Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park 28373...

Aliso & 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, 7 a.m. to sunset for hiking,

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

Special Activities: On Friday, July 25, Summer Night Bug Lighting,

8 p.m. to 10 p.m., join entomologists to attract, identify and study

insects of the night. $5 per person/$10 per family. Space limited,

reservations lhsmedent@aol.com or (949) 831-3287. Bring flashlight,

magnifying glass, insect field guide book, hat, light jacket, shoes,

no sandals please, no pets.

Nature Discovery Talk: A 30-minute talk held on Saturday, July 26.

Learn about the canyons’ history, plants, animals and trails. Meet at

noon in front of the Natural History Museum at the entrance to the

Park.

Opportunities for special hiking programs can be arranged by

calling Ranger Carroll at (949) 923-2299.

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

www.crystalcovestatepark.com

The park is open daily, year round, 6 a.m. to sunset 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: Saturdays and Sundays, July 19, 20, 26, 27 at

9 a.m. join docent-led backcountry hikes. Hikes are 3 to 5 miles and

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

Meet at El Moro Visitors Center (Coast Highway, School-State Park

stoplight).

On Saturday Rick Behl conducts an informative slide show followed

by a sunset geology walk along the beach. Meet at 6 p.m. at the

Historic District Visitors Center. Park across the street at Los

Trancos.

El Moro Visitors 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 Visitors 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 Saturday participate in a guided

“drop-in” mountain bike ride that orients new visitors to Laguna

Coast Wilderness Park trails. On Sunday at 8 a.m. enjoy an equestrian

ride through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. At 4 p.m. on Saturday,

tackle the eight-mile / three-hour AEROBIC hike in Emerald Canyon.

Also on July 26, at 4 p.m., a three-mile / three-hour GEOLOGY hike

through Laurel Canyon. At 8 a.m. on Sunday a two- to three-hour, two-

to three-mile easy walk in Laguna Laurel.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

(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 just north of the 73 Toll 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, meet at Willow Canyon Staging

Area. Saturday and July 26 at 8 a.m., three and a half-mile guided

hike through Laurel Canyon. Call for reservations. $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 Guinevare Breeding of 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 949-855-PARK (7275).