OUTDOOR CALENDAR

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. $10 day-use parking fee.

The park is open 6 a.m. to sunset daily. 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. Note: All hikes meet at the El Moro Visitor Center (from Coast Highway, turn inland at light for School/State Park, follow park signs). Information: (949) 497-7647 or via e-mail [email protected]. Rain cancels.

* Saturday, Feb. 11, 10 a.m. walk through the 12- acre Historic District. Meet at Los Trancos parking lot at the trailer (from Coast Highway turn inland at Los Trancos). $10 day-use fee.

* Friday, Feb. 17, 6 p.m., Valentine’s Day Night Ride for couples only (two people), with two intermediate groups and one novice group. For reservations, contact [email protected]. $15 per couple, benefiting SHARE and the Crystal Cove Interpretive Assn.

* Sunday, Feb. 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Gray Whale Sunday, park volunteers help scan the ocean for migrating whales. Binoculars, spotting scopes, whale paraphernalia and whale games for kids available. Meet at Pelican Point parking lot No. 2, at the top of the boardwalk (from Coast Highway, turn coastward at Newport Coast stoplight, right at the kiosk and left into the first lot.) $10 day-use fee

* Sunday, Feb. 19, 9 a. m., geology tour visiting diverse sites that all display a story from a different geologic time. Meet at Los Trancos parking lot at the trailer. The tour will be by car caravanning and moderate walking.

LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road; reservations and information, (949) 923-2235; www.ocparks.com.

Open daily, 7 a.m. to sunset, including holidays. Parking lot hours: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Willow Canyon on Laguna Canyon Road, just south of the El Toro Road intersection. Open to hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers on specified trails; parking, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., $3 parking fee.

* Saturday, Feb. 18, 8 to 11 a.m., ecology tour. $2 per person donation requested. The tour will be a 3.5-mile walk with an altitude gain of 700 feet. Binoculars are recommended. Rain cancels the tour.

Laguna Heights, the trailhead for West Ridge trail and routes into Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, at Top of the World on Alta Laguna Blvd., is open daily, 7 a.m. to sunset.

20060210iueavincDON LEACH / COASTLINE PILOT(LA)Surfers paddle out to catch the last waves of the day at Thalia.