Unplug and relax outdoors on a nature meditation walk through Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. 

Allow your natural sense of wonder to engage in playful activities, deepening connections with the outside world and ourselves during this guided program. 

The program will begin on the patio at the Nix Nature Center and include a brief walk and tea ceremony of reciprocity. Please note this activity involves making and drinking tea from sustainably sourced native plants and participants are asked to notify park staff upon arrival of any food allergies or sensitivities. Please wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring water. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

This program is designed for ages 10 and older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

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

Adverse weather, including wet or muddy trail conditions, may cancel the program. 

*This program begins at the James Dilley Preserve, 350 Artisan Dr., Laguna Beach, CA 92651*

Join OC Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation naturalists to learn about the seasonal life of California native plants on this enjoyable 2.5-mile hike with 175 feet of elevation gain over moderately uneven terrain. Please wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring plenty of water.

This program will meet in the James Dilley Preserve parking lot.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

This program is designed for ages 16 and older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. 

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

Adverse weather, including wet or muddy trail conditions, may cancel the program. 

*This program begins at the Willow Staging Area, 20070 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651*

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 850 feet of elevation gain. Please wear closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring water.

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 is free and parking is $3 per vehicle.

Adverse weather, including wet or muddy trail conditions, may cancel the program.

​​​​​​*This program begins at the James Dilley Preserve, 350 Artisan Dr., Laguna Beach, CA 92651*

From chirps and howls to croaks and buzzing, the natural world is full of wild voices! In this fun and interactive program, we’ll explore how animals make sounds, why they use them and how they listen. After a hike, we will end the program by making our own animal sound craft to take home. 

This program is designed for ages 7 and older. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

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

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Shelbi Richardson at shelbi.richardson@ocparks.com.

Adverse weather, including wet or muddy trail conditions, may cancel the program.

Join OC Parks on a guided hike and learn about key landmarks, trail connections, scenic viewpoints and the incredible wildlife and native plants within Laguna Coast Wilderness Park! We’ll share tips for exploring and stewarding the land responsibly along the way. This program is perfect for first-time visitors, new volunteers or anyone who wants to feel more at home in the coastal canyons. 

This is an easy-paced hike to Barbara’s Lake from the Nix Nature Center, climbing Edison Trail to an overlook of the lake and mountain views. The hike is approximately 3 miles with minimal elevation gain.

The program is designed for ages 12 and older. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Closed-toe shoes, sun protection and plenty of water are recommended. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

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

Adverse weather, including wet or muddy trail conditions, may cancel the program. 

*This program will begin at Laguna Canyon Foundation Headquarters, 10 Phillips Street, Laguna Beach, CA 92651*

Join OC Parks and Laguna Canyon Foundation at the native plant nursery in beautiful Laguna Coast Wilderness Park as we care for native plants from their seed stage to their mature, ready-to-be planted stage. Volunteers may collect seeds, sow seeds in flats, bump plants up, plant at restoration sites, sterilize plant containers and help maintain the nursery.

All tools and equipment will be provided. Participants should wear closed-toe shoes, layered clothing and sun protection. This program is for ages 16 and older. Minors must be accompanied by a guardian.

The program and parking are free. 

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

Adverse weather, including wet or muddy trail conditions, may cancel the program.

Join OC Parks staff and volunteers for our monthly program where art meets ecology! Come explore the natural world through the lens of creativity by creating your own cyanotype print.

This program will include a brief nature walk focused on salt marsh botany. We’ll then create cyanotype print banners with designs based on natural materials found at the Bay and the power of the sun!

All program materials will be provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. This program is designed for ages 14 and older.

The program and parking are free.

Advance registration is required. Learn more and register here.

Adverse weather will move the program fully indoors.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

Bring your little ones and join OC Parks to learn more about rattlesnakes! This fun and engaging program includes story time, an age-appropriate hike and themed craft.

The program begins at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. Program content is tailored for the preschool level (ages 2 to 5), but all are welcome to attend. Please wear comfortable attire and closed-toe shoes. Additionally, please note that the trail for the hiking portion of the program is not stroller-friendly.

The program and parking are free.

Advance registration is recommended, but walk-ins are welcome. Learn more and register here. 

Adverse weather will move the program indoors. 

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

Join OC Parks for an interpretive bike ride around Upper Newport Bay! Participants will have the opportunity to get their heart rate up and pedal around the bay while learning about local ecology and history.

This moderately-paced ride will cover a 10-mile section of the Back Bay Loop Trail over the course of 2.5 hours with approximately 155 feet of elevation gain. We will stay on the paved portion of the trail and make interpretive stops along the way.

This program will begin and end at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center. The program and parking are free. 

Participants must provide their own bike and helmet. Minors must have a parent/guardian present at all times. 

Adverse weather will cancel the program.

Advance registration required. Learn more and register here.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Emma Arago at emma.arago@ocparks.com or call (657) 692-5401.

*This program takes place at Mason Regional Park, 18712 University Dr., Irvine, CA 92612.*

The OC Parks Jr. Ranger Program encourages park guests to explore the outdoor world within OC Parks by developing a sense of belonging, becoming a part of nature and feeling empowered to be stewards of Orange County’s natural and cultural resources.

Participants will explore Mason Regional Park, complete activities and take the OC Parks Jr. Ranger Oath to earn a unique Jr. Ranger badge. The program will begin near will begin by the restrooms near the lake, close to parking lot C.

This program is designed for ages 7 to 12, but all are welcome.

Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during the program. Sunscreen, sturdy footwear and water are recommended.

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

Advance registration is required. Learn more and register here.

For questions, please contact Resource Specialist Shelbi Richardson at shelbi.richardson@ocparks.com.

Inclement weather will cancel the program.

Click here to learn more about the OC Parks Jr. Ranger Program.