Trails Need Some TLC From Volunteers

Last month’s brush fires took a big toll on some Orange County parks, including such popular mountain biking areas as El Moro Canyon in Crystal Cove State Park and the San Juan Trail in the Cleveland National Forest off Ortega Highway.

Patrick Henry, director of the Orange County Trails Coalition, said the devastation means it will be essential to drum up more support for volunteer trail-maintenance efforts.

“Our volunteerism is more important than ever,” Henry said.

The next scheduled trail event is Sunday at Whiting Ranch Regional Park, which was untouched by the fires but--because of the closure of other parks--is being used more and is vulnerable to erosion and other problems. Experts are still assessing the damage at the fire-hit parks; Henry expects volunteer efforts to begin at those areas in the spring.

“This is the trail-building season, in between the heat of summer and the rains of winter,” Henry said. Sunday’s event, geared to mountain bikers, will probably focus on efforts to prevent erosion damage to trails as well as on clearing brush from paths and covering up trails illegally cut by park users.

The format for the event is called “ride-work-ride,” wherein participants ride their bikes to a work site inside the park, work for a period, and then ride to another station. “It’s actually a lot of fun,” Henry said.

He is hoping that some of the people drawn to the event will go on to volunteer at some of the fire-damaged parks in the spring.

“We’d love to introduce as many people as possible to volunteering” on the trail events, Henry said. The county and state face park budget cuts and need park users to help maintain the trails.

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Runners who want to work up their appetite on Thanksgiving can put in some morning miles at the Dana Point Turkey Trot.

The 16th annual event, which begins at Dana Point Harbor, includes a 5K run (starting at 7:30 a.m.), a 10K (8 a.m.) and a 2K kids run (9:30 a.m.). Race-day registration possible, and the entry fee is $20 (T-shirt is included in price). For information, call (714) 496-1555.

What: Mountain bike ride/trail maintenance.

When: Sunday, Nov. 21, 8 a.m.

Where: Whiting Ranch Regional Park.

Whereabouts: From Interstate 5, take Lake Forest Drive east to Portola Parkway and turn left. The main entrance is 1 1/2 miles along on the right.

Wherewithal: Free.

Where to call: (714) 379-2718.