Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park 28373...

Aliso and

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 dogs.

Special Activities: Learn about the canyons’ history, plants,

animals and trails. From noon until 12:30 p.m. participate in an easy

ranger-led walk on Saturday, Feb. 22. Please meet at park

headquarters. Opportunities for additional hiking programs can be

arranged by calling Ranger Carroll at (949) 923-2200.

The Orange County Natural History Museum is at the Park entrance

and open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Ongoing exhibits

include live animals and displays of birds, fossils, butterflies and

Indian artifacts. The Museum wants your recyclable cans and bottles!

Bring your California Redemption Value items to the recycling bins at

Aliso and Woods Canyons Wilderness Park.

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

State Web site www.parks.ca.gov local Web site

www.crystalcovestatepark.com

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

bicycling and equestrian use. The park includes areas of beach, bluff

top and backcountry with access at a number of different points.

Parking $5. Dogs are allowed only on paved paths above the beach.

Special Activities: At 9 a.m. on Feb. 16, 22 and 23 join

docent-led backcountry hikes. Hikes are 3 to 5 miles and last about 2

hours. Be sure to bring water and wear hiking boots. At 9 a.m. on

Feb. 15 join docent-led Winter Plant Hike and learn about our

seasonal flora. From 9 a.m. to noon participate in Volunteer

Day-Habitat Restoration and help clean the environment. Wear sturdy

shoes and bring shovel and gloves. From 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 16

look for migrating whales that weigh up to 40 tons and reach 50 feet

in length during Gray Whale Sunday.

For all hikes and Habitat Restoration Day please meet at El Moro

Visitor Center (School-State Park stoplight). For Gray Whale Sunday

meet at Pelican Point parking lot No. 2 at the end of the boardwalk

(Newport Coast stoplight).

From 11:30 a.m. to sunset on Feb. 20 artists are invited to paint

at Crystal Cove during the State Parks Commission tour to show

support for a new cultural center with an arts and science program.

El Moro Visitor Center is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and

Sundays and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Crystal Cove Historic District Visitor 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.

The Irvine Ranch

Land Reserve

The Nature Conservancy (714) 832-7478 or [email protected]

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 9 a.m. this Saturday and Sunday, and Feb.

22 and 23, join guided “drop-in” mountain bike rides that orient new

visitors to the trails. At 8 a.m. on Saturday experience coastal sage

scrub habitat, chaparral and oak woodlands during a guided, two- to

three-mile, two- to three-hour hike of Laguna Laurel north of Dilley.

At 9 a.m. on Feb. 20 join “Third Thursday” guided bike ride for a

six- to 10-mile, two-to three-hour event. At 7:30 a.m. on Feb. 22

join docent-led, moderately strenuous, eight-mile, five-hour hike of

Emerald Canyon. At 9 a.m. on Feb. 23 join docent-led Equestrian Ride

through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

(949) 923-2235 or www.ocparks.com

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

scouts and other organizations and clubs. Parking Fee $2. No dogs.

Special Activities: At 8 a.m. to noon on Feb. 15 join park

supporters and lend a hand during Habitat Restoration at Laguna Coast

Wilderness Park. Wear sturdy shoes and bring water, shovel and gloves

for cactus and acorn planting.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Activities:

Wilderness access: Every Saturday and Sunday, 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, Orange

County’s only natural lakes.

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

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

reservations. There is $2 donation per hiker.

Laguna Heights: Open 7 a.m. to sunset daily year round, 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 online at www.lagunagreenbelt.org.

* Activities compiled by Marla Smith 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 855-7275 (PARK).