ALISO AND WOOD CANYONS WILDERNESS PARK...

ALISO AND WOOD CANYONS WILDERNESS PARK

28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel

Park Information: (949) 923-2200 or www.ocparks.com

The park is open daily, year-round, from 7 a.m. to sunset for

hiking, bicycling and equestrian use. Parking $2. No dogs.

Special Activities: Learn about the canyons’ history, plants,

animals and trails. Participate in an easy ranger-led walk from noon

to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 28. Please meet at park headquarters.

Other hiking programs can be arranged by calling Ranger Carroll at

(949) 923-2200.

The Orange County Natural History Museum is at the Park entrance

and open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Ongoing

exhibits include live animals and displays of birds, fossils,

butterflies and Indian artifacts. The museum wants your recyclable

cans and bottles! Bring your California Redemption Value items to the

recycling bins at Aliso and Woods Canyons Wilderness Park.

For more information: (949) 831-3287 or www.ocnha.mus.ca.us.

CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK

8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach

Park Conditions, (949) 494-3539; Interpretive Programs, (949)

497-7647

State Web site, www.parks.ca.gov; local Web site,

www.crystalcovestatepark.com

The park is open from 6 a.m. to sunset daily, year-round for

hiking, bicycling and equestrian use. The park includes areas of

beach, bluff top and backcountry with access at a number of different

points. Parking $3. Dogs are allowed only on paved paths above the

beach.

Special Activities: At 9 a.m. Saturday, join docents for a Native

Plant Walk. At 5 p.m. Saturday, participate in a Winter Solstice Hike

into the backcountry on a full moon. At 9 a.m. Sunday, join

docent-led backcountry hikes; also offered Saturday and Sunday, Dec.

28 and 29. Hikes are three to five miles long and last about two

hours. Be sure to bring water and wear hiking boots. At 2 p.m. Dec.

31, docents will lead visitors on a Tidepool Walk in search of

organisms that only appear during a minus tide. Reservations are

required for all events. Native Plant Walk, Winter Solstice Hike and

Backcountry Hikes meet at El Moro Visitor Center. For the Tidepool

Walk, meet at Pelican Point parking lot No. 2.

El Moro Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and

Sundays and from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

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

to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Until Jan. 1, enjoy the

Christmas tree. Bring an ornament for the tree and a camera for a

family photo with Catalina in the background.

Crystal Cove Interpretive Assn. welcomes new volunteers, call

(949) 497-7648.

THE IRVINE RANCH LAND RESERVE

The Nature Conservancy (714) 832-7478 or irvineranch@tnc.org

Participants meet at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Headquarters on

Laguna Canyon Road just south of the El Toro Road intersection. All

tours are free, but require reservations.

Special Activities: At 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 21, 22,

28 and 29, join guided “Drop-in” mountain bike rides that orientate

new visitors to the trails. Meet at the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

At 7:30 a.m. Saturday, participate in a guided eight-mile, five-hour

hike of Emerald Canyon. And at 8 a.m., join an two- to three-mile,

two- to three-hour hike of Laguna Laurel north of the Dilley

preserve. Directions for meeting areas are obtained upon

reservations. Wonder about the mounds of topsoil on the “gift” Laguna

Laurel parcel? They are part of a coastal sage scrub restoration

project coordinated by The Nature Conservancy, Laguna Canyon

Foundation, and the Irvine Company.

LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

(949) 923-2235 or www.ocparks.com

Call the rangers and ask about special group hikes for schools,

scouts and other organizations and clubs. Parking Fee $2. No dogs.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Activities:

Wilderness access: From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday

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

of El Toro Road intersection. Open for hiker, equestrian and mountain

bicyclist access on specified trails without guides.

Jim Dilley Greenbelt Preserve: From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every

Saturday and Sunday. Hikers are only allowed 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: At 8 a.m. ever Saturday, a 3.5-mile

guided hike by Laguna Greenbelt Inc. volunteers. Call for

reservations. There is $2 donation per hiker.

Laguna Heights: Open daily, year-round, from 7 a.m. to sunset.

Trailhead for West Ridge trail and other trails into Aliso and Wood

Canyons Wilderness Park.

Laguna Greenbelt Inc. welcomes volunteers. Call (949) 497-8190 for

more information, or visit www.lagunagreenbelt.org.

Parks operate on a regular schedule during the holidays.

* Activities compiled by Marla Smith from the LAGUNA CANYON

FOUNDATION, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving,

enhancing and protecting Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and the

adjacent coastal canyon parks. For more information, check out

www.lagunacanyon.org or 855-7275 (PARK).