Come observe the amazing resilience of nature where habitats of coastal scrub and Bishop pine and Douglas fir, and redwood/alder floodplain forest are regenerating after historic logging disturbance at Mill Bend.
We'll be observing wildflowers, shrubs, and other native plants that survived or returned in spite of the disturbance to their landscape.

Mill Bend Preserve, located along the Gualala River estuary, was acquired by the Redwood Coast Land Conservancy in 2021 after a long and ultimately successful campaign to protect Mill Bend's environmentally valuable estuarine and floodplain forest habitats.

Hike Level: Easy to moderate.

Leaders: Julia Larke and Mary Hunter
Contact: Cheryl Harris, charSupport CNPS Plant NativesrisSupport CNPS Plant Natives* aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest *rcSupport CNPS Plant Nativeslc.oSupport CNPS Plant Nativesrg

RSVP HereIf the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

Local botanist Rhiannon Korhummel will show you the native shrubbery diversity. So many are in bloom at this time and the types of flowers are numerous!
Hike Location: Old Smith Ranch Trail, easy 2 mile out and back.

The Old Smith Ranch property protects a significant portion of the Ten Mile River and estuary, which is host to coniferous forests, riparian woodlands, shrublands, sand dunes and brackish marsh. All of these habitats provide safe harbor to endangered and threatened wildlife and plant species, including tidewater goby, coho salmon, steelhead trout, Point Reyes horkelia, and Howell's spineflower. An offshoot of the trail threads under the Ten Mile bridge - where hundreds of swallows nest in spring and summer - and connects to the Ten Mile Dunes Natural Preserve. With existing parklands just to the west, the property serves as a critical open space buffer for wildlife. In order to protect the federally endangered western snowy plovers that nest in the Ten Mile Dunes, dogs are not allowed on the trail.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here If the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

Local botanist Alison Gardner will lead folks along the MacKerricher State Park Glass Beach Headlands to show the amazing coastal prairie plants and wildflowers that grow in this treasure of land, including the rare Pt. Reyes blennosperma that grows only here and in Pt. Reyes National Park!

Hike Level: Easy walk less than 1-mile.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here Heavy rain or strong winds will cancel.

UC Berekely Lichen Curator Klara Scharnagl will lead a walk through our coastal conifer forests teaching about lichen ecology and identification. The diversity of trees and shrubs at VanDamme (along with many fallen trees) provides various habitats for many lichen species.
Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

Hike Level: Moderate 5-mile loop with a stream crossing (no bridge).

RSVP Here If the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

Locally renowned State Park Interpreter Steve Jahelka will show you the incredible world of redwood forest ecology. Steve has worked at Hendy Woods for many years and knows the place better than most!

Hike Level: Hendy Woods Upper Loop. Moderate 5-mile loop with obstructions to navigate.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here If the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

Local botanist Alison Gardner will lead folks along the MacKerricher State Park Glass Beach Headlands to show the amazing coastal prairie plants and wildflowers that grow in this treasure of land, including the rare Pt. Reyes blennosperma that grows only here and in Pt. Reyes National Park!

Hike Level: Easy walk less than 1-mile.

Heavy rain or strong winds cancel.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here If the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

Plans are in progress. There will be a DKY display table at Point Arena City Hall and a Native Plant hike at 10 AM from City Hall to the Mendocino College Field Station with Julia Larke and others. At the Point Arena Lighthouse, Nancy Morin will have a station at the native plant display garden with plans to explore the bluff area near the lighthouse. There will also be a walk along the bluffs overlooking the pda'ha? estuary of the Garcia River with speakers from The Nature Conservancy to view and discuss the recent logjam habitat installations as well as observing wildflowers along the way with DKY members. Other activities include whale, sea mammal, and bird watching stations, and food stations! Shuttles will be available.

Walk approximately 1.5 hours over moderate terrain. We will observe coastal scrub, coastal prairie wildflowers and shrubs.

For more information or if you would like to participate, contact Julia Larke, coaSupport CNPS Plant NativesstlSupport CNPS Plant NativesarkSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmaSupport CNPS Plant Nativesil.coSupport CNPS Plant Natives

We will walk each of the three trails of the 40-acre park which will take us into second growth redwood, mixed evergreen forest, and oak woodlands. The park is known for its azaleas!

Hike Location: Faulkner Park is located east of Boonville on Mountain View Road. It is the first Mendocino County Park, donated in 1930 by the Santa Fe Land Company. The 40-acre park sits on both sides of Mountain View Road. There are three trails, one of which is the Azalea Trail that passes through the heart of the park, where large azalea shrubs grow under a canopy of second-growth redwood. The other two trails enter into mixed evergreen forest and oak woodland. The hike is moderate due to elevation gain. Total walking distance approximately 3-miles.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here If the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

Come discover the fascinating ecosystem of the Ten Mile Dunes with its native plants that include several rare species that inhabit this dune system. Jim Gibson will be leading the walk; Jim has been exploring, learning, and teaching about the plants of the Ten Mile Dunes for more than a decade.

Medium strenuous hike in sand along the dune bluffs then out into the dunes. We need to be mindful of the endangered Snowy Plover nesting sites so hike area is determined by the current nesting activity and location. Bring sunscreen, water, snack, or lunch.

Due to the sensitive nature of this ecosystem, rare plants and Federally protected bird species (Snowy Plover) this field trip is limited to 15 persons and RSVP on a first come basis is required. Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here If the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

Local botanist Alison Gardner will lead folks along the MacKerricher State Park Glass Beach Headlands to show the amazing coastal prairie plants and wildflowers that grow in this treasure of land, including the rare Pt. Reyes blennosperma that grows only here and in Pt. Reyes National Park!

Hike Level: Easy walk less than 1-mile.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here Heavy rain or strong winds will cancel.

Come learn native coastal prairie and coastal scrub plant species along with some of their pollinators with local nature author Katy Pye.

Easy walk on flat trails.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here If the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

We will travel along the Peter Douglas trail exploring the plants of the many habitats that are along the trail, including mixed evergreen forest, redwood forest, and coastal scrub. Portions of the trail burned in 2019; wildfires can stimulate a wide array of interesting plant species from the disturbance it causes.

Hike Location: The Peter Douglas trail is located in an area called "Shady Dell." Shady Dell is located just north of Usal and is the gateway to the extremely rugged area known as the Lost Coast. The 1,000-acre Shady Dell property is owned by Save the Redwoods League. The Mendocino Land Trust took on the task of constructing 2.3 miles of trail through this area with old-growth redwoods, including a special grove of "Candelabra Trees." This trail has had some expansions, including a 0.5-mile stretch along Shady Dell Creek and a soon to be completed ridge trail. Which trail we do is still TBD.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here If the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

Join local ecologist/botanist Peter Baye for an exploration and discussion of the Garcia River Estuary's wetland complex, including tidal marshes and their gradients into riparian woodland, and floodplain freshwater marsh.

Hike Location: The diverse tidally influenced reaches of the lower Garcia River connect beach, dune, coastal bluff, freshwater marsh, riparian woodland wetlands, submerged aquatic vegetation beds, and brackish tidal marsh. This wetland complex is distinctive among other Mendocino Coast estuaries in many aspects, including vegetation. It is undergoing rapid change from droughts, floods, erosion, sea level rise, and habitat enhancement features constructed for coho salmon. Regionally uncommon to rare plants that occur here include Humboldt Bay owl's-clover (Castilleja ambigua subsp. humboldtiensis), Lyngbye's sedge (Carex lyngbyei) and seacoast or shining angelica (Angelica lucida), among more widespread brackish marsh and freshwater wetland plants - but dynamic populations and hydrology here change distribution and abundance each year, so we never know what will be found where we can access from foot trails. With luck, we may discover more mare's-tail (Hippuris vulgaris), which is known only from the marshes north of the estuary. Boots or sandals and walking sticks are recommended for reaching interesting areas that may require crossing shallow water or mud, but most of the ground to reach is firm. The walk is scheduled for a low but rising tide in the morning.

Contact: Field trip coordinator Rhiannon at rkSupport CNPS Plant NativesbotaSupport CNPS Plant NativesnistSupport CNPS Plant Natives*aSupport CNPS Plant Nativest*Support CNPS Plant NativesgmSupport CNPS Plant Nativesail.cSupport CNPS Plant Nativesom

RSVP Here If the weather is too wet or cold for us to not have fun, the hike will be cancelled.

When not attending a DKY sponsored walk one can take advantage of the many other State and Regional Parks, the many hiking and biking trails in Jackson Demonstration State Forest, the Nature Conservancy and Mendocino Land Trust properties. Check out the Locations & Resources page for more information about many of the areas mentioned above.

While things have shifted in the Pandemic there is still need for common sense and caution so Please be mindful of others and follow all current CDC and County COVID guidelines and recommendations. -dky webmaster

Check out our Virtual Wildflower Tours for a preview to the flowers one might expect see in the respective locations listed above.