OUTDOOR CALENDAR

Aug. 17, 2007 12 AM PT

Note: Fire season has begun! Please stay alert in wilderness parks and report any suspicious activity to park staff.

CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK

Crystal Cove State Park, 8471 Pacific Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, has 3.5 miles of beach and 2,000 acres of undeveloped woodland. $10 day-use parking fee.

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. Note: All hikes meet at the El Moro Visitor Center (from Coast Highway, turn inland at light for School/State Park, follow park signs), unless otherwise indicated. Information: (949) 497-7647 or via e-mail wbonnin@parks.ca.gov.

Nature Walk, 10 a.m. Friday.

Backcountry Hike, 9 a.m. Sunday

Historic District guided tours are held on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. The free tours have expanded by adding a plein air artist demonstration at the conclusion of each tour. The walking begin at 10 a.m. across from the Historic District in the Los Trancos Parking Lot at Coast Highway.

No reservations are required; for more information, visit www.crystalcovealliance.org

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.

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 Tollroad: 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 I-405 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 trailhead for West Ridge trail and routes into Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, at Top of the World on Alta Laguna Blvd., is open daily, 7 a.m. to sunset.

ALISO AND WOOD CANYONS

Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, 28373 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Niguel; (949) 923-2200; www.ocparks.com: Open all year, 7 a.m. to sunset, for hikers, mountain bikers and equestrians; parking, $3.

Orange County Natural History Museum located at the park entrance; call before visiting to confirm museum is open. (949) 831-3287.

OUTDOOR CALENDAR

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