Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park...

Aliso & Wood Canyons

Wilderness Park

28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel

Park Information: (949) 831-2790 or www.ocparks.com

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

hiking, bicycling and equestrian use. Parking $2.

Join Ranger Carroll for a short nature walk. Meet at noon in front

of the Natural History Museum at the entrance to the park. A walk

will be held on Oct. 26. Walks are free to the public and last 30

minutes. Special programs can be arranged by calling Ranger Carroll

at (949) 831-2790, ext. 2.

The Orange County Natural History Museum, at the park entrance, is

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.

(949) 494-3539; Park Conditions, (949) 497-7647; Interpretive

Programs, www.parks.ca.gov.

Visit the new Web site at www.crystalcovestatepark.com

The park is open daily, year round, from 6 a.m. to sunset for

hiking, bicycling and equestrian use. The park includes beach, bluff

top and backcountry with several access points. Parking $3.

Special Activities: Join docent-led backcountry hikes every

Saturday and Sunday. Meet at El Moro Visitor Center promptly at 9

a.m. Hikes are three to five miles and last about two hours. Be sure

to bring water and wear hiking boots. A Halloween hike is planned for

Thursday, Oct. 31. Reservations are required.

El Moro Visitor Center is open Tuesdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to

1 p.m. and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Crystal Cove Historic District Visitor Center is open from 10 a.m.

to 4 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Crystal Cove Interpretive Association welcomes new volunteers,

call (949) 497-7648.

The Irvine Ranch Land Reserve

The Nature Conservancy (714) 832-7478

All participants meet at the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Headquarters on Laguna Canyon Road just south of the El Toro Road

intersection. tours are free, but require reservations!

Laguna Coast Wilderness

Park Activities:

Drop-in mountain bike rides; be ready to ride at 8 a.m. Sunday,

Oct. 20.

Hike Laguna Laurel (north of Dilley Preserve), two to three miles

for two to three hours to overlook Barbara’s Lake at 8 a.m. on

Saturday, Oct. 19.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna

Beach.

(949) 494-9352 or www.ocparks.com.

Call the rangers about special group hikes for schools, scouts and

other organizations. Parking fee $2.

Wilderness Access: Every Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

at Willow Canyon Road staging area on 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 Greenbelt Preserve: Every Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Hikers only on specified trails without guides. Trails

include Barbara’s Lake, the largest of the Laguna Lakes and the only

natural lakes in Orange County.

Guided hikes in Laurel Canyon: Every Saturday at 8 a.m., 3.5-mile

guided hike by Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. volunteers. Call for

reservations and there is $2 donation per hiker.

Laguna Heights: Open daily from 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 to help with wilderness

access. Call (949) 497-8190 for more information or visit

www.lagunagreenbelt.org.

* Activities compiled by Cindy Obrand from the 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 949-855-7275(PARK).