ORANGE HEIGHTS
master plan
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, Irvine Company decided to permanently 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. Orange Heights is now approved for 1,180 single-family homes on less than 400 acres of the original 7,000-acre property. While the schedule for model home openings is not currently available, you can register to receive updates.
“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.