Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park...

Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park

28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel

Park Information: (949) 923-2200 or www.ocparks.com

The park is open 7 a.m. to sunset, daily, year round for hiking,

bicycling and equestrian use. Parking $2. No dogs.

Special Activities: Learn about the canyons’ history, plants,

animals and trials. Participate in an easy ranger-led walk from noon

to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 23. Please meet at park headquarters.

Opportunities for additional hiking programs can be arranged by

calling Ranger Carroll at (949) 923-2200.

The Orange County Natural History Museum is at the park entrance

and open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Ongoing

exhibits include live animals and displays of birds, fossils,

butterflies and Indian artifacts.

The museum wants your recyclable cans and bottles! Bring your

California Redemption Value items to the recycling bins at Aliso and

Woods Canyons Wilderness Park.

Special Activity: Lee Shoemaker will conduct a light hike

Geological Field Trip from 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 24. Meet at the

parking lot of the Aliso and Woods Canyons Wilderness Park. Wear good

shoes and long pants. For more information: (949) 831-3287 or

www.ocnha.mus.ca.us.

Crystal Cove

State Park

8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach

Park Conditions: (949) 494-3539; Interpretive Programs: (949)

497-7647

State Web site: www.parks.ca.gov; local Web site:

www.crystalcovestatepark.com

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

bicycling and equestrian use. The park includes areas of beach, bluff

top and backcountry with access at a number of different points.

Parking $3. Dogs are allowed only on paved paths above the beach.

Special Activities: Join docent-led backcountry hikes at 9 a.m.

Saturday and Sunday. Meet at El Moro Visitor Center. Hikes are three

to five miles and last about two hours. Be sure to bring water and

wear hiking boots. Call for reservations.

El Moro Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and

Sundays and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

Crystal Cove Historic District Visitor Center is open 10 a.m. to 4

p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Crystal Cove Interpretive Assn. welcomes new volunteers, call

(949) 497-7648.

The Irvine Ranch

Land Reserve

The Nature Conservancy (714) 832-7478 or irvineranch@tnc.org.

Participants meet at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Headquarters on

Laguna Canyon Road just south of the El Toro Road intersection. All

tours are free, but require reservations.

Special Activities: Join “drop-in” mountain bike rides that

orientate new visitors to the trails at 9 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays,

Nov. 23, 24 and 30 and Dec. 1. Meet at the Laguna Coast Wilderness

Park. Participate in an eight-mile, five-hour, moderately strenuous

hike of Emerald Canyon at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.

Directions regarding meeting area are obtained upon reservations.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park

20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach

(949) 923-2235 or www.ocparks.com.

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

scouts and other organizations and clubs. Parking Fee $2. No dogs.

Special Activities: Explore sections of the park not usually open

from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Hike & Help Event. Bring water,

hat and sunscreen. Wear sturdy shoes.

Parking: Dilley Staging Area, just north of the toll road on

Laguna Canyon Road. Free shuttle bus service to Little Sycamore

Canyon. Willow Staging Area, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road, just south of

the El Toro Road intersection.

Stewardship Activities: Collect acorns, an ideal activity for

kids, from 8 a.m. to noon. Collection will be used in future youth

park restoration programs! Trail Work helps bring the park back to

its natural beauty. Bring shovel and gloves. Park at Willow Staging

Area and meet at the Wilderness Park Trailer at 8 a.m. sharp.

Docent-led Hikes: A variety of hikes from moderate to strenuous

are offered.

Hike On Your Own Opportunities: Discover Dilley Preserve, Little

Sycamore Canyon, and Laurel Canyon at your own pace.

For Stewardship Activities and Hikes, please check Web site or

call for start times and details: (949) 923-2235, (949) 855-7275 and

www.lagunacanyon.org.

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Activities:

Wilderness access: From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday

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: From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. every

Saturday and Sunday. 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., 3.5-mile

guided hike by Laguna Greenbelt, Inc. volunteers. Call for

reservations. There is $2 donation per hiker.

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

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

Wilderness Park.

Laguna Greenbelt Inc. welcomes volunteers, call (949) 497-8190 for

more information or online at www.lagunagreenbelt.org.

* Activities compiled by Marla Smith 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).