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).
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