LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK Laguna Coast Wilderness...

LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road.;

reservations/ information, (949) 923-2235; o7www.ocparks.comf7:

Open weekends, 7 a.m. to sunset. Parking lot hours: 8 a.m. to 4

p.m.

* “Be a Wildlife Biologist,” three-hour, three-mile docent-led

hike in Laurel Canyon Saturday, 8 a.m.

* Two-hour mountain bike ride Saturday, 5 p.m.

* Three-hour, three-mile hike in Laurel Canyon Sunday, Sept. 25,

8:30 a.m.

Reservations, The Nature Conservancy, (714) 832-7478 or e-mail

irvineranch@tnc.org

Willow Canyon

Laguna Canyon Road, just south of the El Toro Road intersection.

Open to hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers on specified trails

without guides; parking, $3.

* Bird-watching hike Saturday, 8 to 10:30 a.m.

* Wilderness Access Volunteer training Sunday, 9 to 11 a.m.

* Geology hike 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25.

For information about the above events, call Laguna Greenbelt

Inc., (949) 923-2235.

Dilley Preserve

on Laguna Canyon Road is closed for at least six months due to

road construction.

Laguna Heights,

the trailhead for West Ridge trail and other routes into Aliso and

Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, located at Top of the World on Alta

Laguna Blvd., is open daily all year, 7 a.m. to sunset. Docent-led

tours by Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. offered at 8 a.m. on second and

fourth Saturdays.

ALISO AND WOOD CANYONS

Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, 28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna

Niguel ; (949) 923-2200; o7www.ocparks.comf7: Open daily all year,

7 a.m. to sunset, for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians;

parking, $3.

Orange County rangers and a groundskeeper staff the park daily;

free, 30-minute, ranger-led Discovery Hike offered each second and

fourth Saturday at noon. Orange County Natural History Museum; (949)

831-3287. Located at the park entrance; call before visiting to

confirm museum is open.

CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK

Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach,

has 3.5 miles of beach and 2,000 acres of undeveloped woodland. $10

day-use parking fee.

The park is open 6 a.m. to sunset daily. Docent-led backcountry

hikes are scheduled for most Saturdays and Sundays at 9 a.m. Hikes

are three to five miles and last about two hours. All hikes meet at

the El Moro Visitor Center. For more information, call (949)

497-7647.

Historic Tour

Take a two-hour walk through the 12-acre Historic District at

Crystal Cove State Park at 10 a.m. the second Saturday of the month.

Learn about the colorful past of the cove and some of the long-time

residents and hear about the transformation taking placeto make the

cottages available for public enjoyment. Meet at Los Trancos parking

lot at the trailer (on Coast Highway turn inland at stoplight for Los

Trancos). $10 parking fee.

* Wednesday at 6 p.m., enjoy the autumn equinox on a guided beach

walk with music. Meet at Pelican Point parking lot 2 (turn coastward

at stoplight for Newport Coast from Coast Highway; turn right at the

kiosk and left into the first lot.)

* Saturday, September 24 at 8 a.m., Mind, Body, & Spirit Mornings,

hike through backcountry intermingled with sessions of deep breathing

and stretching. Meet at the ranger station (inland at stoplight for

School-State Park). Day-use parking fee $10.00

* 3rd Annual Tropical Gala and Coastal Splendor Plein Air

Invitational Art Show & Sale, 5-10 p.m. Saturday, September 24.

Tickets at www.crystalcovealliance.org