Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park 28373...

Aliso & 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.

On Dec. 13 and each second and fourth Saturday of the month the

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

for all ages. Meet at noon at the park entrance.

On Dec. 10 hear U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist T’Shaka Toure

discuss vernal pool ecology. Information: (949) 831-3287.

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, 6 a.m. to sunset.

Special Event: On Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. SHARE Mountain

Bike Club will host a bicycle Expo and Swap Meet at the Reef Point

parking lot (Coast Highway and Reef Point) as a fundraiser for the

Crystal Cove Interpretive Assn.

On Saturday, at 8 a.m. join a South Coast Audubon shorebird walk.

Meet at the parking lot next to the boardwalk entrance. Take a tide

pool walk on Sunday, at 2 p.m. Meet at Pelican Point Parking Lot 2

(Coast Highway and Newport Coast stoplight). Information: (949)

497-7647.

El Moro Visitors Center is open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday and

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

Crystal Cove Historic District Visitors Center is open Friday,

Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Crystal Cove’s Resource Management Team is seeking

volunteers.Information: (949) 497-7645.

Irvine Ranch

Land Reserve

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

Special Activities: On Saturday at 8 a.m. bikers meet for a

12-mile, three- to four-hour ride through Shady Canyon and along

Serrano ridgeline. On Sunday, Dec. 7 challenge yourself with an

11-mile, five-hour hike in the same area or meet at 9 a.m. for an

equestrian ride. On Sunday, Dec. 14 at 9 a.m. take an easy

three-mile, two-hour hike in Laguna Laurel. On Dec. 18 and every

third Thursday mountain bikers meet at 8 a.m. for a six- to 10-mile,

two-hour ride in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

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

sites, www.lagunacanyon.org and www.lagunagreenbelt.org

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.

Jim Dilley Staging Area, on Laguna Canyon Road, is open every

Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Special Activities: Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. docent volunteers lead

a Laurel Loop hike Dec. 6 and 13 and every Saturday at 8 a.m.

Information: (949) 923-2235.

New: Help with restoration projects on Dec. 20 and every third

Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. Meet at the Willow Canyon Staging area.

Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. welcomes volunteers. Call (949) 497-8190 for

information.

* Activities compiled by Ellen Girardeau Kempler. For more

information about the LAGUNA CANYON FOUNDATION visit

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