Getting outdoors

Mary A. Castillo

Hiking

The West Ridge Trail starts at the Alta Laguna Park at Top of the

World and leads north along a ridge high above Laguna Canyon Road. The

trail connects to several trails that lead east into the Aliso and Wood

Canyons Wilderness Park and its many miles of additional hiking and

biking trails. You can hike the trail starting from the Phillips Street

Trailhead off Laguna Canyon Road or the Park Avenue Nature Trail at Top

of the World. Information: Aliso & Wood Canyons Park, (949) 831-2790 or

City of Laguna Beach, (949) 497-3311.

Specified trails in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park are open for

unguided hikes from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday. Visitors must exit the

park by 3 p.m. Interpretive trail guides, plant identification guides and

maps are available.

A docent-led hiking tour of Laurel Canyon is available at 8 a.m.,

Saturdays. Reservations are a must and weekday and special group tours

are available.

The Jim Dilley Greenbelt Preserve is open for non-guided hikes on

specified trails from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday. Volunteers are

available for assistance. Trails include Barbara’s Lake, the largest of

the Laguna Lakes and the only natural lake in Orange County.

Laguna Heights is open for exploration from 7 a.m. to sunset, daily.

Information: (949) 494-9352. Web: www.lagunacanyon.org.

Kayaking

North Laguna Float Co. Tours offers trips that are designed primarily

for beginners, but flexible enough to accommodate paddlers of all

experience levels and abilities. Each tour is limited to no more than

four paddling guests. The minimum age for paddlers is 12 years. Allow 2

1/2 hours for the entire tour (1-hour minimum paddling time). Cost: $25

per person. Information: (949) 494-5910.