*This program begins at Canyon View Park, 22144 Canyon Vistas, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 *

Please be aware this is a fitness hike and not for beginners; the pace is approximately a 19-minute mile.

Raise your heart rate and your spirits on this strenuous, fast-paced, 6.2-mile hike over steep and uneven terrain with approximately 800 feet of elevation gain with OC Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation volunteers.

Participants must be 16 or older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

The program and parking are free. Limited street parking is available nearby. 

Please review safety precautions and protocols when registering. 

For questions, call 949-497-8324 on weekdays or 949-923-2200 on weekends. 

*This program has been CANCELLED*

Explore Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park where you might see deer, bobcats and hawks. Learn about acorn woodpeckers, the wonderful ways of woodrats and the peculiar nature of certain plants. Enjoy wildlife sounds, smells and sights on this moderate 5-mile hike on rocky terrain with less than 500 feet of elevation gain. 

Participants must be 16 or older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. 

The program and parking are free. Limited street parking is available nearby.

Advance registration required.

Inclement weather may cancel this program. 

For questions, call 949-497-8324 on weekdays or 949-923-2200 on weekends. 

*This program has been canceled.*

Insects are the most diverse group of animals on Earth and make up 80% of all known species. There are more varieties of bugs than all other types of animals combined!

Join us on a family-friendly trek around Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park to learn all about these amazing animals who have perfected the art of ecological specialization. Insects may have a reputation for being icky, but they're essential pollinators needed to sustain life on our planet. Please wear closed-toe shoes and sun protection, and bring snacks and water.

Participants age 16 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. 

Inclement weather may cancel this program.

*This program has been canceled.*

*This program begins at the Hollyleaf cul-de-sac near Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park (where West Ridge Trail meets Hollyleaf, near 65 Hollyleaf, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656).*

Get up close with the trails you use and see them in a whole new way as we work together to protect the fragile habitat and increase the sustainability of trails at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park. 

Stewardship activities include clearing drains to remove water, pruning vegetation, moving dirt to rebuild eroded tread and restoring impacted areas. No experience necessary and gloves and tools will be provided. Please wear long pants, closed-toe shoes and sun protection, and bring water. Expect to hike up to 4 miles while carrying tools. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

Participants must be 16 or older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

The program and parking are free. Limited street parking is available nearby. 

Inclement weather may cancel this program. 

For questions call 949-497-8324 on weekdays or 949-923-2200 on weekends. 

Join OC Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation at Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park as we learn and work together to create a healthier habitat for the native plants and wildlife that call Aliso Creek home.

Volunteers will assist with various stewardship activities including removing invasive plants, cleaning up the creek or planting native plants. No experience necessary, and all tools will be provided.  Please wear long pants, closed-toe shoes and sun protection and bring water. 

Participants must be 16 or older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

The program and parking are free for volunteers. 

Inclement weather may cancel this program. 

For questions, please call 949-923-2200. 

Nature journaling can be practiced in almost any space and combines observations with insights, questions and connections with the environment around us. It allows us to pay attention to details that might otherwise be overlooked and meditate on their forms and place within the natural world.

This program will begin with an introduction to the basic techniques for beginning and maintaining your nature journal. We will start a 12-month phenology wheel to track seasonal changes in 2025, then take a walk in the park to find a comfortable journaling space. Bring a sketch pad or journal and your own art materials such as pencils, pens or watercolors. A portable chair is recommended along with sun protection, water and snacks.

Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

This program will begin at the Interpretive Center. Be prepared to move along the trail a short distance and sit to document the beauty around you.

All ages are welcome and those under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

This program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle. Learn more and register here.

Inclement weather may cancel the program.

Enjoy a morning at Clark Regional Park and learn how fossil shells teach us about the ancient beach that once covered this area! Participants will visit the Interpretive Center, listen to a story, take a short walk in the park and make a craft. Activities are designed for ages 2-6 but all are welcome.

We will meet in front of the Interpretive Center. Minors age 16 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian.

Space is limited; parents must register themselves and each child. Learn more and register here.

The program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle. 

Join us as we work toward restoring healthy habitat areas at Clark Regional Park! Learn about native and invasive plants while managing and expanding the garden as conditions permit. 

We will meet in parking lot H and the activity will take place within a quarter mile of the parking lot. No experience is necessary and all tools will be provided. Be prepared to pull weeds, rake, spread seeds, pot or water plants. Please wear long pants, closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring water.

Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. Learn more and register here.

Minors age 16 and younger must be accompanied by a guardian.

This program is free and parking is $3 per vehicle.

For questions, please email sarah.hoemke@ocparks.com or call (657) 554-7133.

Rain or heat advisory may cancel this program.

Nature journaling is a wonderful tool for nature observations, creating lasting memories and making deeper connections with the world around us. This session will cover the basics of art theory and practices, journal anatomy and maximizing your senses.  This program's theme will focus on the signs of winter.

The program will begin outside the Santiago Oaks Regional Park nature center. Bring a nature journal and your own art materials such as pencils, pens or watercolors. A portable chair is recommended along with sun protection, water and snacks. Be prepared to move along the trail a short distance and sit to document the beauty around you.

The program is free and parking is $5 per vehicle.

Advance registration required.  Learn more and register here.

Inclement weather will cancel the program.

For questions, please contact resource specialist Shelly Marshall at (714) 973-6625 or shelly.marshall@ocparks.com.

Are your kids interested in learning more about the natural world? Come and explore the plants, animals, and landscapes of Caspers Wilderness Park during our Junior Ranger program!

Participants will have the opportunity to earn their own junior ranger badge alongside an OC Parks resource specialist. All program materials will be provided.

Program content is geared toward ages 7-12, but all are welcome. Please bring water, closed-toe shoes and sun protection, as we will walk a short distance on dirt trails.

Advance registration is required. This program will not accommodate walk-ups. Learn more and register here. 

The program and parking are free. 

Inclement weather may cancel this program.