Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park...

Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel

Park Information: (949) 831-2790 or www.ocparks.com The park is

open daily, year round, 7 a.m. to sunset for hiking, bicycling and

equestrian use. Parking $2.

All are welcome for a free program, Astronomy Night at 8 p.m. on

Saturday, Sept. 14. Meet in front of the Natural History Museum to

join the Orange County Astronomers, Inc. as they help us gaze into

our vast universe. The Orange County Natural History Museum is

located at the Park entrance and open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Wednesday through Sunday. For more information: (949) 831-3287 or

www.ocnha.mus.ca.us.

Crystal Cove State Park

8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach

(949) 494-3539 Park Conditions (949) 497-7647 Interpretive Program

www.crystalcovestatepark.com or www.parks.ca.gov

The park is open daily, year round, 6 a.m. to sunset for hiking,

bicycling and equestrian use. Parking $3.

Special Activities: Join docent-led Backcountry Hikes on Aug. 31,

Sept. 7, 8 and 14. Meet at the El Moro Visitor Center promptly at 9

a.m. Hikes are 3 to 5 miles and last about 2 hours. Be sure to bring

water and wear hiking boots. Join a walking tour of the Historic

District at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, meet at the Los Trancos

parking lot near the trailer. Call now to volunteer for the Coastal

cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Crystal Cove Interpretive Association welcomes new volunteers,

call (949) 497-7648. The Irvine Ranch Land Reserve The Nature

Conservancy (714) 832-7478 All participants meet at the Laguna Coast

Wilderness Park headquarters on Laguna Canyon Road just south of the

El Toro Road intersection. All tours are free, but require

reservations!

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

(949) 494-9352 or www.ocparks.com

Call the rangers and ask about special group hikes for schools,

scouts and other organizations and clubs. Parking Fee $2. Wilderness

Access: Every Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Willow Canyon

Road staging area on Laguna Canyon Road just south of El Toro Road

intersection. Open for hiker, equestrian and mountain bicyclist

access on specified trails without guides.

Jim Dilley Greenbelt Preserve: Every Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m.

to 4 p.m. Hikers only on specified trails without guides. Trails

include Barbara’s Lake, the largest of the Laguna Lakes and the only

natural lakes in Orange County. Guided hikes in Laurel Canyon: Every

Saturday at 8 a.m. there is a 3.5-mile guided hike by Laguna

Greenbelt, Inc. volunteers. Call for reservations and there is $2

donation per hiker.

Laguna Heights: Open daily year round 7 a.m. to sunset. Trailhead

for West Ridge trail and other trails into Aliso and Wood Canyons

Wilderness Park. Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. welcomes volunteers to help

with wilderness access, call (949) 497-8190 for more information or

online at www.lagunagreenbelt.org Interested in becoming a Volunteer

Naturalist? It’s not too late to register for an 8-week course

starting Oct. 22. Call Saddleback College for more information, (949)

582-4555.

* Activities compiled by Mary Fegraus from the LAGUNA CANYON

FOUNDATION, a nonprofit corporation dedicated to preserving,

enhancing and protecting Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and the

adjacent coastal canyon parks. For more information check out

www.lagunacanyon.org or 949-855-7275 (PARK).