Post-Fire Ecology Hike at Saddle Mountain

Post-Fire Ecology Hike 
Saddle Mountain Open Space Preserve 
Sunday, June 25

10am to 2pm 

Please register at the link below 

Description:

Join LandPaths and Ag + Open Space for a post-fire ecology hike at Saddle Mountain, a 900+ acre open space preserve in the Mayacamas Mountains, protected forever by an Ag + Open Space conservation easement. 

In 2020 the Glass Fire spread into the preserve, burning it almost entirely. Across Saddle Mountain this nature preserve experienced a slower moving “ground fire” burning up mostly surface fuels and no tree canopies only scorching tree leaves and needles despite the wind and fuel conditions. Facilitated by Miles Sarvis-Wilburn, LandPaths' stewardship specialist and wildland firefighter, you'll explore the impact of fire on the landscape and see the resiliency of habitats that have co-evolved with fire. The preserve is normally closed to the public, so this is a great opportunity to explore nature close to Santa Rosa's urban downtown core. 

About Saddle Mountain: 

With its magnificent native grasslands and oak woodlands, Saddle Mountain is a 900-acre wonderland that is a part of the Mark West watershed.  Saddle Mountain is located on the eastern boundary of Santa Rosa. This regionally significant purchase protects portions of the Mark West Creek watershed and a portion of Santa Rosa Creek in the Russian River Drainage Basin. Alpine, Weeks, and Van Buren creeks, which run through the property, feed into Mark West Creek where Coho salmon and steelhead swim. Ducker Creek, also on the property, feeds into Santa Rosa Creek, where steelhead can be found.Through a State Coastal Conservancy grant, Ag + Open Space has developed a draft management plan that addresses the protection of a federally-listed endangered plant found on the property, as well as the road network, wildlife habitats, streams, and invasive plants. Ag + Open Space continues to coordinate with its partners and the community to offer recreational access that is compatible with preserving the conservation values of the property. 

Hike Difficulty Level: 

Three mile hike roundtrip with some steep parts through uneven terrain. Will be hiking for about an hour and half total with breaks including and a stopping point for lunch. 

Details:  

• We will ask you to sign a waiver of liability

• There is no potable water on the property

• We ask that you leave your pets at home for this event.

• There is no bathroom on this preserve. 

What to bring: 

• Bottle of water, snacks, and lunch for the day

• Comfortable clothing to protect from the sun (hat, sunglasses, sunscreen)

• Comfortable walking shoes (that can get dirty)

What LandPaths will provide:

• additional water

• First aid box

Where we will meet you: 

Meet at Rincon Valley Regional Library:  

6959 Montecito Blvd, Santa Rosa, CA 95409

We will caravan from there into Saddle Mountain 

Please pre-register in advance so that we know you're coming. 

Staff: 

Our staff is certified in the minimum of CPR and First Aid, and they have training and years of experience working in outdoor spaces. All staff has had their backgrounds checked through fingerprinting.

How to sign up: 

Register Here 

Need help with your registration? 

• call Roxy at 707-544-7284 ext 103 

• email roxy@landpaths.org

Additional details:

Accessibility:

If you have accessibility questions, please call or email us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Same-day cancellations:
Please call 707-544-7284 (then press 1) after 7 am the morning of the day if you wish to confirm. If you don't hear a cancellation notice in the highlighted voicemail, the day hasn't been canceled.

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