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.

Aliso and Wood

Wilderness hikes

The 4,000-acre Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, at 28373

Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel, is open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily

for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Parking is $3.

The ranger gives a free 30- to 45-minute discovery nature hike

suitable for all ages on the second and fourth Saturday of the month.

Meet at noon at the park entrance.

Located at the entrance is the Orange County Natural History

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

For information, call (949) 831-3287.

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

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

May 11 Steve Boyd will discuss Southern California wildflowers. For

information, call (800) 422-8886.

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

Backcountry hikes

at Crystal Cove

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.

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

640-5220.

Hike Irvine Ranch

Land Reserve

A three-hour, three-mile hike through Laurel Canyon will depart at

8 a.m. Saturday. A two-mile, two-hour yoga hike and meditative walk

will leave at 9 a.m. Sunday. Join a guide for a bike ride at 5 p.m.

Saturday or at 9 a.m. Thursday. Tours are also available by special

request. Information: (714) 832-7478.

Summer Nature Camp

Orange County Wild, a coalition dedicated to preserving the

county’s open spaces, will host a weeklong summer program for

children from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 27 to July 1. The camp will give

students hands-on exploration of natural surroundings. Professional

naturalists will lead campers on visits to parks, harbors and

wetlands throughout Orange County, including Upper Newport Bay,

Bommer Canyon, the Irvine Open Space Preserve, Crystal Cove State

Park and the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Participants will earn an

Amateur Naturalist certificate upon completion of the program.

The camp is open to children 7 to 10 years old. The cost is $75

per child. Space is limited and reservations are requested by June

10. To register, call (949) 497-7647 or e-mail [email protected].