The Jeffrey Open Space Trail has won awards for its landscaping and innovative design of incorporating a series of intaglio panels in the concrete bed of the trail. The panels take you through a history of the Irvine Ranch, from the early days (Irvine Boulevard end) through the 20th century (Trabuco Road end).
The concrete trail parallels Jeffrey Road among a suburban landscape of neighborhoods, shopping plazas and, as the name suggests, open space. At Bryan Avenue, it links with the
Venta Spur Trail. There's a break in the trail (proposed trail planned for the future) between Trabuco Road and Barranca Parkway, then the another short segment picks up again from Barranca south to I-405. Here, you can cross over the freeway on a pedestrian bridge and link with the
Shady Canyon Trail (also known as Quail Hill Trail) heading east.
From either Interstate 405 or Interstate 5 in Irvine, take the Jeffrey Rd. Exit and head north up Jeffrey Rd. to the intersection of Trabuco and Jeffrey roads. There is a shopping plaza on the corner here where you can park. Alternatively, go to Woodbury Community Park (130 Sanctuary), 0.32 mile southeast of the trail on the Venta Spur Trail. It has parking, water, restrooms and more.
This is a bit different for a bike trail. It’s also a history trail.
At intervals down the trail inset intaglio panels present various aspects of ranch history. If you start at the upper end at Jeffrey and Irvine Blvd. and ride south, you trace the ...