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 7 a.m. to sunset daily, year round, for hiking,

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

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

animals and trails. From noon until 12:30 p.m. participate in an easy

ranger-led walk on Saturday, Feb. 8. Please meet at park

headquarters. Opportunities for additional 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 Calif. Redemption Value (CRV) items to

the recycling bins at Aliso and Woods Canyons Wilderness Park.

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 daily, year round, 6 a.m. to sunset 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 $5. Dogs are allowed only on paved paths above the beach.

Special Activities: At 9 a.m. on Feb. 1, 2, 8 and 9 join

docent-led backcountry hikes Saturdays and Sundays. Hikes are 3 to 5

miles and last about 2 hours. Be sure to bring water and wear hiking

boots. Meet at El Moro Visitor Center. At 3 p.m. on Feb. 2

participate in guided Tidepool Walk. Negative 1.1 is extremely low

and allows visitors to observe octopus, abalone, keyhole limpet and

sea stars. Meet at Pelican Point Parking Lot No. 2. From 10 a.m. to

noon on Feb. 8 join former Crystal Cove resident Laura Davick for a

docent-led Historic District Cottage Tour. Learn history of the site

since 1900 and visit the interior of several unique cottages. Wear

sturdy shoes and bring camera. Meet at Los Trancos Parking Lot near

the trailer.

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

1 p.m. 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 Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

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. on Saturdays and Sundays -- Feb. 1,

2, 8 and 9 -- join guided “drop-in” mountain bike rides that orient

new visitors to the trails. At 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2, join a

12-mile, three- to four-hour, docent-led bike ride through Laguna

Coast Wilderness Park and Shady and Serrano Ridges. At 7:30 a.m. on

Saturday, Feb. 8, participate in an eleven-mile, five-hour,

docent-led hike through Shady and Serrano Ridges and Laguna Coast

Wilderness Park.

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.

Special activities: Become a park volunteer! From 9 to 11 a.m. on

Sunday, February 9, learn how to become a Wilderness Access

Volunteer. Call the park for more information.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Activities:

Wilderness access: Every Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 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: Every Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Hikers only on specified trails without guides. Trails

include Barbara’s Lake, the largest of the Laguna Lakes, Orange

County’s only natural lakes.

Guided hikes in Laurel Canyon: Every Saturday at 8 a.m., 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, 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 online at www.lagunagreenbelt.org.

* 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).