French Hill, Irvine, CA — Attraction in Irvine

Spring/2020 rattlesnake warning

I'm not one for hiking or trails, really, but I found this one and it was convenient to some of my workout goals/aspirations. The nice dose the trail gives of nature was great and I was looking forward to using it very consistently, but I'm a novice at most things in life and coming across rattlesnakes on consecutive days RIGHT on the path has made me drop the idea of visiting the trail again. It was my intention to walk it nearly daily, but the risk appears too high and I won't be visiting again. Maybe I was just unlucky and such snake interaction is a bit more rare than it appears to me? I dunno, but personally I'd rather not tempt fate; I was just trying to use the trail as a warmup before running, anyway.

So, just a warning to folks checking this trail out; be cautious as the rattlers seem busy at least as of this writing (early spring/2020). At the very least, wear pants and keep your eyes on the trail a few feet...

Parking is on the street. First hill is pretty steep, you can feel it in the legs.

Once you get to the top and start at going downhill the trail is very overgrown. I was covered in yellow petals.

A couple spots you are walking on a sidewalk next to the street. Towards the end there was a steep rocky climb that was a lot of fun.

My rating guide:

• I’d do it again tomorrow ** I’ll do it again, but after I find more new trails
• I’ll do it again if someone asks to go ** I’ll do it again...

What a fun hike to the French Hill. I took the straight up climb from Turtle Rock loop, and it gets you out of breath if you don’t pace yourself. It was really windy (picked the one evening when the winds were blowing way out of control.) Love ❤️ the panoramic views from up there in the evening. Enjoyed the nice hike back towards Ridgeline. Careful on the way down that you don’t misstep as I did and pulled a back muscle. All in all a...