Trail Stewardship - Riddell Preserve

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With its magnificent native grasslands, pure madrone stands, redwood fairy rings, and perennial springs, Riddell Preserve is a 400-acre wonderland above Dry Creek Valley in Healdsburg. LandPaths has stewarded the land since 2007 when it was donated by Kay and Bob Riddell. We continue to expand the trail system every year thanks to the help of dedicated volunteers like you!

Trails are crucial to safe access to nature, for both land and people. They also help reduce erosion and overuse of sensitive ecosystems. At LandPaths, our trails are people-powered, and we need your help maintaining them on these occasional stewardship days.  

The more people that come out for this trail stewardship day, the more we can get done! Plus, tending the land with like-minded people is a guaranteed mood-booster!   

Here’s a sampling of possible tasks that you will do to care for the land: 

• Hiking moderate slopes 

• Carrying tools to the trail site. Tools range in weight, from light to heavier 

• Removing vegetation with rakes and loppers 

• Reshaping edge of trail with shovels, mcleods, and pickaxes 

• (We provide the tools!) 

• Smoothening trail with shovels and rakes  

Where to Meet: Meet LandPaths' staff and other volunteers in the parking lot of the Healdsburg Corporation Yard at 550 Westside Rd, Healdsburg, CA 95448. Once everyone arrives we will caravan to the preserve. Please arrive on time. 

Directions: From Highway 101 North, take the Central Healdsburg Exit. and make a slight left on Healdsburg Avenue.  Turn left onto Mill Street.  Continue under the highway overpass as Mill Street turns into Westside Road. The Corporation Yard parking lot will be on the left immediately before the bridge crossing at the intersection of Westside Rd and Lucius Way. There is a "Corporation Yard" sign at the entrance to the parking lot.           
   
From Highway 101 South, take the Westside Exit and turn right on Westside Rd.  The Corporation Yard parking lot will be on the left immediately before the bridge crossing at the intersection of Westside Rd and Lucius Way.    

Where: With its magnificent native grasslands, pure madrone stands, redwood fairy rings, and perennial springs, Riddell Preserve is a 400-acre wonderland above Dry Creek Valley in Healdsburg. LandPaths has stewarded the land since 2007 when it was donated by Kay and Bob Riddell. Riddell Preserve is located on the original homeland of the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians. LandPaths' stewardship staff and volunteers began work on a trail system in 2016. An access road was rebuilt in 2017. We continue to expand the trail system every year thanks to the help of dedicated volunteers like you!

What is LandPaths' Covid-19 volunteer workday policy? Please read the most recent version of LandPaths' Covid-19 policy before attending the workday. 

Does rain mean the workday is canceled? The stewardship workday will move forward if there is a light drizzle, but a torrential rainstorm will cancel.  Please call 707-544-7284 (then press 1) after 7am the morning of the stewardship day if the weather feels questionable. If you don't hear a notice of cancellation on the outgoing voice message, the stewardship day is moving forward.  

What should you bring? 

• Picnic lunch, snacks & plenty of water, backpack to hold your gear
• Sturdy boots or shoes that can get muddy
• Long pants recommended 
• Your own work gloves  
• Hat and sunscreen 
• Hand sanitizer

What else do you need to know? 

• A handwashing station will be available.
• Expect to do a 1.5-mile round trip hike up a steep but well-graded trail to the project site. 
• You will be asked to sign a liability waiver.
• No restroom onsite
• No potable water available on the property. Make sure to fill up your water bottle ahead of time. 
• No pets or smoking. 

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