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 pets.

Nature Discovery Talk. A 30-minute talk held on Saturday and Sept.

13. 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 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: Docent-led backcountry hikes on Saturday and

Sunday and Sept. 6, 7, 13 and 14 at 9 a.m. 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).

Friday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m. have a new adventure -- a night at

the movies. View a vintage movie with scenes shot at the Historic

District. Meet at the Pelican Point No. 4 amphitheater and bring your

popcorn and a blanket.

Coming soon: Saturday, Sept. 20 Coastal Cleanup from 9 a.m. to

noon; Sept. 20 and 21 “Celebrating the Past and Rebuilding the

Future” fund-raiser and celebration event. www.crystalcove.net for

more information.

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: Saturday, Sept. 13, at 8 a.m. Frank Weagrant

will conduct a three-mile / three hour geology walk through Laurel

Canyon. On Sunday, Sept. 14 at 8 a.m. gear up for the 11-mile /

five-hour hike through the Shady and Serrano ridgelines of Laguna

Coast Wilderness Park.

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. 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. On Saturday and Sept. 6 at 8 a.m. take the 3.5 mile Laurel

Loop. On Sept. 21 at 7:30 a.m. enjoy the 6-mile guided hike through

Emerald Canyon. $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, 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).