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 7 a.m. to sunset daily, year round for hiking,
bicycling and equestrian use. Parking $2. No pets.
Nature Discovery Talk on Saturday, Oct 11. Learn about the
canyons’ history, plants, animals and trails. Meet in front of the
Natural History Museum at the entrance to the Park at noon for the
30-minute talk.
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 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: Docent-led backcountry hikes on Saturday and
Sunday, Oct. 4 and 5 at 9 a.m. Hikes are three to five miles and last
about 2 hours. Be sure to bring water and wear hiking boots. Meet at
El Moro Visitors Center (PCH, School-State Park stoplight).
At 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 join the monthly Historic District
Walk. View historic cottages on the Crystal Cove coast. Meet at the
Los Trancos parking lot by the trailer (Los Trancos stoplight).
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.
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 4 p.m. Saturday join an eight-mile, four-
to five-hour hike in Emerald Canyon. Sunday at 8 a.m. two- to
three-hour, two- to three-mile easy walk in Laguna Laurel. On
Saturday, Oct. 4. at 8 a.m. gear up for the 12-mile/three- to
four-hour mountain bike ride through the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
and along the Shady and Serrano ridgelines.
Sunday, Oct. 5 at 8 a.m. join the 11-mile, five-hour hike through
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and along the Shady and Serrano
ridgelines.
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 by Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. docent volunteers,
call (949) 923-2235 for reservations and information: At 8 a.m. every
Saturday join a guided hike through Laurel Canyon. Third Sunday at
7:30 a.m. enjoy the six-mile guided hike through Emerald Canyon.
Hikers meet at Willow Canyon Staging Area. $2 donation per hiker. NEW
-- every third Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. help with restoration
projects.
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).
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