A little help, a lot of hiking

The Hike and Help event will take place Saturday at Laguna Coast

Wilderness Park.

The hikes will include acorn collecting and trail work. This may

also be the last time to hike in Little Sycamore Canyon for a year.

The event is sponsored by Laguna Canyon Foundation in cooperation

with Harbors, Beaches and Parks of Orange County, Laguna Greenbelt

Inc. and The Nature Conservancy.

Helpers are asked to park at the Willow Canyon Staging Area, 20101

Laguna Canyon Road, just south of the El Toro Road intersection. They

are also asked to bring a shovel, leather gloves, a hat and sunscreen

and to wear sturdy shoes.

Docent-led hikes: Meet at 7:30 a.m. for the Emerald Canyon hike,

an eight-mile, five-hour moderately strenuous trek. Meet at 8 a.m.

for in the Laurel Canyon hike, a 3.5-mile moderately strenuous walk

of Laurel Canyon. Park at the Willow Canyon Staging Area, 20101

Laguna Canyon Road, just south of El Toro Road intersection.

For the adventurous: two six-mile, docent-led hikes will be

offered in areas not normally available to the public. Meet at 9 a.m.

and join the Laurel Canyon to Little Sycamore Canyon hike. This

wilderness route begins in Laurel Canyon, continues through upper

Laurel and Serrano Ridge and ends at Little Sycamore Canyon.

Park at Willow Canyon Staging Area. A free shuttle returns hikers

to the parking area.

Meet at 10 a.m. and walk the route in reverse. Participants in the

Little Sycamore Canyon to Laurel Canyon hike park at the Dilley

Staging Area on Laguna Canyon Road, just north of the Corona del Mar

Freeway and ride a free shuttle to and from the hiking site.

At 8 a.m., explore the recent Irvine Company land gift and join a

three- to four-mile, 2.5-hour easy docent-led hike. Park at Dilley

Staging Area and ride a free shuttle bus to and from the hiking site.

Donations to Laguna Greenbelt Inc. are accepted for all guided hikes,

$2 per hiker

Hike on your own: The following drop-in hikes are from 8 a.m. to 4

p.m.

The Dilley Preserve hike offers about three miles of trails

providing access to Barbara’s Lake. Park at Dilley Staging Area.

The Little Sycamore Canyon hike offers two routes: A two-mile hike

in and out of Little Sycamore Canyon and a four-mile loop through

Little Sycamore Canyon, future home of the James and Rosemary Nix

Nature Center. Park at the Dilley Staging Area and ride a free

shuttle to and from the site.

The Laurel Canyon hike offers the 3.5-mile Laurel Canyon Loop and

the 6.5-mile Emerald Canyon Loop. Park at the Willow Staging Area.

For stewardship activities and guided hike registration: (949)

923-2235 or www.lagunacanyon.org.