Hiking Buck Gully Reserve in Newport Beach
Sometimes we stay close to home and explore local trails instead of heading for the mountains. After a wet winter, Southern California was putting on an incredible wildflower display, so we set out hoping to find a few blooms without leaving Orange County.
Buck Gully Reserve turned out to be the perfect choice. Not only did it offer a peaceful canyon hike, but it also surprised us with one of the most spectacular wildflower displays we've seen on a local trail.
We started at Canyon Watch Park, which has a small parking area just off San Joaquin Hills Road. From there, we followed the paved sidewalk until it connected with Bobcat Trail, which descends into the canyon and eventually meets Buck Gully Trail.
Bobcat Trail is a wide dirt road that likely doubles as a fire road and service route. It has a few moderately steep sections but is generally an easy walk downhill. Along the way, we were surrounded by blooming wildflowers, coastal sage scrub, and sweeping views across the canyon toward the Pacific Ocean.
Although homes line the canyon rim, they gradually disappear from view as you descend, making it surprisingly easy to forget you're hiking in the middle of Newport Beach.
After about 0.7 miles, we reached Buck Gully Trail and crossed a wooden bridge over a flowing stream.
The creek transforms this canyon into a much greener landscape than you'd expect along the Southern California coast. Tall grasses lined the trail, butterflies drifted through the trees, and birds seemed to be calling from every direction. Some stretches were narrow enough that I spent part of the hike walking with my arms up, trying to avoid brushing against the vegetation. Ticks and poison oak are both known to be present here, so long pants are a good idea.
Buck Gully crosses the stream several more times before reaching the real highlight of our hike. At first, we noticed just a handful of California poppies blooming along the hillside. Then, with just a few more steps, the entire slope came into view.
It was covered in bright orange poppies mixed with other spring wildflowers, creating one of the most beautiful displays I've ever seen on a local Orange County hike. Poppies are one of my favorite wildflowers, so this was an especially memorable surprise.
Eventually, I managed to pull myself away from the flowers and continue to the end of the trail.
Buck Gully finishes near Poppy Avenue, where the dirt trail meets a residential neighborhood. Some hikers begin their walk from that end, but for us it simply marked the turnaround point. Before heading back, we wandered over to the creek, enjoyed a snack, and spent a few quiet minutes listening to the water before retracing our steps.
The return hike went by much faster, although climbing back out of the canyon definitely reminded us we had spent most of the day walking downhill. By the time we reached the trailhead we were warm, a little out of breath, and already talking about coming back during another season to see how different the reserve might look.
Our route from Canyon Watch Park to the end of Buck Gully Trail covered about 4.1 miles round trip. The trail is well marked and suitable for most hikers, but be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen, since much of the route is exposed. Long pants are also worth considering because of the brush, poison oak, and the possibility of ticks along the narrower sections.
If you visit Buck Gully Reserve, take your time. Between the birds, butterflies, wildflowers, and quiet creek, there's far more to enjoy than simply reaching the end of the trail.
