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Field Trip: Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (Woodside)

  • 37.403290, -122.244664 (map)

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TRIP POLICY: Please limit your sign-ups to 1 weekend trip and 2 weekday trips per month. Also, please take a moment to read our other policies here.

Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (Woodside)

This Stanford University preserve is a biological research facility and is not open to the public except on docent-led tours. Year-round birding is excellent due to the great variety of habitats including Searsville Lake, freshwater marsh, riparian corridor, oak savanna, mixed oak woodland, chaparral, grasslands, and redwoods. We’ll check out the historic and now-controversial Searsville Dam and then search the varied habitats for woodpeckers, waterfowl, and songbirds.

Trip Difficulty: 2.5 miles, packed-dirt trails, muddy or possibly muddy after rain, some hills (less than 300 ft elevation gain, some shade

Other Trip Notes: Note that individuals must stay with the group during the entirety of the tour; one cannot leave early since all visitors must be accompanied by a docent. Participants will be asked to sign a indemnity and waiver form.

Leaders: Emily Kim, Matthew Dodder (650) 868-4922

Family Friendly Ages 14 and up (this is a strict age limit)

Meet: preserve entrance at locked gate

Directions: From I-280 in Palo Alto, exit Sand Hill Rd west, towards the foothills. Continue on Sand Hill Rd for 2 miles. The preserve entrance gate will be on your left, 100 yards before Portola Rd. We will meet at the preserve at 8:00AM and enter through the locked gate as a group. Plan to be on time as late arrivals may be locked out. Latitude/Longitude: 37.403290, -122.244664

Facilities: ADA accessible bathroom

Parking Type and Fees: dirt parking lot, no fees

Banner Photo: Oak Titmouse by Sushanta Bandarkar

Questions? Email general questions to fieldtrips@scvbirdalliance.org or contact the trip leader for questions regarding the event.