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trip 2.2 Newport Back Bay Loop

ssss1

Distance 10 miles (loop)

Hiking Time 4 hours

Elevation Gain 300’

Difficulty Easy

Trail Use Cyclists, dogs

Best Times All year

Agency OC Parks: UNBNP

DIRECTIONS To reach Upper Newport Bay’s Muth Interpretive Center, exit the Costa Mesa Freeway (Highway 55) at Del Mar Avenue in Costa Mesa, and go east toward the bay. In 0.5 mile, Del Mar becomes University Drive. Continue 0.4 mile to reach the interpretive center parking lot just past Irvine Avenue.

A great way to get to know Upper Newport Bay is to take the Back Bay Loop that circles the wetlands. This paved route, heavily used by cyclists and joggers, features panoramic bluff-top views, intimate marshside experiences, and diverse bird-watching opportunities. There are many places to start, but this description assumes you’re following a counterclockwise loop beginning at the interpretive center.

Like ssss1, this trip begins at the parking area for the Muth Interpretive Center. It’s worth a short detour down to the center, where you can find spotting telescopes, interpretive exhibits, activities for children, and knowledgeable volunteers. When you’re ready to begin, your first goal is to reach the corner of Irvine Avenue and Santiago Drive, 1.1 miles from the start. Hikers will favor the narrow footpaths that hug the edge of the marsh (see ssss1), but cyclists must take the wide paved path paralleling Irvine Avenue.