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 2024, 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 2024, 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.
Updates
Jamboree Road improvements and tree replacement
A significant investment in completing Jamboree Road between Chapman Avenue and Peters Canyon Regional Park will be part of the initial phase of the project. Jamboree will reach its full width of six lanes, as envisioned by the city’s Street Master Plan, and a new tree canopy will be planted within its medians. We will be replacing the existing trees and increasing the tree count by about 25%. This process will be visible to residents, and the result will be a stronger, healthier and more attractive tree canopy that will last for generations.
New trail connections will lead from Jamboree Road through the new community and all the way to Irvine Regional Park. It will be the first direct connection from Peters Canyon to Irvine Regional for equestrians, hikers and bikers. Improvements will also be made to the Mountains to Sea Trail that runs 22 miles from Anaheim Hills to the Pacific Ocean. These improvements include a dual trail system that separates equestrians and bikers, split rail fencing and landscaped setbacks, horse shy areas and signalized crossings designed for equestrians.
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.