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Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve

a portion of Upper Newport Bay estuary

Overview

Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve is situtated upon Southern California's Orange County coastline. Featuring areas of salt marsh, mudflats and marine habitat, this land sustains varied populations shorebirds and waterfowl. Highlights include coastal trails, tidal pools and the nature education programs at Back Bay Science Center.

  Wildlife Viewing

  Hiking Trails

  Nature Education

  Visitor Information

  Cellular Service

  Enhanced Accessibility

Getting There

CDFW Lands Viewer
Printable Map (PDF)Printable Map (PDF) (opens in new tab)

This property exists adjacent to Upper Newport Bay State Marine Conservation AreaUpper Newport Bay Marine Protected Area (opens in new tab), which is administered separately from the Ecological Reserve.

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. 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. Turn left at this gate onto 600 Shellmaker Road to visit Back Bay Science Center.

Ecological Reserve Contact:
Daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.: (949) 640-9956

Back Bay Science Center Contact:
Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: (949) 640-9959

South Coast Region Office: (858) 467-4201

Visiting Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve

Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve is a 752-acre property consisting of salt marsh, mudflat, and marine habitats. Large mudflats with suitable loafing areas above high tide are extremely desirable for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. Sheltered waters and tidepools 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 on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free and there is access for visitors who are mobility-impaired.
  • 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 locations on the property are Back Bay Science Center and ???.

Accessibility

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 limited Wi-Fi service available at Back Bay Science Center.

Maps and Guides

Learning and Getting Involved

By the late 1960s, rapid urban development in Orange County spurred plans to transform Upper Newport Bay into a commercial deveopment, including a luxury marina featuring waterfront homes with private docks. Opposition by local residents advocated for conservation of the Upper Bay and its natural habitat. In 1975, the Fish and Game Commission responded by designating the Upper Newport Bay property as a State Ecological Reserve.

Sedimentation is a natural occurrence in estuaries and bays. However, changes in land use together with channelization of the watershed have accelerated siltation, which threatens to destroy the Upper Bay. 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

Articles:
Photos and Media:

Volunteers

The volunteer program at Upper Newport Bay is administered by the Newport Bay Conservancy. For more information, contact the Newport Bay Conservancy (opens in new tab) online or call them at (949) 923-2269.

Hunting, Fishing and Visitor Use

 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)Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use Regulations (PDF)(opens in new tab) booklet for both statewide and property-specific regulations.

Hunting

There is no hunting permitted at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.

Fishing

There is no fishing permitted at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.

Rules and Visitor Use

Be aware of the following rules while visiting Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve:

In addition to the above, visitors are responsible for knowing and complying with all Rules and RegulationsRules and Regulations (opens in new tab) in effect at Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.

For specific questions regarding use of this land, call the Reserve at (949) 640-9956.

no drones icon

Notice: You may not operate a drone on any CDFW-managed land without a Special Use Permit (PDF)Special Use Permit (PDF) (opens in new tab).

Wildlife Branch - Lands Program
Mailing: P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090