Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park 28373...

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel

Park Information: (949) 923-2200 or https://www.ocparks.com

The park is open daily all year, 7 a.m. to sunset, for hiking,

bicycling and equestrian use. Parking is $3. No pets.

Special hiking programs can be arranged by calling Ranger Carroll

at (949) 923-2299. The ranger gives a free 30- to 45-minute Discovery

Nature Talk suitable for all ages each second and fourth Saturday.

Meet at noon at the park entrance.

The Orange County Natural History Museum, open Wednesday through

Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., is at the park entrance. For

information, call (949) 831-3287. Monthly Lecture: On Aug. 11, at 7

p.m. biologist Marty Rigby will discuss marine life in local tide

pools. Lectures are held the second Wednesday of each month at Acorn

Naturalists, 155 El Camino Real, Tustin. Information: 1-800-422-8886.

Crystal Cove State Park

8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach

Park Conditions: (949) 494-3539; Interpretive Programs: (949)

497-7647

https://www.crystalcove

statepark.com

The park is open daily all year, 6 a.m. to sunset, for hiking,

bicycling and horseback riding. The park includes backcountry, bluff

top and beach areas, with access at different points. Parking $10.

Dogs are allowed only on paved paths above the beach.

Docent-led backcountry hikes are scheduled for most Saturdays and

Sundays at 9 a.m. Upcoming dates include August 1 and 7. Hikes are 3

to 5 miles and last about two hours. Summer Specials: Take a

three-mile hike under the full moon on Saturday or attend astronomy

night with Ranger Mike Eaton and the Orange County Astronomers Assn.

at 8 p.m. on Aug. 7 ($5 per person or $10 per family). Be sure to

bring water and wear hiking boots. Meet at El Moro Visitor Center

(Coast Highway, School-State Park stoplight). Make reservations now

for a bat walk with Stephanie Remington on Friday, Aug. 13 at 6:30

p.m. ($5 per person).

The state park has a variety of volunteer opportunities. For

details, call (949) 497-7647.

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: Mountain bikers are invited to ride at 8:15

a.m. Aug. 7. A three-mile, three-hour hike through Laurel Canyon

starts the same day at 8 a.m.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

(949) 923-2235 or https://www.ocparks.com and nonprofit support

group websites, https://www.lagunacanyon.org and

https://www.lagunagreenbelt.org

Call the rangers to ask about special group hikes for schools,

scouts and other organizations and clubs. Parking is $3. No dogs.

Wilderness Access: Willow Canyon Staging Area, at 20101 Laguna

Canyon Road (just south of El Toro Road intersection), is open every

Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for hikers, equestrians and

mountain bicyclists on specified trails without guides.

* Activities compiled by Ellen Girardeau Kempler, 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, visit

www.lagunacanyon.org or call (949) 855-PARK (7275).