Outdoor Calendar

Coastline Pilot

Oct. 5, 2015 10:32 PM PT

Note: Wilderness parks are closed for 48 hours or more after significant rainfall. Parks may be closed due to rain conditions or mud. Call (949) 923-2235 or visit websites for current conditions.

CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK

Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 N. Coast Hwy, has 3.5 miles of beach and 2,000 acres of undeveloped woodland. $15 day-use parking fee.

The park is open 6 a.m. to sunset daily. Due to the recent rainstorms, the backcountry is closed until further notice. The beaches and tidepools are open to the public. For more information, call (949) 497-7647 or e-mail wbonnin@parks.ca.gov.

Photography Walk: 2:30 p.m. Sunday: Learn how to take beautiful sunset and low tide photos on a docent led walk. Meet at Pelican Point lot #2 at the top of the boardwalk near the parking lot (from Coast Highway, turn coastward at Newport Coast stoplight, right at the kiosk and left into the first lot.) $15 day-use parking fee.

LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road; reservations and information, (949) 923-2235; https://www.ocparks.com.

Rangers staff the park daily. Open 7 a.m. to sunset daily, including holidays. Parking lot hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn more about volunteering or helping Laguna Canyon Foundation to preserve, protect and enhance the South Coast Wilderness, visit https://www.lagunacanyon.org or call (949) 497-8324.

Note: Due to recent rainstorms and flood damage, the park trails are closed until further notice. The Nix Nature Center is open.

Weekends at the Nix Nature Center — Rocks and Fossils of Orange County: 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 30. Geologists Lee Shoemaker and Maureen Angle will share their rock and fossil collections and their enthusiasm. Bring your rocks and fossils to be identified and enjoy a rocking presentation at 2 p.m. Dig for your own fossil and try out some rocky activities. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center (west side of Laguna Canyon Rd/SR-133, approximately 3.5 miles south of I-5/405). Reservations required by calling (949) 923-2235. Parking is $3. Program is free; donations appreciated.