ORANGE HEIGHTS
master plan
The Orange Heights vision is coming to fruition: 6,600 acres of pristine wilderness is now open for public enjoyment, and a new collection of single-family homes will soon take shape on 396 acres.
Access to untrammeled nature is a key feature of all Irvine Company planning. That’s why we decided to permanently preserve and donate more than 90% of the land in Orange Heights.
The decision, made in close consultation with city leaders, neighbors and environmentalists, continues the Company’s open space legacy in Orange that began in 1897, with a gift of a 160‑acre oak grove that created California’s first regional park, Irvine Regional Park. Since that time, we’ve preserved and donated more than half of the historic Irvine Ranch – some 57,500 acres – to enhance Orange County’s quality of life.
The original vision for Orange Heights approved by city leaders was to build 12,300 new homes on 7,000 acres in east Orange, extending from Jamboree and Santiago Canyon roads to Irvine Lake. But in 2014, the Company decided to preserve more than 90% of the land and donate it to the County of Orange, establishing a vast interconnected network of open space east of SR-241.
“The lands represented by this gift are the last pieces of a spectacular open space puzzle that has been assembled on the Irvine Ranch. ”
– Michael O’Connell,
president and CEO of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy
Exploring Orange Heights Open Space
In addition to preserving 6,600 acres of the Orange Heights property, we accompanied the land gift with funds to create new public access opportunities that helped to open the Saddleback Wilderness Trailhead, leading to 3.3 miles of trails to an overlook offering 360‐degree views.
Then in May, the funding supported another Orange Heights milestone with the ribbon cutting of Red Rock Wilderness Area, a 1,500‐acre area that features 8 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The trails take you up to one of the most striking geological landmarks in California: the red rocks of Black Star Canyon.
Puma Ridge Trail Improvement
Beginning in August, hikers and equestrians will notice fencing along Puma Ridge Trail, adjacent to Irvine Regional Park. This improvement is part of our work with the community to identify ways to enhance Puma Ridge, preserve its ridgetop access and formally dedicate it to the County of Orange.
New-home opportunities
The 2014 open space gift leaves 396 acres of the original 7,000-acre property, on which we’re now finalizing plans for attractive neighborhoods within a high-quality community of 1,180 single-family homes, all adjacent to the vast open space.
The community design includes a new public trail network connecting Irvine Regional Park to Peters Canyon Regional Park for hikers, bikers and equestrians. In addition, Santiago Canyon Road between Jamboree and SR-261 will be widened to three lanes in each direction, while establishing new bike lanes, landscaped medians and walkways.
WORK AT ORANGE HEIGHTS BEGINS SOON.
LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH.
Local residents will begin to see preliminary site work in the coming weeks. We invite you to sign up below for the latest information on construction timing, roadway and trail improvements, new home opportunities and outdoor activities, or to ask a question about the plan. We look forward to connecting with you soon.
Orange Heights at a Glance
Over 90% of Orange Heights has been preserved as natural open space, creating 6,600 acres for public enjoyment.
The new community will feature 1,180 single-family homes with direct access to a new public trail network that will connect Irvine Regional Park to Peters Canyon Regional Park.
Traffic light synchronization at multiple intersections near the community will be funded by the project.
Santiago Canyon Road will be widened to three lanes in each direction between Jamboree and SR-261, with new bike lanes, landscaped medians and walkways.
Economic benefits of Orange Heights include $45 million in new annual spending for local merchants and $5 million in recurring property and sales tax for the City of Orange, according to a third-party fiscal analysis.
A state-of-the-art fire prevention and mitigation plan for the project was created in collaboration with the Orange Fire Department.
Development of the community is expected to begin this summer.
Regular updates will be provided on the construction schedule and when new homes will be available at OrangeHeightsMasterPlan.com.
GO
and
EXPLORE
Enjoy the pristine wilderness preserved as part of the Orange Heights plan. Public access opportunities include 3.3 miles of trails in Saddleback Wilderness that opened in 2023 and 6 new Red Rock Wilderness trails that will open in May 2024. You can learn more about guided and self‑guided hiking experiences at ocparks.com/irvine-ranch-open-space.
Residents enjoy the view from a new outlook opened in 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Orange Heights master plan approved?
In 2016, the city of Orange approved the final plans and environmental review of the Orange Heights Master Plan. This final approval reflected the plan’s 90% reduction in homes and acreage compared to the city’s approved General Plan.
Will new trails be publicly accessible?
In addition to the nature preserve and trails established by Orange Heights, the new community will feature miles of new public trails. This includes the first direct connection from Irvine Regional to Peters Canyon Regional parks for hikers and equestrians and an enhanced Mountains to Sea Trail along Jamboree Road. The existing Puma Ridge Trail – a multi-use trail that starts in Irvine Regional Park and traverses onto private property – will be relocated to run along the ridge of Orange Heights, and widened and improved. It will be formally dedicated to OC Parks for public use and will provide enhanced public access and views across preserved open spaces.
Will new trails be open to equestrians?
Yes, the Orange Heights project will build new paved bikeways for bikers and separate unpaved trails for equestrians and hikers. These trails will be located along the east side of Jamboree Road and through the new Orange Heights community and will connect to existing hiking and equestrian trails in Irvine Regional Park and Peters Canyon Regional Park. Trail crossings of Jamboree Road will be provided at Santiago Canyon Road, Chapman Avenue and Canyon View. These signalized crossings will feature equestrian “shy areas” and push buttons mounted at equestrian height for a safer and more convenient equestrian experience. Importantly, these details and commitments are the direct result of our engagement with local trail and equestrian leaders
What did Irvine Company do to protect views in Irvine Regional Park?
Views from Irvine Regional Park will be protected as part of our planning commitments to the community, city and county.
When will construction begin?
Work is anticipated to begin this summer.
How are open spaces and wildlife being protected?
Working with local community leaders, environmentalists and biologists, Irvine Company decided to preserve 90% of the approved Orange Heights plan area (nearly 7,000 acres) as natural habitat, protecting critical wildlife movement corridors. This land dedication completed and connected the 57,500-acre Irvine Ranch Land Reserve, creating among the most significant nature reserves in the nation that now stretches from the Cleveland National Forest to the Pacific Ocean. These Orange Heights open space areas were dedicated to OC Parks in 2014 as conservation easements – now called the Saddleback Wilderness and the Red Rock Wilderness Areas – and are open to the public.
What is the pricing and style of the homes?
Orange Heights will be a collection of for-sale, single-family homes offering a diverse range of floor plans, square footages and lot sizes. Pricing will be made available closer to market and we encourage interested homebuyers to sign up here to be updated on progress.
What is the Puma Ridge Trail and how will it be preserved?
The Puma Ridge Trail runs through Irvine Company land adjacent to Irvine Regional Park. The multi-use trail offers impressive views across the 6,600 acres of open space the Company preserved as part of the Orange Heights planned community.
As a result of collaboration with the hiking and equestrian community, Irvine Company committed to enhancing and widening the Puma Ridge Trail as part of the Orange Heights plan. Once complete, the trail will be formally dedicated to OC Parks along with an additional 45 acres, expanding Irvine Regional Park and ensuring ongoing maintenance and permanent public access to Puma Ridge.
For public safety reasons, Puma Ridge Trail will not be accessible while the improvements take place. Trail users are encouraged to take the adjacent Horseshoe Loop Trail, which runs immediately below Puma Ridge.
Miles of nature trails lead past Irvine Lake and beyond
This spring, residents will have access to new trails offering views of the famed Red Rocks