Enjoy your local wilderness

Note: Wilderness parks are closed for two or more days after

significant rainfall. Call before your visit to confirm

accessibility.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

(949) 923-2235 or www.ocparks.com and nonprofit support group

websites, www.lagunacanyon.org and 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 8 a.m.

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

mountain bikers on specified trails without guides.

Dilley Preserve, on Laguna Canyon Road, just north of the 73

Tollroad: This area is closed for at least six months due to road

construction.

Laguna Heights, the trailhead for West Ridge trail and other

trails into Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, is open 7 a.m. to

sunset daily all year.

Special Activities: Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. docent volunteers lead

hikes at 8 a.m. each second and fourth Saturday of the month,

including Feb. 26. Meet at Willow Canyon Staging Area, $2 donation

per hiker. Plan now to attend a WAV (Wilderness Access Volunteer)

training class from 9 to 11 a.m. on March 20. WAVs meet and greet

park visitors. Information and reservations for both programs: (949)

923-2235.

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 all year from 6 a.m. to sunset; parking $8.

Dogs are allowed only on paved paths above the beach.

Important Note: Due to trail damage from recent rains, the

backcountry is open for hiking only (closed to equestrians and

mountain bikers) until further notice.

Docent-led backcountry hikes are scheduled for most Saturdays and

Sundays at 9 a.m., including Feb. 27. Hikes are three to five miles

and last about two hours.

Special Activities: Meet for a winter plant identification hike at

9 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 26. The newly renovated El Moro Visitor Center

is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Saturday. Meet for a guided tour of the historic district every

second Saturday of the month. For information, call (949) 640-5220.

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness

28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel

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

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

bicycling and equest- rian use. Parking is $3. No dogs.

The ranger gives a free 30- to 45-minute Discovery Nature Talk

suitable for all ages the second and fourth Saturday. Meet at noon at

the park entrance.

Located at the park entrance, the Orange County Natural History

Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For

information call (949) 831-3287 or visit www.ocnhm.org. Natural

history lectures are held at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of the each

month at Acorn Naturalists, 1255 El Camino Real, Tustin. On March 9,

Rick Behl discusses the geology of Orange County. Information: (800)

422-8886.

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.

Take a mountain bike ride at 9 a.m. Feb. 26 or 8:30 a.m. March 6.

Equestrians meet at 9 a.m. March 6 for a 3-4 hour horseback ride. Get

in shape with an 8-mile, 4-5 hour fast-paced hike through Emerald

Canyon leaving at 8 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 27.

* 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.laguna

canyon.org or call (949) 855-PARK (7275).