Wilderness park backcountry can be closed for...

Wilderness park backcountry can be closed for two or more days after

significant rainfall. Call to check accessibility.

SHARE Poker Ride at Crystal Cove May 7

The SHARE Mountain Bike Club, in collaboration with Arthritis

Foundation, will have its Poker Ride at Crystal Cove State Park, El

Moro Canyon from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 7.

This event seeks to raise awareness and funds to fight arthritis.

Proceeds also help underwrite SHARE club programs, including trail

maintenance and responsible mountain biking projects.

More than 200 riders are expected to participate. The rider(s) who

collect the winning poker hand will compete for a grand prize of a

weekend for two in Las Vegas at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino.

Second- through fourth-place prizes will be offered along with

opportunity drawings, complimentary breakfast and music. A ride

workshop for kids 5 to 11 will be available for $5.

Cost is $55 or $100 for teams of two. To register, or for

information, go online to https://www.sharemtb.com, e-mail

[email protected] or call (714) 963-4922.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park at 20101 Laguna Canyon Road is 6,400

acres.

The wilderness is accessed on designated trails from Willow Canyon

staging area, which is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and

Sundays for hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers on specified

trails.

Laguna Heights, the trailhead for West Ridge trail and other

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

sunset daily all year.

Laguna Greenbelt Inc. docent tour volunteers lead hikes at 8 a.m.

each second and fourth Saturday of the month, including April 9. Meet

at Willow Canyon Staging Area. There’s a nominal $2 donation per

hiker. For reservations, call (949) 923-2235.

Special activities: Help with restoration projects from 8 to 11

a.m. every third Saturday of the month. All volunteers receive a free

“Keep It Wild” t-shirt provided by the Laguna Canyon Foundation. A

free wilderness access volunteer session will be from 9 to 11 a.m.

April 16.

Docent-led hikes, mountain bike rides and equestrian tours are

also available. Parking is $3. Call (949) 923-2235 for directions.

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. The

park is open 6 a.m. to sunset daily. Due to recent rains, the

backcountry is open only for hiking until further notice.

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.

Special activities include a three-to five-mile backcountry hike

at 9 a.m. Sunday. Meet at the El Moro Visitor Center. A tidepool walk

will be at 1 p.m. Sunday from Pelican Point Parking Lot #2 at the

Newport Coast entrance. Celebrate the park’s 25th anniversary from 8

a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday with free family activity day. Parking fees

will be waived for those attending the event.

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

640-5220.

Dogs are allowed on paved areas only. Wilderness campsites are

available. Parking is $8. For interpretive programs, call (949)

497-7647. For park conditions, call (949) 494-3539.

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, 28373 Alicia Parkway,

Laguna Niguel. The 4,000-acre coastal canyon park is open from 7 a.m.

to sunset daily for hikers, horseback riding and mountain biking.

Parking is $3.

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

suitable for all ages the second and fourth Saturday, including April

9. Meet at noon at the park entrance.

Located at the park entrance is the Orange County Natural History

Museum; call before visiting to confirm if it’s open. For information

call (949) 831-3287.

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

of the each month at Acorn Naturalists, 1255 El Camino Real, Tustin.

For information, call 800-422-8886.

No dogs allowed. For information, call (949) 923-2200.

Irvine Ranch

Land Reserve

Participants interested in a free tour meet at Laguna Coast

Wilderness Park, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road.

Tours require a reservation; call the Nature Conservancy at (714)

832-7478.

A mountain bike ride is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Meet at

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park’s Willow Canyon staging area.

A three-mile, three hour wildflower hike is scheduled for 8:30

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