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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), unless otherwise indicated. Information: (949) 497-7647 or via e-mail wbonnin@parks.ca.gov. Rain cancels.

  • Native plant hike, 9 a.m. Saturday.
  • Backcountry hike, 9 a.m. Sunday.
  • Tidepool walk, noon Sunday. -0.6 low tide; meet at Pelican Point parking lot #2 at the top of the boardwalk (from Coast Highway, turn toward coast at Newport Coast stoplight; turn right at the kiosk; left into the first lot).
  • 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 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; open 7 a.m. to sunset, but parking lot is only open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., $3.

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    Dilley Preserve on Laguna Canyon Road is closed indefinitely due to road construction.

    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.

    Laguna Greenbelt Inc. leads a hike at 9 a.m. Saturdays. Information: (949) 923-2235. All programs meet at Willow Canyon.

    The Nature Conservancy leads a full schedule of hikes, mountain bike tours and equestrian rides within Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve. Information: (714) 832-7478.

    ALISO AND WOOD CANYONS

    Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, 28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel; (949) 923-2200; www.ocparks.com: Open daily all year, 7 a.m. to sunset, for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians; parking, $3.

    Orange County rangers and a groundskeeper staff the park daily; free 30-minute ranger-led Discovery Hike offered each second and fourth Saturday at noon. Orange County Natural History Museum located at the park entrance; call before visiting to confirm museum is open. (949) 831-3287.

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