LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK Laguna Coast Wilderness...

LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road.;

reservations/ information, (949) 923-2235; www.ocparks.com:

Rangers staff the park daily. Open weekends, 7 a.m. to sunset.

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 without guides; parking, $3. Volunteers available

for assistance.

Dilley Preserve on Laguna Canyon Road is closed for at least six

months due to road construction.

Laguna Heights, the trailhead for West Ridge trail and other

routes into Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, is open daily all

year, 7 a.m. to sunset. Docent-led tours by Laguna Greenbelt, Inc.

offered at 8 a.m. on second and fourth Saturdays. Monthly training

for Wilderness Access Volunteers offered from 9 to 11 a.m. every

third weekend.

Laurel Canyon hike with Nadine Nordstrom, 8 a.m. Aug. 13.

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. Call (714) 832-7478 or e-mail

[email protected].

Three- to four-hour equestrian ride, 8 a.m.Sunday, Aug. 7.

Three-mile, 3.5-hour hike in Laurel Canyon, 8 a.m. Aug. 11.

ALISO AND WOOD CANYONS

Aliso & 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; (949)

831-3287. Located at the park entrance; call before visiting to

confirm museum is open.

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. All hikes meet at

the El Moro Visitor Center.

Information: (949) 640-5220.

HISTORIC TOUR

Take a walk through the 12 acre Historic District at Crystal Cove

State Park at 10 a.m. Aug. 13. Learn about the colorful past of the

Cove and some of the long-time residents and hear about the

transformation that is presently taking place in order to make the

cottages available for public enjoyment. Meet at Los Trancos parking

lot at the trailer (on Coast Highway turn inland at stoplight for Los

Trancos). $10 parking fee.

BAT WALK

Stephanie Remington, the Bat Lady, will lead a bat walk at 6:30

p.m. Aug. 19. Reservations are required and space is limited.

Remington will help dispel myths about these flying mammals and share

fun facts and stories. $5 per person. Call (949) 497-7647 for

reservations.

MEDITATION HIKE

“Mind, Body, & Spirit Mornings,” a guided hike with sessions of

deep breathing and stretching, 8 a.m. Aug. 21. Meet at the ranger

station (on Coast Highway turn inland at stoplight for School-State

Park). Day-use parking fee $10.

HISTORIC RENOVATION BENEFIT

Join the Crystal Cove Interpretive Association from 5 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 27 for a wine and cheese event at one of the newly renovated

Historic District cottages. Toast the sunset at one of the most

beautiful spots on the Orange County coast while benefiting

educational and visitor assistance programs at the park. Tickets are

$35 for Association members and $50 for nonmembers ($50 will include

a one year membership.) For more information contact (949) 497-7648

or visit the park web site at www.crystalcovestatepark.com

GEOLOGY TOUR

Take a geology tour along the coastal section of the park at 1

p.m. Aug. 28. Visit diverse and geologically outstanding sites which

all display a story from a different geologic time. Meet at Los

Trancos parking lot at the trailer (on Coast Highway turn inland at

stoplight for Los Trancos). Tour by car and moderate walking. $10

day-use fee.