CNPS- Yerba Buena Natural History Walks:
Please note: Statewide CNPS is requiring signed waivers from event participants.
When noted, field trips require participants to sign online or paper waivers
And special thanks to our dedicated field trip leaders!
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San Bruno Mountain: Ridge Trail
Saturday April 5, 2025 from 10am-2pm
Leader: Doug Allshouse
The Ridge Trail offers a long and interesting menu of plant species including the endemic SBM manzanita, several paintbrushes, Franciscan wallflower, two wild cucumbers, three lupines, stonecrop, coast rock cress and more. On a very clear day the vistas extend from Pt. Reyes to the South Bay and the Bay Bridge to Mt. Diablo. The trail is an undulating fire road that follows the ridge line and has one arduous dip and elevation changes. The wildflower show, while varied and spectacular, is just part of the allure. If weather permits, we probably will encounter the mountain’s endangered Mission Blue butterfly, along with other spectacular species such as Anise and Pipevine Swallowtails and Green Hairstreaks.
The mountain offers box-of-chocolates weather so bring layers, binoculars, water, and lunch or snacks. Heavy rain cancels
This field trip will be limited to 20 people. There is a $6 fee (credit/debit card) for park admission payable at the pay station.
Please call or text Doug at 415-269-9967 with any questions, or email at dougsr228@comcast.net
Buckeye Canyon, San Bruno Mountain
Saturday April 26, 2025 10-1pm
Leader: Doug Allshouse
Spring is a perfect time to poke around Buckeye Canyon. Two years removed from a devastating landslide that scoured the stream beds down to the bedrock, Buckeye continues to rise like the Phoenix thanks to volunteer weeding parties dedicated to giving our native plant species room to roam. We’ll visit an ancient Ohlone shellmound then immerse ourselves in a riparian forest of buckeye, bay and oak trees as well as toyon, holly-leafed cherry, chaparral currant, blue elderberry, ferns and maybe a horsetail or two. This canyon is home to the rare and somewhat misplaced brittleleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos crustacea subsp. crustacea), that was once thought to be Eastwood manzanita (Arctostaphylos glandulosa). We will also have an opportunity to walk in, around, and across the dry creeks and study the various forms of greywacke sand stones that were uncovered and deposited by the landslide on the last day of 2022.
This walk is limited to 15 people.
Bring a lunch or snacks and layers for possible foggy weather although the canyon is generally sheltered. Heavy rain postpones to May 3.
Contact Doug at dougsr228@comcast.net to register and get directions to the meeting place.