We were in Irvine and we came across this cute sanctuary right near the UC Irvine. As we reached the place, it turned to be a great oasis. The sanctuary covers a large lake for all kinds of natural habitat. Saw some nice water birds, butterflies, a rabbit, some geese and so on. There were some old preserved structures on the premises including the caretakers residence. There was a hall also which was available for citizens to reserve and have events. Overall a good place for nature lovers to pass a couple of hours and walk around. Also there is no entry fee.

This place is a MUST for birders - especially during migration seasons. The website boasts over 200 species of birds at any given time - and I definitely think they’re right. I saw over 40 species and 10 lifers in less than 3 hours (early-mid May)!! Birder’s paradise!! There are about 12 miles of trails around numerous ponds - a lot of trees and habitat for wildlife surrounding the ponds as well. But the actual trails themselves have scarce shade so I recommend sun protection. The trails are virtually all flat and are well maintained, gravel trails. They aren’t paved and can be uneven but I’d definitely say they’re handicap accessible with the right equipment and a companion. Aside from birds, I saw squirrels, bunnies, tons of fish and turtles, wildflowers, native bees, all sorts of other insects, and I heard a rattle snake (but luckily didn’t see it lol)! For birders - during spring migration 2023 I saw an Ash-throated Flycatcher and had a fantastic chance encounter with a Greater Roadrunner. I saw literally hundreds of Caspian Terns and Black Skimmers on ponds 1 and 2, as well as Least Terns, Canada Geese, and Clark’s AND Western Grebes! There were also numerous Ruddy Ducks and Black-necked Stilts on Pond C. The sanctuary is over 300 acres of freshwater coastal wetland habitat - IRWD did a beautiful job restoring the habitat and maintaining what didn’t need restoring. It was created as a very successful experiment natural water treatment - the urban runoff is filtered through the ponds and cleaned before hitting Newport Bay! I wish more cities would do this! These waterways are so important to the migrating birds. Win win!! Before you hit the trails, you’ll walk through their educational complex - full of interesting information signs, native gardens, little museums and education buildings - and there’s a whole house for the local Audubon society with an excellent gift shop and even a library! They also do seasonal birding walks and other events and educational talks. PRO TIP: The Audubon building has a bird species list for the month so be sure to check off all the species you saw on your walk!! And they also post “unusual wildlife sightings” on their board as well - and on my visit it had a warning about rattlesnake sightings and their location so that is super helpful! There are large, very well kept bathrooms at the entrance with drinking fountains and a large outdoor covered area with lots of picnic tables and even a couple of grills! They also have some portapotties scattered around the trails but the one I encountered was pretty dirty lol.This is definitely a wonderful place for a day outdoors - you’d never know you’re in the middle of all the hustle and bustle of busy Irvine. That being said - you can definitely still hear the traffic and the nearby John Wayne airport at times in certain parts of the sanctuary. There are two parking lots - the main one is paved and the “overflow” right across the street is gravel. I visited in a Wednesday and Saturday. Early in the mornings before 830am, both lots were practically empty. On Saturday when I was leaving around 11am both lots were completely packed so on weekends you’ll need to get there early.

We were in town on vacation and visited the refuge for a morning walk. This is a reclaimed water management site (no odor) with several large ponds that attract birds and wildlife. The ponds are surrounded by over 10 miles of trails (some are dirt roads, really) with a hard-packed surface. The Sea and Sage Chapter of Audubon operates a small visitor center at the entrance with a library and gift shop. The woman working there was very pleasant and helpful. She gave us a map of the reserve (also available online). We spent about 90 minutes walking the loop trails (about 2.5 miles) and saw wildflowers and many birds, particularly waterfowl. The trails were mostly level and firm enough to roll a wheelchair on, though I wouldn't recommend it in wet weather. Benches are provided for resting. The vegetation around the ponds has grown up very high so it was frustrating that we couldn't see over or through it except in certain locations. There weren't very many people there on a Tuesday and it was peaceful and relaxing. Restrooms are provided but the two in the back of the park are portable toilets so I recommend using the one at the entrance before you head out. Note that dogs and bicycles aren't allowed in the reserve.

My husband and were all excited to visit the Wildlife sanctuary. Unfortunately we did not get any further than a little past the entrance. It was in the midst of the day around 2:15 pm on Thursday Jan 2, 2020. We noticed that there were not many cars and only men. The men in front of us, kept on looking behind and gave us a strange look. When we saw a man without his shirt and socializing with another man, we got the vibe and left. We did not mean to intrude... Maybe we were at the right place at the wrong time...

This place is still a hidden secret. Thousands of cars pass by each day and I am sure the majority don't even know about it. I used to live across the street and go running here. Highly recommend!