Outdoor Calendar

Note: Fires of any kind are prohibited in wilderness areas. Please report any suspicious activity to park rangers. 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.

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. $15 day-use parking fee.

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.

Note: Hikes meet at one of these locations:

?El Moro Visitor Center “” from Coast Highway, turn inland at the School/State Park light and follow park signs.

?Los Trancos “” from Coast Highway, turn inland at Los Trancos. Meet near the trailer.

?Pelican Point Lot No. 2 “” From Coast Highway, turn coastward at Newport Coast.

For more information, call (949) 497-7647 or e-mail wbonnin@parks.ca.gov.

?Backcountry hike: 9 a.m. Saturday, Ecology of Crystal Cove. All hikes are three to five miles and last about two hours. Meet at the El Moro Ranger Station. $15 day-use parking fee

?Volunteer Training: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Crystal Cove State Park is seeking new trail assistant volunteers to help patrol the backcountry wilderness, provide route information, help with bike repair, provide water, and serve as the eyes and ears assisting park staff. Training takes place at the Los Trancos office. For more information or to make a reservation contact Winter Bonnin at wbonnin@parks.ca.gov

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.

To learn more about volunteering or helping Laguna Canyon Foundation to preserve, protect and enhance the South Coast Wilderness, visit www.lagunacanyon.org or call (949) 497-8324.

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.

Dilley Preserve on Laguna Canyon Road, just north of the 73 Toll Road: Open daily 7 a.m. to sunset. Parking $3; lot open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Little Sycamore Canyon on Laguna Canyon Road, just south of the 405 Freeway interchange: The James and Rosemary Nix Nature Center hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; parking $3; lot open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Laguna Heights, the trail head for West Ridge trail and routes into Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, at Top of the World on Alta Laguna Boulevard, is open daily, 7 a.m. to sunset.

?Elder Trek: 8 to 10:30 a.m. today. Enjoy the outdoors and learn about diverse plant life on this easy, level, two-mile hike with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center. Reservations required, call (949) 923-2235. Parking is $3. Donations are appreciated.

?Interpretive Mountain Bike Ride: 8 to 10 a.m. Sunday. Enjoy ocean and canyon views and learn about our majestic coastal canyons on this challenging, 13-mile ride over steep, rough and difficult terrain (more than 1,000-foot elevation gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer mountain bike trail assistants. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Big Bend Staging Area. Reservations and helmets required. Call (949) 923-2235. Parking is $3. Donations are appreciated.

?Fitness Hike: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this strenuous, fast-paced, 4.8-mile hike (400-foot elevation gain) on steep, uneven terrain with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center. Reservations are required, so call (949) 923-2235. Parking is $3. Donations are appreciated.