FULL- This outing is full please only register if you want to be on the waitlist.  

Spring Flowers of Lafferty 
Lafferty Ranch 
Saturday, May 4th

9am to 11:30am

(Driving and parking directions will be sent out 2 to 3 days before the outing) 

Led by Lafferty Docents Eberle and Colleen

Register Here

Description:

Join Landpaths docents Eberle and Colleen for native plant discovery at Lafferty to appreciate our native trees, shrubs and flowers. Bring your field guides/apps and lets walk the beautiful hills of Lafferty Ranch, identifying the plants as well as taking in the views of the Petaluma river and San Pablo bay! Under contract with the City of Petaluma, Landpaths has been leading hikes on the land to introduce groups to its history and natural features since the summer of 2022. The hiking terrain ranges from broad, gentle meadows to steep challenging hillsides. We’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Petaluma Valley, stretching southwards to Mt. Tamalpais and Mt. Diablo, all the way to San Francisco. The trail passes through groves of venerable oak and bay trees along the Adobe Creek, with a total elevation gain of 500’. You'll enjoy panoramic vistas, and a babbling, perennial stream. The hike will be above the creek up to a vista point at the mid-point meadow, where we will stop to enjoy the panoramic views and snacks before returning to our cars.  

Registration in advance is required. Lafferty Ranch is only open to the public during special guided outings with LandPaths and the City of Petaluma. 
Directions: Upon registration you will recieve an email with the exact location, driving directions, and parking information. . 

Details:  

• Space is limited so register as soon as you can.  
• You will be asked to sign a liability waiver upon arrival 
• No restrooms available. This is a rustic property. Please plan accordingly. 
• You will recieve a confirmation email upon registration. If you do not recieve an email then you are not registered for the outing. 
• Upon registration you will recieve an email with the exact location, driving directions, and parking information. 
• Please note that there are no dogs or smoking allowed at Lafferty Ranch. 
• Carpooling is reccomended if possible. 

Difficulty:

From the parking area to the upper meadow and back. Approx 2.5 miles and 500-foot elevation gain.

About the area:

This 270-acre property is the only publicly owned land on the west side of Sonoma Mountain. Under contract with the City of Petaluma, Landpaths has been leading hikes on the land to introduce groups to its history and natural features since the summer of 2022. The hiking terrain ranges from broad, gentle meadows to steep challenging hillsides. We’ll enjoy spectacular views of the Petaluma Valley, stretching southwards to Mt. Tamalpais and Mt. Diablo, all the way to San Francisco. The trail passes through groves of venerable oak and bay trees along the Adobe Creek, with a total elevation gain of 500’. You'll enjoy panoramic vistas, and a babbling, perennial stream. The hike will be above the creek up to a vista point at the mid-point meadow, where we will stop to enjoy the panoramic views and snacks before returning to our cars.  

What to bring: 

• Your own water bottle, bring enough water for you and your family. Your own food, and bag for waste   
• We recommend wearing LONG pants (against ticks)
• Any identifiaction books/guides you want to bring
• Comfortable sturdy hiking shoes that can get dirty and can handle muddy terrain.
• Lots of layers: hat and whatever else you will need to be comfortable being out in the colder weather.
• Hiking poles are reccomended for the rocky, slipper and sometimes uneven terrain in certain parts of the trail.     

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.

Additional details:

Scholarships/work trades
Don't have the funds? reach out to us about sliding-scale scholarships.

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.

How to sign up: 

Click here! 

Do you need help registering?

• call Roxy at 707-544-7284 ext 103 or

• email her at roxy@landpaths.org

this event is possible thanks to ​​​​​​