Laguna Canyon Foundation

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Laguna Canyon Foundation

Laguna Canyon Foundation is dedicated to preserving our local open space.

Since 1990, Laguna Canyon Foundation has worked to preserve and protect Laguna Canyon and the South Coast Wilderness. In partnership with OC Parks, we lead field trips, restore damaged habitat, maintain trails, and conduct free hikes as well as other public programs. We also advocate for responsible development and support a long-term strategic vision for the canyon.

06/19/2026

About 2 years ago, some of Laguna Canyon Foundation's staff decided to start hosting land stewardship programs including Land Tending with LCF programs and Keep It Wild - LCF Native Plant Nursery. Inspired by existing programs led by Volunteers and OC Parks Staff, these stewardship events give support to ongoing habitat restoration projects and nursery efforts, and give more opportunities for people to get involved with and learn about this vital work.

Last week, these new programs reached a combined 1,000 Volunteer hours since July 2025 alone! These growing programs are so important to our staff, volunteers, and to connecting our communities to our wildlands. Become a steward of our local public lands - sign up online to volunteer at lagunacanyon.org/events/category/volunteer/

An extra big thank you to all those who have spent their time hand weeding, seed sowing and sorting, planting, and everything in between! Your work really makes a difference.

06/11/2026

Did you know that Laguna Canyon Foundation hosts science-based field trips for 2nd through 6th graders in Orange County? In partnership with Orange County Parks, Crystal Cove Conservancy, Earthroots Field School, OC Coastkeeper and more, we hosted over 3,600 students on these outdoor treks this school year!

For many students, this is the only opportunity they have to visit wilderness areas, and often the first time ever, too! These field trips give students an opportunity to feel that they belong in the outdoors, that science is captivating and wonderous, and that their curiosity can drive them to new interests and passions.

06/09/2026

Thank you to the record 51 volunteers and crew members who came out for National Trails Day with Laguna Canyon Foundation!

Volunteers showed love to Meadows and Sheep Run Trails: clearing drains, cutting back vegetation, moving dirt, and helping repair sections of trail.

It was hard work, but it makes a real difference. Keeping trails in good shape helps create a better experience for visitors while also protecting the habitat around them.

We’re grateful to everyone who spent their Saturday giving back to the trails and wild spaces we all enjoy. Thanks to for all the support, for organizing and inspiring mountain bikers to steward the trails they love to ride, and for growing into one of our favorite annual traditions.

Continue celebrating our trails with us next Saturday June 13th at the 6th Annual Ales and Trails Fundraiser at Troy Lee Designs in downtown Laguna Beach. Link in bio.

Keep it wild.

06/06/2026

Happy National Trails Day! Join us in celebrating our trails next Saturday: Raise a glass to trail stewardship at the 6th Annual Laguna Canyon Foundation Ales and Trails Fundraiser, in partnership with Troy Lee Designs Laguna and Orange County Mountain Bike Association! Celebrate the trails we all love with great drinks, free tacos, live music, community, and an exciting silent auction, all while helping protect and preserve Laguna Canyon’s incredible wildlands and trail systems.

Location: Troy Lee Designs, 380 Glenneyre St. Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Parking: Street parking is available nearby. Please park legally and responsibly. Parking is limited; carpooling is encouraged.

The silent auction is now live: https://givebutter.com/c/alesandtrails2026 You can pre-purchase your admission package and start bidding on silent auction items now! We have unique items, experiences, and gear, all benefiting Laguna Canyon Foundation’s trail conservation efforts.

Admission options include:
🍻 $35 Drink Package — includes a commemorative event cup and unlimited drinks (beer/wine, soft drinks) throughout the evening
🍺 $15 Individual Drink Tickets — available individually for guests who prefer to purchase beer & wine à la carte. Includes unlimited soft drinks/aguas frescas throughout the evening
🧃 $10 Unlimited Non-alcoholic Drinks — includes a commemorative Laguna Canyon Foundation cup and unlimited soft drinks/aguas frescas throughout the evening

We’ll be pouring Peroni beer along with red and white wine, and additional beverage options available for all guests to enjoy. FREE Tacos from Lety's Tacos will be available for everyone.

The evening’s soundtrack will feature live music by Plastic Rhino & Friends, bringing an energetic mix of music and good vibes to the night.

Whether you’re a trail user, outdoor enthusiast, or simply looking for a fun community event with a purpose, we can’t wait to see you there!

All proceeds directly support Laguna Canyon Foundation’s Trails Program, helping maintain, restore, and advocate for the trails and wildlands that make the South Coast Wilderness so special.

Register at lagunacanyon.org/events to get a reminder email about the event and add it to your online calendar!

06/04/2026

Looking for something to do this weekend? These upcoming events still have spots available. Sign up today!

For a full list of FREE events, visit lagunacanyon.org/events. Online registration is required.

05/29/2026

Fountain grass: an invasive species in Southern California

Have you seen a soft, feathery grass along trails, roadsides, or hillsides that looks like it was planted there? You may have been looking at fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), a species native to parts of Africa and the Middle East that was brought to California as a popular ornamental for water wise gardens. For years it was sold as a tough, showy plant that could thrive where other plants struggled.

Those fluffy flower plumes are a big part of why Fountain grass is a problem for native ecosystem. Each plume holds hundreds of tiny seeds that catch the wind or hitch a ride on cars, shoes, animals, and in water, moving it far beyond the yards where it was originally planted. It shows up in cracks in pavement, along roadsides, and on disturbed slopes, then spreads into nearby native habitats.

In Southern California, fountain grass is especially concerning because it can invade coastal sage scrub and other plant communities that are already under pressure from development and climate stress. As it spreads, it forms dense patches that crowd out native wildflowers and shrubs, reducing habitat quality for the insects, birds, reptiles, and mammals that rely on a diverse mix of native plants.

Fountain grass also changed how we think about drought-tolerant landscaping. It was once marketed as a solution plant: easy, resilient, and decorative, but in our hot, windy summers, those dry leaves and stalks become fuel that ignites easily and can carry flames quickly. By removing fountain grass and choosing local southern Californian grasses instead, we can help reverse that story: fewer invasive plants, less fuel for wildfires, and more room for coastal sage scrub and wildlife.

Want to help? Sign up for volunteer events! Click the link in our bio.

05/27/2026

Volunteer Spotlight: Phil

For Phil, Volunteering with Laguna Canyon Foundation started as a way to get outside and exercise, but has transformed into a community and a source of some great friends.

Phil first found the Fitness Hike programs, but wanted to push the hike to go at a faster pace, and to do that he had to become a trained Volunteer and a leader. He joined the volunteer team in 2009 after retiring from a full-time job, making him one of our longest-standing active Volunteers and a true asset to our team.

Through the years, his passion for volunteering with Laguna Canyon Foundation has switched focus from physical fitness to connecting with the people he hikes with and the nature that surrounds their weekly excursions.

Phil says that, for him, volunteering is “a great way to spend retirement,” especially given that it provides some of the social relationships that are so important to continue to have a full and meaningful life.

Thank you, Phil, for your years of service and for your continued leadership!

📸 Photo by Volunteer Joy Shaikh

05/15/2026

Did you know it’s Endangered Species Day?

The South Coast Wilderness is home to some super special species of plants, animals, and fungi, including some that are protected due to their declining populations. One to note is the Coastal California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica), a small insectivorous bird that can only live in our local Coastal Sage Scrub habitat. The main threat to this bird's survival in Southern California is habitat loss, as much of its habitat in the area has been developed, which has landed it a spot on the Endangered Species List.

You might be able to hear the Coastal California gnatcatcher out on your next hike! It sounds almost like a kitten mewing. Keep an ear out!

05/10/2026

Did you know it’s currently nesting bird season? Learn more with Field Coordinator Erika Herrera 🪺🕊️🦅🦉

05/08/2026

Honoring Board Member Ken Frank

We were deeply saddened to learn of Ken Frank’s passing over the weekend. In 2017, following a distinguished career as City Manager for the City of Laguna Beach, Ken joined the Laguna Canyon Foundation Board of Directors, where he served as an engaged and valued member until his untimely passing. He attended his final Board meeting in April.

Ken often shared that one of his proudest accomplishments as City Manager was his leadership in acquiring private land for public open space and parkland starting in the 1970s and onward through 2013. In the early 1990s, he worked closely with Laguna Canyon Foundation’s founding Executive Director, Mary Fegraus, and Board President, Michael Pinto, to help secure the purchase of 2,150 acres in Laguna Canyon for wilderness parkland. He was instrumental in partnering with the Foundation, county, state and federal resources to protect over 3,000 acres of coastal canyons and ridgelines, significantly expanding the protected greenbelt surrounding Laguna Beach.

Ken will be greatly missed. We are profoundly grateful for his lasting contributions to the preservation of open space and for his decades of dedicated public service to the Laguna Beach community.

Address

10 Phillips Road
Laguna Beach, CA
92651

Telephone

+19494978324

Website

http://www.lagunacanyon.org/

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