South Coast Region (Region 5)
Orange County
600 Shellmaker Road, Newport Beach, CA 92660 (Approximately 19 miles south of Anaheim)
Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset. The Back Bay Science Center is open Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and for special events and scheduled school groups.
Directions: From Newport Beach, take Pacific Coast Highway (Highway 1) to Jamboree Road. Travel eastbound on Jamboree Road, away from the coastline. At the first traffic light, turn left onto Back Bay Drive. Follow Back Bay Drive to the Ecological Reserve entry gate, where the road becomes Mountains to the Sea Trail and Bikeway (one-way only for motor vehicle traffic, special two-way lanes for bicycles and pedestrians).
To visit Back Bay Science Center, turn left at this entry gate onto Shellmaker Road from Back Bay Drive. To visit the rest of the Reserve, proceed on Mountains to the Sea Trail and Bikeway.
Ecological Reserve Contact:
Daily, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.: (949) 640-9961
Back Bay Science Center Contact: (949) 640-9959
South Coast Region Office: (858) 467-4201
Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve is a 752-acre property consisting of salt marsh, mudflat, and estuary habitats. Large mudflats with suitable loafing areas above high tide are extremely desirable for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Sheltered waters provide foraging, spawning and nursery habitat for marine fishes.
Things To Do
- Miles of trails surrounded by estuarine and wetlands habitat provide opportunities for hiking, wildlife viewing, birdwatching and nature photography.
- Back Bay Science Center offers scheduled events and nature education programs. The Center is open to the general public most Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Popular outdoor activities such as kayaking, canoeing and cycling are available to the public, and the weather year-round is generally mild and breezy.
Facilities
The primary staffed location on the property is the Back Bay Science Center. The Center features exciting science exhibits and nature education programs for scheduled school groups Mondays through Fridays, and is open to the general public most Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free and there is improved access for mobility-impaired visitors. Contact the Back Bay Science Center at (949) 640-9959.
Mountains to Sea Trail and Bikeway is the primary paved access through the Ecological Reserve. It begins on Back Bay Drive at Shellmaker Road. A metal swing gate here can be used by personnel to close off this access, but is normally left open. Mountains to Sea Trail and Bikeway is one-way for vehicle traffic and two-way for bicyclists and pedestrians. Vehicle traffic may only drive northbound on this route to reach parking areas and trailheads. On the northern end of the property, Mountains to Sea Trail and Bikeway eventually connects to Eastbluff Drive at the Vista Point scenic area.
Kayaking and canoeing are popular activities on Upper Newport Bay. The Newport Bay Conservancy offers guided kayak tours year round on weekends. Kayak and canoe launches are available just outside the Ecological Reserve, and rentals are available at nearby North Star Beach. Powered watercraft are not permitted in Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve without a Special Use Permit.
Mountains to the Sea Trail and Bikeway has lanes for hikers, joggers and cyclists. Just north of San Joaquin Hills Drive on Mountains to the Sea Trail and Bikeway, Big Canyon trailhead leads to a bluff-top trail. Other trails are available on nearby lands administered by the city or the county. Visitors with dogs should make sure to check trail signage, since dogs are not permitted on some trails.
Vista Point is a scenic, grassy area with benches and educational signage discussing the local wildlife and habitat of the bay. It's located on Mountains to the Sea Trail and Bikeway at Eastbluff Drive.
Accessibility
The Back Bay Science Center is equipped with accessibility features for mobility-impaired visitors. For details, contact the Center at (949) 640-9959.
Connectivity
There is good cellular phone service available in most areas of this property. There is no public Wi-Fi service available.
Learn more about Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and its history, wildlife, plants and habitat.
History
For thousands of years, Upper Newport Bay has been a magnet for indiginous populations and for later settlers. Many Native American villages in the area relied on the resouces of the bay for their livelihood and performed sustainable and effective stewardship of these natural wetlands. During the Spanish Mission Period of the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Spanish referred to the Bay as the Bolsa de Gengara or “bay with high banks.” Successive waves of European settlement lead to agricultural development of the surrounding lands in the 1800s, with visions of the bay becoming a "new port" on the California coastline. However, shifting sandbars in the bay and a land right-of-way dispute prevented construction of a harbor at this time.
From the early 1900s through the 1960s, salt harvesting became a major industry in Upper Newport Bay, and remnants of the man-made dikes and other engineering dating from this time can still be found in the area. On Shellmaker Island, where the Back Bay Science Center stands today, shell mining for calcium remainined a lucrative industry into the 1980s.
A suburban population boom in the mid-20th century was tied to the area’s growing aerospace industry. By the late 1960s, rapid urban development in Orange County spurred plans to transform Upper Newport Bay, including construction of a luxury marina featuring waterfront homes with private docks. However, opposition by local residents advocated for conservation of the Upper Bay and its natural habitat. In 1975, the Fish and Game Commission designated the Upper Newport Bay property as a State Ecological Reserve.
Challenges of Sedimentation in the Bay
A constant challenge in the Upper Bay is the need to control sedimentation. Sedimentation is a natural occurrence in estuaries and bays. However, changes in land use together with channelization of the watershed have accelerated the accumulation of silt deposits which threaten to destroy the Upper Bay. To counteract this process, engineering projects are necessary to help maintain the habitat.
Major restoration projects in the 1980s have resulted in over 2.5 million cubic yards of sediment being removed from the Reserve, construction of two in-bay sediment trap basins, two upstream in-channel sediment traps and the implementation of “Best Management Practices” within the watershed. The combination of upstream erosion and sediment control and in-bay restoration will allow for the preservation of the Upper Bay as a viable coastal wetland ecosystem.
Learning About the Land
Events and Programs at the Back Bay Science Center
Many events and programs are available to members of the public throughout the year at the Back Bay Science Center.
- The Back Bay Science Center offers its Marine Life Inventory program one Saturday each month, featuring hands-on programming and a curriculum geared toward 7th-grade to college-age students. Participation is free and open to all members of the public. To register, email Jene.Dietz@wildlife.ca.gov or leave a voice message at (949)640-4402.
- Community Day, held in partnership with the Newport Bay Conservancy, occurs every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participation is free and open to all members of the public. Parking at the Back Bay Science Center is free and no reservations are needed to attend.
- The Back Bay Science Center hosts an annual Bioblitz Party in early September.
- In April, the Back Bay Science Center celebrates Earth Day at the Bay with the Newport Bay Conservancy at the Muth Interpretive Center.
- Shark Camp (PDF)
- Annual Coastal Cleanup Day in coordination with OC Parks, the Newport Bay Conservancy and the California Coastal Commission.
- Newport Seabase Summer Camp
Articles
Photos and Media
Volunteers
Volunteers are welcome at the Back Bay Science Center. To learn more about volunteering opportunities with CDFW, call (949) 640-9959 or email Jene.Dietz@wildlife.ca.gov.
The Newport Bay Conservancy also administers a volunteer program at Upper Newport Bay in partnership with CDFW and Orange County Parks. For more information, contact the Newport Bay Conservancy online or call them at (949) 923-2269.
Notice: Visitors are responsible for knowing and complying with all regulations pertaining to the use of CDFW-managed lands.
Please refer to the Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use Regulations (PDF) booklet for both statewide and property-specific regulations.
Hunting
There is no hunting permitted at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.
Fishing
Upper Newport Bay offers fishing opportunities in certain areas of the Reserve. All fishing is from the shore in accordance with general fishing regulations. A valid CDFW fishing license is required. Licenses are not available at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and must be purchased before arrival. Check fishing regulations for current licensing fees. Visitors should also check with the Upper Newport Bay State Marine Conservation Area for up-to-date fishing regulations and requirements in this area.
Rules and Visitor Use
Be aware of the following rules while visiting Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve:
- No horses allowed
- Dogs must be on a leash (6-foot maximum) and under owner's control at all times
- Dogs are probited on some trails; visitors must check trail signage before taking a dog onto a trail
- No E-bikes allowed
- No drones allowed without a Special Use Permit (PDF)
- No camping allowed
In addition to the above, visitors are responsible for knowing and complying with all Rules and Regulations in effect at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.
For specific questions regarding use of this land, call the Reserve at (949) 640-9961.