Birding at Wright Hill Ranch

Poff Ranch, Jenner 

Saturday, March 7th, 10am-3pm

Pre-registration is required for this event. Please scroll down to the bottom of the page to register 

Join LandPaths and Ag + Open Space for a birding hike at the spectacular Wright Hill Ranch just south of Red Hill on the Sonoma Coast.  The1235-acres property is protected by Ag+Open Space. The property features breathtaking coastal views from Wright Hill (1190 feet), extensive wildlife habitat and a colorful history. This property is protected for future recreation potential including possible future trail connections to the Coastal Trail AND as part of Sonoma County’s coastal “agriculture belt” – which includes continued grazing.

We will be joined by veteran LandPaths’ volunteer & UC California Naturalist Dave Barry (a.k.a. “Duck Dave”) who will share his extensive bird knowledge with all of us as we traverse the grasslands. Bring your binoculars!

What if it's raining? We'll go in a light to medium rain but a heavy rain may affect our plans - if in doubt, call our Outings Line at 544-7284 (then press 1) after 8am. If no special message, it's a go!

Overview of our hike route:

Our route will cover a 7.5-mile loop over a combination of trails, ranch roads, and open grasslands.  The first leg of our hike will take us from Shell Beach up the Pomo Trail to Red Hill (1,000 feet of elevation gain over 2 miles).  We’ll take in the views at Red Hill before heading south to Wright Hill, and entering the Poff Property, stopping for lunch at the spot of our choosing.  The next stretch will be through grasslands.  We’ll stop for a brief tour of the historic house before heading down a gravel road to connect with the Kortum Trail for a short jaunt back to Shell Beach 

Where: Shell Beach Parking area at 10am

We will meet at Shell Beach Parking area on the Sonoma coast. Click here for Google Map.  From Santa Rosa and north, take River Road towards Guerneville and the coast. All other areas take Highway 1 towards Jenner. Near the town of Jenner where Highways 116 & 1 intersect, go south on Highway 1 towards Bodega Bay.  Go past the Goat Rock State Park entrance. The Shell Beach parking area is the next major parking area on the ocean side off Hwy 1.  If you come upon "Carlevaro Way" or "Wrights Beach" on your right you have gone too far south and have missed the Shell Beach parking area. Drive time from 101 in Santa Rosa is approximately 1 hour.  

What to bring: 

• water bottle for the day, picnic lunch and snacks 
• good boots or shoes 
• weather appropriate clothing (think layers as the weather can change quickly on the coast) Rain gear may be useful.  
• suggested items- something to sit on at lunch, binoculars, camera, walking stick for negotiating the terrain. 

Details, details: 

• There is no charge for this outing 
• We will stay together as a group, and depart as a group  
• You will be asked to sign a liability waiver prior to the hike 
• No smoking, no pets, and of course- no smoking pets! 
• There are vault toilets at Shell Beach, but no other restrooms on our route 
• Please review the hike distance and elevation to make sure you are prepared 

Contact: For questions, please contact Jesica Rodriguez by calling 707-544-7284 #107

Please click here to register! 

Ag + Open Space protects land in Sonoma County and LandPaths connects you with that land. This program is made possible through a partnership between the District and non-profit partner LandPaths. It is sponsored by the voters of Sonoma County who funded the District's work with a quarter-cent sales tax, and is coordinated & guided by LandPaths.