Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park 28373...
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. Opportunities for special hiking
programs can be arranged by calling Ranger Carroll at (949) 923-2201.
The Orange County Natural History Museum is located at the Park
entrance, open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. 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 6 a.m. to sunset daily, year round, for hiking,
bicycling and equestrian use. The park includes backcountry, bluff
top and beach areas with access at different points. Parking $5. Dogs
are allowed only on paved paths above the beach.
Special Activities: At 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday, June 28 and 29
join docent-led backcountry hikes. Hikes are three to five miles and
last about two hours. Be sure to bring water and wear hiking boots.
Meet at El Moro Visitor Center (Coastline Highway / School-State Park
stoplight).
At 8 p.m. on Saturday enjoy a campfire slideshow on tide pools.
Meet at amphitheater at Pelican Point parking lot No. 4. (Newport
Coast Drive stoplight, left at kiosk to last parking lot).
Monday to June 27, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Camp Wild for children ages 7
to 11 to learn about our natural surroundings -- riparian and
wetlands habitats, watersheds, estuary and ocean. $50 per child
registration required.
El Moro Visitor Center is open Tuesday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1
p.m. and Saturday 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 8 a.m. on Sunday join the equestrian ride
through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. At 8:30 a.m. on Sunday
experience the 3.2 mile, three-hour Geology hike in Laurel Canyon. At
7:30 a.m. on June 28 participate in guided eight-mile, five-hour
Aerobic Hike in Emerald Canyon. At 8 a.m. on June 29 participate in
guided drop-in mountain bike ride that orients new visitors to Laguna
Coast Wilderness Park trails.
Laguna Coast
Wilderness Park
20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Information: (949) 923-2235 or www.ocparks.com, nonprofit support
group Web sites www.lagunacanyon.org and www.lagunagreenbelt.org.
Call the rangers and ask about special group hikes for schools,
scouts and other organizations and clubs. Parking Fee $2. No dogs.
Wilderness access: Willow Canyon Staging Area every Saturday and
Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 20101 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 Staging Area every Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4
p.m. for hikers only on specified trails without guides. On Laguna
Canyon Road. Trails include Barbara’s Lake, the largest of the Laguna
Lakes, Orange County’s only natural lakes.
Special Activities: Guided hikes in Laurel and Emerald Canyons by
Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. volunteers. Every Saturday at 8 a.m., 3.5-mile
guided hike through Laurel Canyon. Every second Sunday at 7:30 a.m.,
six-mile, three-hour Emerald Canyon loop hike. 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 at www.lagunagreenbelt.org.
* Activities compiled by Marla Smith, 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
949-855-PARK (7275).
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