Winter Hike and Native Plant Exploration at Lafferty Ranch
02/01/2026 12:30 PM - 03:00 PM PT
Description
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Join LandPaths' docents Bruce, Brian and Joy for a beautiful Winter hike at Lafferty Ranch. We will be examining plants, listening to the creek and the birds, and taking in the winter view of the valley floor.
We'll be joined by a special guest - local herbalist Audrey Watts, who will lead us in an exploration of native plants in their Winter dormancy. We’ll also be looking at the medicinal and other roles the native plants played in the lives of people who lived on Sonoma Mountain and the valley floor below. Weather permitting, we will also do a guided meditation at the top of our hike, under the big Valley Oak.
The 270-acre Lafferty Ranch property is the only publicly-owned land on the west side of Sonoma Mountain, and access is made possible thanks to the City of Petaluma and LanPpaths. The hiking terrain ranges from broad, gentle meadows to steep challenging hillsides with a narrow path and a total elevation gain of 500’
The parking up at Lafferty Ranch is muddy this time of year, so we will be parking at the Prince Park parking lot on East Washington St. at 12:30 pm, and carpooling up to the Lafferty Ranch. Wear warm, weather-protective clothes, good hiking boots, and dress in light colors – easier for spotting the ticks, which there can be at this time of year. Rain storm will cancel.
Details:
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Space is limited so register as soon as you can.
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The hike will be led by volunteer Lafferty Docents.
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You will be asked to sign a liability waiver upon arrival.
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No restrooms available. This is a rustic property. Please plan accordingly.
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You will receive a confirmation email upon registration. If you do not receive an email then you are not registered for the outing.
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Upon registration you will receive an email with the exact location, driving directions, and parking information.
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3 days before the outing you will receive a reminder email.
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Please note that there are no dogs or smoking/vaping allowed at Lafferty Ranch.
What to bring:
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Your water bottle, bring enough water for you and your family.
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We recommend wearing LONG pants (against ticks) and comfortable sturdy hiking shoes that can get dirty.
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Warm layers, sun protection and whatever else you will need to be comfortable being outside in the elements.
If we need to cancel due to weather or other circumstances: You will immediately receive an email if the program gets cancelled. However, if you would like to confirm, check back on this post; it will say "CANCELLED" if the program is called off.
Do you need help registering?
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call Laura at 707-544-7284 or
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email her at laura@landpaths.org
This event is possible thanks to the City of Petaluma!
