Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve Huntington Beach Trail

Celebrating Kyong-Mi's son Chris' summer break from elementary school, she took him to the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve.  She parked on the Warner/PCH side and started on a bridge that would take them to the actual trail.

Chris and a seagull at the bridge leading to the trail.

Upon entering the bridge, there was a seagull.  There were plenty of birds, but the seagull stood still long enough for a picture of Chris. To the right of the trail is where the actual wetlands are.  To the left is a gated section and in the distance the Brightwater homes.  It is said the entire area were occupied by the Tongva and Acjachmen tribes.  At the ecological reserve they have cogged stones, live animals, taxidermy animals and much more information about the Wetlands.

Further down the trail, after the first resting spot on the left, there are gun mounts left from WWII.  Cacti and other indigenous plants grow there.

After the second gun mount and resting place, there is a stairway leading downward to the right, or a trail

Kyong-Mi standing on a gun mount.  

 leading upward to the left.  Taking the trail to the left will lead you near the Brightwater homes.  Along the right side, off trail, if you take the hill down, there is a tunnel near the water's edge, where many people have come and left their mark with graffiti.  Every time Kyong-Mi's been down there, there's different art work.

Chris balancing on a log, on the trail, below the Brightwater homes.  

Following the trail, will lead you to another bridge, that takes you to a trail leading back toward Pacific Coast Highway, where pumpjacks are visible.  A couple man-made hills with seating and a beautiful view is available to the left. There will be a fork in the path.  If you turn left, you can walk to another bridge that will lead you out to the parking lot on Pacific Coast Highway.  If you choose that way, leave the parking lot on foot, turn left and another path will lead you back to the bottom of the hill where the stairway is at the end of the Gun Mounts.  It's basically a walking loop.

This trail is simple, no vigorous activity, but a great view of wetlands or Bolsa Chica State Beach on the other side of PCH, and if you have a great imagination, you can find yourself wondering how the Natives lived at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.  Chris and Kyong-Mi love walking the wetlands.

Shipley Nature Center

Kyong-Mi took Christopher to Shipley Nature Center in Huntington Beach, CA for a nature walk.  Once entering the gate to the nature center, there is a gift shop with a garden shop on the left.  To the right are various trails, all of which bring you back through a loop around the entire center.  In the center of the park is a natural spring.  Many children come to this nature center on field trips so sometimes they have props set-up for educational purposes.  There are plenty of butterflies, lizards, celery, California poppies, hemlock, rabbits and squirrel sightings during the walk.  At the lake there are birds including ducks and coots swimming and turtles basking.

Christopher at the entrance to the trails; there is a babbling brook.

Christopher entering the trail.

Sunflower.

Bunnies, they were everywhere.

Kyong-Mi enjoying a break on a chair made from a tree stump.