Touring * Fitness * Street * Artistic *

From Interstate 405 in Irvine, take the Jamboree Road exit heading south. Proceed about four miles to Ford Road and turn left. Follow Ford Road one mile and turn right at Old Ford Road West Connection. Just off Old Ford Road near this intersection, you will see the entrance sign for Buffalo Hills Park. There should be room to park at the curb. Map: Orange County Bikeway Map, available free by calling the County of Orange, EMA/Transportation Planning office at (714) 834-3111.

The Buffalo Hills Greenbelt will never be called an in-line scene, in any sense of the term. But it does provide safe and uncrowded terrain on which lower level skaters can sharpen crucial stopping and hill skills that will expand their skating opportunities beyond the flat (and crowded) beach boardwalks. At the other end of the skill spectrum, experienced hill skaters can come to the greenbelt for a quick warm-up before tackling the hills of Newport Beach in the Fashion Island area. The dedicated bike paths shown on the Orange County Bikeway Map are actually wide sidewalks that parallel the busy parkways in the area: San Joaquin Hills Road, Spy Glass Hill Road, and Ford Road. A painted bike lane is provided on San Miguel between San Joaquin Hills Road and Ford Road. Follow the Buffalo Hills Greenbelt south through a park that has picnic tables, trimmed lawns, and a variety of trees. Look closely at the pavement surface and you will see the telltale hash marks of skate tracks. A slight pitch to the path makes northbound skaters go fast enough that they may be inspired to get in a little stopping practice, secure in the knowledge that the lawn offers an emergency cushion to soften a fall. The greenbelt ends at San Miguel Road. Skate one block south (to the right) on San Miguel's bike lane to get to the bikeway on San Joaquin Hills Road, where you can explore the Newport hills on wide concrete sidewalks with few other users.