Sedgwick Reserve | Walking Ecology and Public Hikes

Pre-registration for our guided, interpretive hikes at the 6,000 acre Sedgwick Reserve is required. 

The Saturday, January 11th public hike day begins at 9am; hikes last two to three hours. In addition to the hikes, there will be an opportunity to see the newly-renovated century-old historic Sedgwick barn, our pond (home to numerous rare and special-status species, including the Western pond turtle and the tricolored blackbird), and the Tipton Meeting House. Hikers are welcome to bring a lunch and enjoy it in the shade of beautiful valley oaks at our Field Station picnic area. 

Secure your hike with $20/person registration fee (kids under 13 are free). The opening of online registration will be announced by email on Saturday, December 28th. Click HERE to sign up for our mailing list and don’t delay registration once hikes are announced – they fill up quickly!

In the event of rain hikes will be cancelled and registrants will be notified via email 24 hours in advance.

Check-in opens at 8:30am and hikes will depart promptly at 9am. 

Three levels of intensity are offered for the January 11 hike day:

Easy Hike: Mesa Trail.  Approximately 1.5 hours and 1 mile with 400 feet of elevational gain. An easy stroll along the Mesa with a good share of interpretation and vistas.  Includes a long stair climb and a short down hill stretch, about two hours total. An optional tour of the restored Ranch House and the hundred year old barn, home of our Sedgwick Barn Owl. Appropriate for children and seniors.  Bring water and snacks. The easy hike is limited to the first 20 people who sign up. 

Moderate Hike: Blue Schist Trail.  Approximately 2.35 miles with 630 feet of elevational gain. A moderately strenuous hike with two long grades to climb.  Moderate amount of interpretation by docents, beautiful vistas, wildflowers in season, the results of a dormant earthquake uplift to see, and interesting rock formations.  Almost three hours.  Our most popular hike. Bring water and snacks. The moderate hike is limited to the first 20 people who sign up. 

Strenuous Hike: Northeast Loop.  Approximately 5 miles with 1460 feet elevation change. An aerobic workout at the northern end of the Reserve.  Hills to climb and wonderful vistas and wildflowers in season.  Not much interpretation by docents and almost four hours long.  Bring water and snacks. The strenuous hike is limited to the first 20 people who sign up.