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This Weekends Hikes are going to gorgeous! We have some great weather conditions this weekend, so take advantage and get outdoors!

My Spolight Hike for this weekend is the Ben Franklin’s Birthday Adventure at Aliso & Wood Canyons Park on Sunday.  Children and their parents  will enjoy an activity-filled 2 mile hike to celebrate Benjamin Franklin’s birthday by recreating inventions used by Orange County’s native peoples and Poor “Ranger” Richard will recite from his famous almanac. Sorry, no kites please.

Another hike that sounds very interesting is with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalist, Karin Klein (author of 50 Hikes in Orange County)  – Edible and Useful Plant Hike OC Parks – Laguna Coast Wilderness Park on Saturday. 

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Nature Walk
OC Parks – O’Neill Regional Park
Join our Naturalists on a nature walk and learn about Trabuco Canyon animals and nature. Light to moderate walk on mostly paved roads. Meet at the Nature Center just inside the main entrance of the park.

  • Ages: All Ages Welcome
  • Fee: Free
  • Parking: $5 per vehicle

(Event is conditional on the weather.)

Contact: (949) 923-2260 with any questions
Date:  1/17/2015
Time:  9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Edible and Useful Plant Hike
OC Parks – Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Early pioneers found their uses for local and introduced plants, and now science is finding out about potentially valuable medicines in our wild backyard. Learn about these edible and useful plants during a moderate, but steep, uneven 2-mile hike (400-ft. elevation gain) with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalist, Karin Klein (author of 50 Hikes in Orange County)

  • Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Canyon Staging Area (20101 Laguna Canyon Road, just south of El Toro Road intersection).
  • Online reservations required.
  • For questions call: 949-497-8324.
  • Parking: $3.
Date:  1/17/2015
Time:  9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

 

Ranger Led Nature Hike
OC Parks – Ronald W. Caspers Wilderness Park
Join our Park Rangers Sunday mornings for an easy 1-mile hike on the Nature Trail. The trail takes visitors through grassland, oak woodland, riparian and sandy cactus scrub communities. Meet at Old Corral Day Use area. Rain will cancel hike. 

  • Fee: Free
  • Parking: $5 per vehicle
  • Wear comfortable clothing, hiking shoes.
  • Sunscreen, water and insect repellent are recommended.

 For additional information, please call the park at (949) 923-2210.
Date: 1/18/2015
Time: 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
Guided Interpretive Hike
OC Parks – Irvine Regional Park
Join our naturalists on a nature walk and learn about the local plants, animals and history of Irvine Park. Light to moderate walking on both paved paths and trails. Meet at the Nature Center near the OC Zoo in parking lot #19.

  • All ages welcome
  • Free
  • Parking: $5 per vehicle

Contact: (714) 973-6835 if you have any questions
Date:  1/17/2015
Time:  10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Sunday, January 18, 2015

 

Birding Basics
OC Parks – Laguna Coast Wilderness Park
Learn the basics of birding and spot native and winter resident birds with Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteer naturalists on this 1.5-mile hike over primarily flat, but uneven terrain through one of the most diverse plant communities in the United States.

  • No experience necessary!
  • For ages 12 and up (minors must be accompanied by an adult).
  • Wear hiking or walking shoes and bring your binoculars (Limited binoculars available on loan).
  • Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Little Sycamore Canyon Staging Area/Nix Nature Center (west side of Laguna Canyon Rd/SR-133, approximately 3.5 miles south of I-5/405).
  • Online reservations required.
  • For questions call: 949-497-8324.
  • Parking: $3.
Date: 1/18/2015
Time: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

 

Morning Walk Around the Lake
OC Parks – Laguna Niguel Regional Park

Come enjoy a wonderful morning walk around the lake and learn about the native plants and critters in the park. This is an easy 2.5-mile walk (both paved and dirt trail) with no elevation gain. Led by Laguna Canyon Foundation Volunteer Naturalists. Dogs on leashes welcome.

  • Laguna Niguel Regional Park, 28241 La Paz Road, Laguna Niguel. Meet at the Shelter 3 parking lot.
  • For questions, call (949) 497-8324 Mon-Fri or (949) 923-2200 Sat/Sun
  • Parking: $5 per vehicle
  • Ages 8 and up
  • Reservations Required Online (link below)

Online Reservations Link
Date: 1/18/2015
Time: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Ben Franklin’s Birthday Adventure
OC Parks – Aliso & Wood Canyons Park

Children, bring your parents on an activity-filled hike to celebrate the birthday of one of our country’s greatest patriots, inventors, and writers. We’ll recreate inventions used by Orange County’s native peoples and Poor “Ranger” Richard will recite from his famous almanac. Leave your kites at home please ;). This is a 2-mile hike with a 150-ft. elevation gain.

  • Aliso & Wood Canyons Wilderness Park, Canyon View Staging Area (from southbound Aliso Creek Road, turn right on Glenwood [turns into Pacific Park] and right on Canyon Vistas, meet at the entrance to Canyon View Park).
  • For questions, call (949) 497-8324 Mon-Fri or (949) 923-2200 Sat/Sun
  • Parking: Free
  • Ages 8 and up
  • Reservations Required Online (link below)

Online Reservations Link
Date: 1/18/2015
Time: 8:30 AM – 11:00 AM
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