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).