LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK The park is...

LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK

The park is open to hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers from 7

a.m. to sunset, Saturday and Sunday. Parking is available for $3 at

the Willow Canyon Staging Area, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road. Mountain

bikers may ride on specified trails only.

The Dilley Preserve on Laguna Canyon Roadis 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

from 7 a.m. to sunset.

A seven to 12-mile strenuous bike ride along Serrano Ridge will

begin at 8 a.m. July 23.

A three-mile, three-hour Laurel Canyon hike will begin at 8:30

a.m. July 24.

Docent-led tours by Laguna Greenbelt Inc. take place at 8 a.m.

every second and fourth Saturday of the month. Call for reservations

and meeting points. Weekday and special group tours are also

available. Information: (949) 923-2235 or www.ocparks.com.

Aliso and Wood Wilderness hikes

The 4,000-acre Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, at 28373

Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel, is open from 7 a.m. to sunset daily

for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Parking is $3.

The ranger gives a free 30- to 45-minute discovery nature hike

suitable for all ages on the second and fourth Saturday of the month.

Meet at noon at the park entrance.

Located at the entrance is the Orange County Natural History

Museum; call to confirm it’s open.

Information: (949) 831-3287.

CRYSTAL COVE

Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach,

has 3.5 miles of beach and 2,000 acres of undeveloped woodland.

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.

A backcountry hike will be led at 9 a.m. July 24. All hikes meet

at the El Moro Visitor Center.

Information: (949) 640-5220.

MORNING MEDITATION HIKES

“Mind, Body, & Spirit Mornings” at 8 a.m. on Sundays include a

guided hike through backcountry intermingled with sessions of deep

breathing and stretching. Meet at the ranger station (off of Coast

Highway, turn inland at the stoplight for “School-State Park”).

Day-use parking fee $10.

HIKE THROUGH IRVINE RANCH LAND RESERVE

Tours are led by members of the Nature Conservancy and are also

available by special request. For more information, call Nature

Conservancy: (714) 832-7478.

The Irvine Ranch Land Reserve Trust is seeking volunteers to help

with open space programs within the land preserve. For information,

contact Ryan Gragnano: (949) 720-5512 or [email protected].