James and Rosemary Nix Nature Center Laguna Canyon

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The Nix Nature Center is the headquarters for the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. The center is the gateway for recreational users to explore the vast network of trails throughout the 6,600-acre park. The $3.4-million nature center features interactive displays, interpretive panels, fossil-embedded rockwork, audio recordings, projected images, art and artifacts. The nature center's picture windows frame four main views into the surrounding parklands. Visitors can hike up Little Sycamore Canyon and enjoy the view or take the trail under Laguna Canyon road to Barbara's lake. The lake is the only natural occurring lake in Orange County. Hiking through the scenic canyons it is hard to believe that just over the next hills is urban development. Arrive early in the summer time the afternoon heat can be intense. Bring plenty of water and some good hiking shoes. They are plenty of shady areas for a picnic's or relaxing and enjoying the canyon.

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The Nix Nature Center is located at 18751 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Coast Wilderness Park's Little Sycamore Canyon staging area, 3.5 miles south of the I-405 and Route 133 interchange. Hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., including holidays, with free admission. The parking lot is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the fee is $3. Laguna Woods Village residents Jim and Rosemary Nix provided the initial $500,000 gift for the nature center to the Laguna Canyon Foundation in 1999.