Nature Talk suitable for all ages each second and fourth Saturday.
Meet at noon at the park entrance.
The Orange County Natural History Museum, open from 11 a.m. to 5
p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, is at the park entrance. For
information, call (949) 831-3287.
Crystal Cove State Park
8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach
Park Conditions: (949) 494-3539; Interpretive Programs: (949)
497-7647
http://www.crystalcovestate
park.com
The park is open 6 a.m. to sunset, daily all year, for hiking,
bicycling and horseback riding. The park includes backcountry, bluff
top and beach areas, with access at different points. Parking $10.
Dogs are allowed only on paved paths above the beach.
Docent-led backcountry hikes are scheduled for most Saturdays and
Sundays at 9 a.m. Upcoming dates include Saturday and Sunday and
Sept. 4 and 5. Hikes are three to five miles and last about two
hours. Enjoy a sunset-to-moonlight beach walk at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Special Event: Be among the first to see the newly restored El Moro
Visitor Center at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m. Friday.
The state park has a variety of volunteer opportunities. For
details, call (949) 497-7647.
Irvine Ranch Land Reserve
The Nature Conservancy (714) 832-7478 or irvineranch@tnc.org
Participants meet at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park Headquarters on
Laguna Canyon Road, just south of the El Toro Road intersection. All
tours are free, but require reservations.
Special Activities: Meet for guided mountain bike rides at 8:15
a.m. Saturday and also 8 a.m. Sunday. Canter in for a 3 to 4 hour
equestrian ride at 8:00 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 29. Take a three-mile,
three-hour guided hike through Laurel Canyon at 8 a.m. Thursday,
Sept. 9.
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
20101 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach (949) 923-2235 or
http://www.ocparks.com and nonprofit support group websites,
http://www.lagunacanyon.org and http://www.lagunagreenbelt.org
Call the rangers to ask about special group hikes for schools,
scouts and other organizations and clubs. Parking is $3. No dogs.
Wilderness Access: Willow Canyon Staging Area, at 20101 Laguna