2017 First Day Hike - Anderson Marsh State Historic Park

Description

Start the New Year off right by joining us for a walk in the Park at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park Sunday, January 1, 2017 at noon.  This is part of America's State Parks “First Day Hikes” program, which offers individuals and families an opportunity to begin the New Year by getting outside, enjoying nature and welcoming the New Year with friends and family.

There will be two different routes to choose from:

• The hike on the McVicar Trail will pass through oak woodlands, along the edge of the aquatic habitat of Anderson Marsh and end up at the gravel beach on the shore of Clear Lake across from Indian Island. This will be a leisurely walk and will cover about 7¾ miles of mainly flat terrain. The walk should take between 3 and 4 hours, depending on how many times the group stops to admire what we see along the way.
• A second, shorter hike will include parts of the Cache Creek, Marsh and Ridge Trails. This 3½ mile loop will include the Cache Creek riparian habitat, the Anderson Flats grasslands and the oak woodlands on Lewis Ridge. The hike will pass by an Acorn Woodpecker granary tree and a vernal pool. This shorter hike will take between 2 and 2 ½ hrs.

Participants on both walks are welcome to go part way and make an early return at their own pace. The exact routes that will be followed may have to be adjusted, depending on the weather and how wet the ground is on January 1st. This is a fabulous opportunity to view the Anderson Marsh Natural Preserve, with the walks passing through many of the environments contained within the Park, including Oak woodlands, grasslands, willow swamp/tule marsh, willow-cottonwood riparian habitats, a vernal pool, Cache Creek and Clear Lake itself.

Participants should bring water and snacks, binoculars if they have them, and a hat for protection against the weather. Sturdy shoes that can handle a little mud are recommended. Heavy rain will cancel the walk.

Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Hwy 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake. For more information, contact AMIA by replying to this email or leaving us a message at (707) 995-2658.