho Mission Viejo's 9th annual Turkey Trot on The Ranch features a 10K, 5K, and a Little Gobbler's 1K that takes participants through the beautiful pathways and walkways of the Community of Rancho Mission Viejo.
All proceeds from the run will benefit The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo, the entity responsible for education and conservation of the historic land of Rancho Mission Viejo. This run will happen, rain or shine!
Volunteer
You can also volunteer your time to help us with this RMV annual tradition by signing up on www.VolunteerMark.com/ranchlife. Please join us as we support our community and The Nature Reserve at Rancho Mission Viejo!
Race Information
- 8:00AM - 10K race starts at The Pavilion
- 8:30AM - 5K race starts at The Pavilion
- 10:00AM - 1K Little Gobblers race starts at Sendero Field
Registration opens May 30, 2025!
Click the Register button to learn more, register, or donate today!
show more
WHEN
November 27, 2025, 8:00AM - 10:30AM (Race start times vary.)