Outdoor Calendar

Note: Wilderness parks are closed for 48 hours or more after significant rainfall. Parks may be closed due to rain conditions or mud. 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.

The park is open 6 a.m. to sunset daily. Docent-led backcountry hikes are scheduled for 9 a.m. most Saturdays and Sundays.

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 [email protected].

 Public Tidepool Research Walk: 2 p.m. Saturday. Join California State Park volunteers for an exploration of the tide pools near Crystal Cove and learn how researchers count hermit crabs, limpets, and sea stars in the Marine Protected Area. Meets in Los Trancos parking lot. $15 day-use parking fee.

 Tidepool walk to Little Treasure Cove: 2 p.m. Sunday. A volunteer will help identify animals and describe some awesome adaptations when the tide will fall to -1.1. Meet at Pelican Point parking lot No. 2, near the parking lot (turn coastward at Newport Coast, right at the kiosk and left into the first lot.) $15 day-use parking fee.

 Sunset Photography Walk: 4 p.m. Sunday. Learn how to take beautiful sunset and low tide photos. Meet at the Los Trancos trailer (turn inland at stoplight for Los Trancos) $15 day-use parking fee.

 Historic District Walk: 10 a.m. March 13. Take a walk through the renovated 12-acre Historic District at Crystal Cove State Park to learn about the colorful past of the Cove and hear about the different uses for each cottage. Meet at Los Trancos parking lot at the trailer (PCH turn inland at stoplight Los Trancos.) $15 day-use parking fee.

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.

 Cultural Resource Hike: 9 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Learn how Native Americans used various plants on this rigorous, 2-mile hike (400-foot elevation gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center (west side of Laguna Canyon Road/SR-133, approximately 3.5 miles south of I-5/405). Reservations required: (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

 Birding Hike: 8 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Spot resident and winter migratory birds with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists on this 2-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain (400-foot elevation gain) through one of the most diverse plant communities in the United States. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, James Dilley Preserve (east side of Laguna Canyon Road/SR-133, just north of 73 Toll Road). Reservations required: (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2 per person.

 Fitness Hike: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday. Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this strenuous, fast-paced, 3.5-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain (700-foot elevation gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area (20101 Laguna Canyon Road, just south of El Toro Road intersection). Reservations required: (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $2/person.

 ABCs of Yoga for Kids: 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday. Children ages 6 to 10 will explore a fun-filled yoga experience in a wilderness setting with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers. Please bring a yoga mat, towel and water. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center (west side of Laguna Canyon Road/SR-133, approximately 3.5 miles south of I-5/405). Reservations required: (949) 923-2235. Parking: $3. Donation: $18 for 6-class series; $3 per child drop-in.