Outdoor Calendar

Note: Wildfire season is here. Fires of any kind are prohibited in wilderness areas. 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. Call (949) 923-2235 or visit websites for current conditions.

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.

Summer Plant Identification Hike: 9 a.m. Saturday. Meet at El Moro Visitor Center.

Backcountry Hike: 9 a.m. Saturday, and Aug. 8, 21 and 28. Join a state park volunteer for a guided 3- to 5-mile backcountry hike. Meet at El Moro Visitor Center.

Great Plein Air Art Experience: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Aug. 4. Pre-registration required at https://www.crystalcovealliance.org or call (949) 376-6200. Spend a day capturing the beauty of Crystal Cove on canvas and experience what it was like to be a plein air artist in Crystal Cove during the heyday of the movement in the 1920s. $15 day-use parking fee.

Junior Rangers: 9 to 10 a.m. Park Rangers discuss the ecology of Crystal Cove State Park. On Aug. 3, children can hear about “Slithering Snakes.” On Aug. 5, they can learn about “Beautiful Birds.” “Super Cool Sharks” is the topic Aug. 10. “Oh Yuck” follows on Aug. 12.

LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

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

Rangers staff the park daily. Open 7 a.m. to sunset daily, including holidays. Parking lot hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Birding Hike: 8 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Spot resident and summer migratory birds with foundation volunteer naturalists on this 2-mile hike over uneven terrain through one of the most diverse plant communities in the United States. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area. Reservations required, call (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

Full Moon Hike: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. 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, and wear long pants, a jacket and sturdy hiking shoes. Inclement weather will cancel this event. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area. Reservations are required, so call (949) 923-2235. Parking is $3. Donation is $2 per person.

Introduction to Mountain Biking: 8 to 10 a.m. Aug. 1. Enjoy canyon views and learn mountain biking basics on this 10-mile ride over steep and uneven terrain (a more-than-1,500-foot elevation gain) with foundation volunteer mountain bike trail assistants. Ridge Park Staging Area. Reservations are required, so call (949) 923-2235. $2 per person.