Wilderness park backcountry can be closed for...

Wilderness park backcountry can be closed for two or more days after

significant rainfall. Call to check accessibility.

Laguna Coast Wilderness

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 Road, north of the 73 Toll

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,

from 7 a.m. to sunset.

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.

Irvine Ranch Reserve

A three-hour, three-mile hike through Laurel Canyon will depart at

8 a.m. Saturday. A two-mile, two-hour yoga hike and meditative walk

will leave at 9 a.m. Sunday. Join a guide for a bike ride at 5 p.m.

Saturday or at 9 a.m. Thursday. Tours are also available by special

request. Information: (714) 832-7478.

GEOLOGY TOUR

A geology tour along the coastal section of Crystal Cove State

Park will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. June 12. The tour will meet at the

Los Trancos parking lot, Pacific Coast Highway at Los Trancos. The

tour will explore several diverse geological sites which all display

a story from a different geologic time. The tour will be by car

caravanning and moderate walking. The cost is a $10 day use fee.

Information: (949) 640-5220.

Dogs are allowed on paved areas only. Wilderness campsites are

available. Parking is $8. For interpretive programs, call (949)

497-7647. For park conditions, call (949) 494-3539.

Summer Nature Camp

Orange County Wild, a coalition dedicated to preserving the

county’s open spaces, will host a weeklong summer program for

children from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., June 27 to July 1. The camp will give

students hands-on exploration of natural surroundings. Professional

naturalists will lead campers on visits to parks, harbors and

wetlands throughout Orange County, including Upper Newport Bay,

Bommer Canyon, the Irvine Open Space Preserve, Crystal Cove State

Park and the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Participants will earn an

Amateur Naturalist certificate upon completion of the program.

The camp is open to children 7 to 10 years old. The cost is $75

per child. Space is limited and reservations are requested by June

10. To register, call (949) 497-7647 or e-mail [email protected].

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 before visiting to confirm it’s open.

For information, call (949) 831-3287.

Natural history lectures are held at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday

of each month at Acorn Naturalists, 1255 El Camino Real, Tustin. No

dogs allowed. For information, call (949) 923-2200.

CRYSTAL COVE BACKCOUNTRY

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. Due to recent rains, the

backcountry is open only for hiking until further notice.

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.

For more information, call the El Moro Visitor Center (949)

640-5220.

HISTORIC DISTRICT TOUR

A walk through the 12-acre Historic District at Crystal Cove State

Park will be held at 10 a.m. June 11. The tour will meet at the Los

Trancos parking lot, Pacific Coast Highway at Los Trancos.

Information: (949) 640-5220.