Looking for a way to honor and give back to the environment!? Come out to Daily Acts and Sonoma Ecology Center’s Compost Giveaway September 27 and 28 from 4:00-6:00 pm.

Come pick up FREE compost for your yard and gardens to improve the health of both your soil and plants while drawing down climate-warming, atmospheric carbon. We can provide some old grain bags, but we encourage that you bring your own buckets, bags, or truck. We will be providing compost on a first come, first served basis with a max of 1 yard (which looks like the equivalent to an average truck bed full of compost). Please also bring shovels and gloves to help load up the compost.

Please register for a time slot so we are prepared of how many people to expect and to mitigate traffic. By registering you will also receive resources on the topic of Compost and Carbon Sequestration via email.

REGISTER HERE

Volunteers play a crucial role at keeping Sugarloaf Ridge State Park open and accessible to all! Help Sugarloaf with trail restoration work by coming to our every-other-Thursday Volunteer Trail Crew. Activities include bridge and step construction, installing signs, clearing, lifting, carrying, and hiking.

Bring gloves, hat, and water that you can carry hands-free (i.e. bring a backpack). Wear long pants, boots or sturdy shoes and sunscreen. Long sleeves are suggested as poison oak is present. We have tools and trained crew leaders with tasks for all. Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult. We will provide tools, and if allowed, lunch.

If you are a current Sugarloaf volunteer, log onto Better Impact to sign up. First-time volunteers are welcomed and encouraged to formally join our volunteer program if they’d like to support us more frequently. Start here to become a volunteer.

Bring a flashlight and your sense of wonder as you explore the park after dark. This hike begins at the White Barn and heads up to the viewpoint on Vista Trail, where we will see the moon rise over the Mayacamas and the sun set over Sonoma Valley.

This is a moderate-to-strenuous, 4.2-mile hike with 700ft of elevation not recommended for children under 7.

Tickets are $10 general, and $5 for students, youth (12-17 year olds), Sugarloaf members, Sugarloaf volunteers, and free for children 7-12 years old. All minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Be at the meeting location at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the hike for a prompt departure. Bring water, snacks, and extra layers for the evening. Parking fees apply.

Ease of access: the White Barn parking area has one van-designed parking spot and one accessible porta-potty. The Lower Bald Mountain Trail has two trailheads; one starting from the main parking lot and one starting from the group camp. It is a single-track dirt and gravel trail with multiple narrow switchbacks and inclines for an elevation gain of approximately 500ft. Vista Trail is a narrow, single-track dirt trail with steep, rocky, slippery sections and multiple sections of stairs. Grey Pine connects Vista Trail to Meadow Trail. The section between Vista and Meadow is a double-track dirt trail with a creek crossing. Hikers cross a plank to continue onto the trail. Meadow Trail is a mostly flat composite trail manageable by strollers and wheelchairs from the trailhead to about a mile in, although officially not an ADA-compliant trail. 

______________________
For more events at Sugarloaf, visit our calendar.

[Español abajo]

We are selling a variety of California native plants to the public every Friday from 12:00-3:00 pm to help local gardeners create and maintain drought-tolerant and pollinator-friendly gardens and landscapes. Simply drop into our Native Plant Nursery. For questions, email our Native Plant Nursery Manager at hannah@sonomaecologycenter.org.

Our weekly plant sales will be cancelled October 6, 13, and 20 to prepare for our big, seasonal sale on October 21.

Sign up for our emailing list to stay updated on future events: sonomaecologycenter.org/newsletters-sign-up.

Venderemos una variedad de plantas nativas Californianas al público cada viernes de 12:00 a 3:00 pm para ayudar a jardineros locales a crear y mantener jardines y paisajes resistentes a la sequía y amigables a polinizadores. Simplemente acude a nuestro vivero de plantas nativas (ubicado dentro de Sonoma Garden Park). Si tienes preguntas, manda un email a nuestra gerente del vivero de plantas nativas por hannah@sonomaecologycenter.org.

Nuestra venta de plantas semanal en octubre 6, 13, y 20 se ha cancelado para prepararnos para nuestra venta estacional el 21 de octubre.

Inscríbete a nuestro boletín de noticias electrónico para estar al tanto de nuestros eventos futuros: sonomaecologycenter.org/newsletters-sign-up.

Fall is a wonderful time to check out migrant and resident birds in Sugarloaf’s diverse habitats. Join Carolyn Greene, bird-nerd and Certified California Naturalist on an easy 2-mile walk along Creekside and Lower Bald Mountain trails. Emphasis will be on ear-birding and recognizing multiple ID characteristics in the field. No prior birding experience needed; just bring a curiosity and appreciation for birds.

Tickets are $10 for general audiences, $5 for students, youth (12-17 year olds; must be accompanied by an adult), Sugarloaf members, Sugarloaf volunteers, and free for children under 12 years old. Meet at the White Barn. Wear layers, comfortable footwear, sun protection, water, and if desired, a snack. If you have them, we recommend bringing binoculars, scope, camera, and/or bird identification guides. Parking fees apply.

Ease of access: The White Barn parking area has one van-designed parking spot. The western side of Creekside Nature Trail is a composite dirt and gravel trail of 0.45 miles that is ADA-compliant. Its western trailhead is across from the main parking lot. Lower Bald Mtn Trail starts at the main parking lot. It is a single-track dirt and gravel trail with multiple narrow switchbacks and inclines for an elevation gain of approximately 500ft.

______________________
For more events at Sugarloaf, visit our calendar.