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OUTDOOR CALENDAR

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Note: Wildfire season is here. Be extra careful with fire in parks and wilderness areas. Sunscreen, sturdy shoes and water are wilderness essentials, along with any medications you require. Wilderness areas may be closed during periods of extreme fire danger.

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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. $10 day-use parking fee.

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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.

?Backcountry hike: 9 a.m. Sunday, Ecology of Crystal Cove. Meet at El Moro Visitor Center. $10 day-use parking fee.

?Celebrate National Trails Day: 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers will meet at the El Moro Visitor Center to help pull non-native weeds along El Moro Canyon. Sponsored in part by Laguna Canyon Foundation & REI who will provide snacks, water and a free wicking T-shirt. For reservations call (949) 923.2235

?Geology of Crystal Cove State Park: 1 p.m. Saturday. Join a beachside walking tour and learn about the geology of the area. Meet at Los Trancos parking lot at the trailer (on coast highway, turn inland at stoplight “Los Trancos.”) $10 day-use fee.

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LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

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

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 open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., $3.

?Keep It Wild Volunteer Day: 8 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Volunteers are invited to help Laguna Canyon Foundation and OC Parks staff with restoration projects and trail maintenance. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Big Bend Staging Area (please ask for directions when making reservations). Reservations required, call (949) 923-2235. Parking fee waived.

?Intermediate Mountain Bike Ride: 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday. Enjoy ocean and canyon views on this 13-mile ride over steep terrain (2,200-foot gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer mountain bike trail assistant Jeff Bartel. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Big Bend Staging Area (ask for directions when making reservations) Reservations and helmets required; call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donations welcome.

?Full Moon Hike: 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday. Join O.C. Resource Specialist Laura Cohen and Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists at sunset for this moderate, 3.5 mile-hike through Laurel and Willow canyons and up to Bommer Ridge for spectacular views under a full moon. Bring a flashlight and water (binoculars, snacks and beverages, too, if you like). Please wear warm clothes (long pants and a jacket) and sturdy hiking shoes. Inclement weather will cancel. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area (20101 Laguna Canyon Road, south of El Toro Road intersection). Reservations required, call (949) 923-2235. Program: $5/person. Parking: $3.

?Fitness Hike: 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday. Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this strenuous and fast-paced, 4-mile hike with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve (east side of Laguna Canyon Road/SR-133, north of 73 Toll Road). Reservations required, call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donations welcome.


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