Outdoor Calendar

Note: Wildfire season is here. Fires of any kind are prohibited in wilderness areas. Please report any suspicious activity to park rangers. Sunscreen, sturdy shoes and water are wilderness essentials, along with any medications you require. Wilderness areas may be closed during periods of extreme fire danger. 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. Docent-led backcountry hikes are scheduled for 9 a.m. most Saturdays and Sundays. Hikes are three to five miles long, and last about two hours.

Note: Hikes meet at one of these locations:

El Moro Visitor Center — from Coast Highway, turn inland at the School/State Park light and follow park signs.

Los Trancos — from Coast Highway, turn inland at Los Trancos. Meet near the trailer.

Pelican Point Lot No. 2 — From Coast Highway, turn coastward at Newport Coast.

For more information, call (949) 497-7647 or e-mail wbonnin@parks.ca.gov.

Geology Tour: 9 a.m. Saturday: Visit several diverse and geologically outstanding sites which all display a story from a different geologic time. Meet at Los Trancos lot at the trailer (from Coast Highway turn inland at stoplight “Los Trancos”). $15 day-use parking fee.

Backcountry Hike: 8 a.m. Sunday. Join a state park volunteer for a guided 3-5 mile backcountry hike on El Moro Visitor Center (from Coast Highway, turn inland at stoplight for School-State Park.) $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.

Willow Canyon on Laguna Canyon Road, just south of the El Toro Road intersection. Open to hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers on specified trails; open 7 a.m. to sunset, but parking lot is only open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., $3.

Dilley Preserve on Laguna Canyon Road, just north of the 73 Toll Road: Open daily 7 a.m. to sunset. Parking $3; lot open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Little Sycamore Canyon on Laguna Canyon Road, just south of the 405 Freeway interchange: The James and Rosemary Nix Nature Center hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; parking $3; lot open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Laguna Heights, the trail head for West Ridge trail and routes into Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, at Top of the World on Alta Laguna Boulevard,

is open daily, 7 a.m. to sunset.