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).