Outdoor Calendar

Note: Wilderness parks are closed for 48 hours or more after significant rainfall. Parks may be closed due to rain conditions or mud. Call (949) 923-2235 or visit websites for current conditions

CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK

Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 N. Coast Hwy, has 3.5 miles of beach and 2,000 acres of undeveloped woodland. $15 day-use parking fee.

The park is open 6 a.m. to sunset daily. Docent-led backcountry hikes are scheduled for 9 a.m. most Saturdays and Sundays. Hikes are three to five miles, and last about two hours.

Note: Hikes meet at one of these locations:

?El Moro Visitor Center “” from Coast Highway, turn inland at the School/State Park light and follow park signs.

?Los Trancos “” from Coast Highway, turn inland at Los Trancos. Meet near the trailer.

?Pelican Point Lot No. 2 “” From Coast Highway, turn coastward at Newport Coast.

For more information, call (949) 497-7647 or e-mail [email protected].

?Gray Whale “Twalk:” 9 a.m. Saturday. Learn about the magnificent migration of the California State marine mammal. Meet at Pelican Point Lot No. 4. $15 day-use parking fee.

?Earth Day work party: 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Volunteers will assist in a variety of projects including building a fence at El Moro, removing irrigation pipe at Pelican Point, painting curbs, and picking up trash. Meet at the Los Trancos lot. To register and for more details visit www.calparks.org.

?Sunset Photography Walk: 4 p.m. Sunday. Learn how to take beautiful scenic photos and gorgeous wildflowers. Meet at the El Moro Visitor Center. $15 day-use parking fee.

?Tidepool Walk: 1 p.m. April 24 or April 25. Enjoy a guided tidepool walk at Pelican Point. A volunteer will help identify animals and describe some awesome adaptations. Meet at Pelican Point Parking Lot No. 2. $15 day-use parking fee.

LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

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

Rangers staff the park daily. Open daily, 7 a.m. to sunset, including holidays. Parking lot hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn more about volunteering or helping Laguna Canyon Foundation to preserve, protect and enhance the South Coast Wilderness, visit www.lagunacanyon.org or call (949) 497-8324.

Willow Canyon on Laguna Canyon Road, just south of the El Toro Road intersection. Open to hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers on specified trails; open 7 a.m. to sunset, but parking lot is only open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., $3.

Dilley Preserve on Laguna Canyon Road, just north of the 73 Toll Road: Open daily 7 a.m. to sunset. Parking $3; lot open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Little Sycamore Canyon on Laguna Canyon Road, just south of the 405 Freeway interchange: The James and Rosemary Nix Nature Center hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; parking $3; lot open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

?Yoga for Kids: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Children ages 6 to 10 will explore a yoga experience in a wilderness setting with foundation volunteers. Bring a yoga mat, towel and water. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $18 for 6-class series; $3 per child drop in.

?Elder Trek: 9 to 11 a.m. today. Enjoy the outdoors and learn about diverse plant life on this easy, level, two-mile hike with foundation volunteer naturalists. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2/person.

?Tot Walk: 9 to 10 a.m. today. Bring your wee ones to explore our wild backyard on this easy walk with foundation volunteers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

?Keep It Wild Volunteer Day: 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers help Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks staff with restoration projects. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Free (parking fee waived).

?Writing in Nature: 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday. Come deepen your nature connection with English professor Thea Gavin on a two-mile hike (400-foot gain) over uneven terrain, as you look, listen, laugh and write under the oak and sycamore canopy of the James Dilley Preserve, a place full of bird-songs and other stories. Bring a notebook, pen(cil), and something to sit on. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

?April Earth Day Projects and Weekend Walks: 10 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday. Drop into the Nix Nature Center for an Earth Day craft project or a short walk on Mary’s Trail. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center. Reservations required: Call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3.

?April Earth Day Projects and Weekend Walks: 1 to 1:45 p.m. Sunday. Drop into the Nix Nature Center for an Earth Day craft project or a short walk on Mary’s Trail. Special April Earth Day Saturday walks will be offered on Mary’s Trail from 10 to 10:45 a.m. and Sunday walks will be from 1 to 1:45 p.m. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3.

?Birding Hike: 8 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Spot resident and spring migratory birds with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists on this two-mile hike over uneven terrain through one of the most diverse plant communities in the U.S. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

?Ridge Park Fitness hike: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday. Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this difficult, strenuous and fast-paced, 3.5-mile hike (700-foot elevation gain) over very steep, uneven terrain with foundation volunteers. Not for beginners. Hiking poles suggested. Ridge Park Staging Area. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

?Baby and Me: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday. Explore Mother Nature on your way to fitness. This fitness oriented 2-mile hike (400-foot elevation gain) is for expecting moms and mothers with babies on board. Trails not accessible for strollers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

?Yoga for Seniors: 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. Enjoy a peaceful, 1.5-mile walk in our canyon as you learn yoga stretches, breathing and relaxation exercises with foundation senior volunteers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

?Dilley Fitness hike: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this strenuous, fast-paced, 4.8-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain (400-foot elevation gain) with foundation volunteers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

?Junior Ranger Program #3, Keeping People Safe: 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Rangers help keep people safe and rescue people who get hurt in the park. Make your own first aid kit and learn more about how rangers keep visitors safe. Second- through fourth-graders can earn a Junior Ranger badge by participating in six workshops: Ranger’s Life, Finding Your Way, Keeping People Safe, Caring for the Park Plants and Animals, Leaving No Trace and Teaching Visitors. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center. Reservations required: call (949) 923-2235. Program: $5 per student (includes material fee). Parking: $3.