Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park...

Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel Park Information: (949)

831-2790 or www.ocparks.com The park is open 7 a.m. to sunset daily,

year round for hiking, bicycling and equestrian use. The hour before

sunset is a great time to enjoy the trails in the summer. Parking $2.

Don’t forget the Orange County Natural History Museum for an

interesting family outing. It is located at the park entrance and

open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Information:

(949) 831-3287 or www.ocnha.mus.ca.us.

Crystal Cove State Park

8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach (949) 494-3539 Park

Conditions (949) 497-7647 Interpretive Program

www.crystalcovestatepark.com or www.parks.ca.gov The park is open 6

a.m. to sunset daily, year round for hiking, bicycling and equestrian

use. Parking $3.

Special Activities: Saturday, July 27 Bat Walk, call now for a

reservation. At 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1 learn about the night

sky from the Orange County Astronomers Association at Astronomy

Night.

Bring a mug for hot chocolate and a chair. Meet at the El Moro

Visitor Center. The backcountry hike starts at the El Moro Visitor

Center on July 28 promptly at 9 a.m. El Moro Visitor Center is open

from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Sundays and Saturday from 6 a.m.

to 2 p.m.

Crystal Cove Historic District Visitor Center is open 10 a.m. to 4

p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Crystal Cove Interpretive

Association welcomes new volunteers, call (949) 497-7648.

The Irvine Ranch Land Reserve

The Nature Conservancy (714) 832-7478

All participants meet at the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

headquarters on Laguna Canyon Road just south of the El Toro Road

intersection. All tours are free, but require reservations.

Activities: Hike Emerald Canyon in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park at 4

p.m. on Saturday, July 27. The 5-hour hike covers about 8 miles.

There will be a drop in mountain bike ride at 8 a.m. Sunday, July 28

at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Sunday.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, Parking Fee $2 (949)

494-9352 or www.ocparks.com Call the rangers and ask about special

group hikes for scouts and other organizations and clubs.

Wilderness Access: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday at

the Willow Canyon Road staging area on Laguna Canyon Road just south

of El Toro Road intersection. Jim Dilley Greenbelt Preserve: 8 a.m.

to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday. Hikers only on specified trails

without guides. Trails include Barbara’s Lake, the largest of the

Laguna Lakes and the only natural lakes in Orange County.

Guided hikes in Laurel Canyon: 8 a.m. every Saturday. It is a

3.5-mile guided hike by Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. volunteers.

Reservations and $2 donation. Laguna Heights: Open daily year round,

7 a.m. to sunset.

Become a volunteer -- join the Wilderness Access Volunteers (WAVs)

training class from 9 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4 by Laguna

Greenbelt, Inc.

* Activities compiled by Mary Fegraus from the Laguna Canyon

Foundation, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving,

enhancing and protecting Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and the

adjacent coastal canyon parks. Information: www.lagunacanyon.org or

(949) 855-7275 (PARK).