Leader: Amy D.
Location: Quail Hill Community Park 35 Shady Canyon Dr. Irvine, CA 92603 (bigger parking lot south of the traffic roundabout of Shady Canyon, on the left side of the street PAST the basketball courts and athletic field, in front of the Community Center).
This run will consist of several options, one hillier 9.7 mile 'lollipop' route that leads to Nix Nature Center off the 133 highway that is mainly on dirt, a flatter, 8 mile option on that can be ran on the dirt shoulder of the Quail Hill bike path route to start, or of course an out and back route of either as long as you prefer.
It is advised to bring water especially on the hillier 9.7 mile Quail to Nix option, as the only fountains will be at the start/finish and the Nix Nature Center near the 133 highway (which has restrooms as well). Bommer Canyon trailhead also has restrooms and water, roughly at mile 3.5 of the Quail to Bommer Canyon route.
Quail Hill to Nix 9.7 mile option (hilly/dirt):
https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/4341889351...
This nearly 10 mile route starts off with a sizable hill before and has some steep climbing until roughly mile 3.5. At mile ~3.7 there is a left turn that will bring you down into the Nix Nature Center. Don't forget to to refill water there if need be! The trail continues East, under the 133 and meanders about past Barbara Lake on the right before re-passing underneath the 133 and tying back into the main trail at mile 7, where most of the trail is a net downhill back to Quail Hill Community Park.
Quail Hill bikeway to Bommer Canyon trailhead 7.96 mile option (partially paved and dirt):
https://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/4341898816...
This roughly 8 mile route takes our classic Quail to Bommer Canyon trailhead in the dirt past the trailhead where you will stay right and cross two pedestrian bridges before passing a road that splits the trail; cross the road and run up into the hills and you will eventually end up on at fork in the road at mile 4.3. If the gate is open, you can turn right and run down the road leading towards the Bommer Canyon trailhead, or if closed you can come back the way you came, back up into the slight hill and return to the Bommer Canyon trailhead.
Regardless of which route you take watch your footing for loose dirt/sand, ruts, cyclists, and snakes!