Native plants are the best bird feeders! If California had a state shrub, Manzanita ("Little Apple") would be an excellent choice. Join Sugarloaf docent, Dana Glei, in a 2-mile hike (250 ft elevation change) where we will see Manzanitas growing in the wild, talk about their recovery after heavy losses during the 2017 and 2020 fires that collectively burned 99% of the park, and discuss some of the many birds and other critters that use Manzanitas for food, shelter, and nesting sites. We will also highlight the benefits of including it in your own landscape and explain what it needs to be grown successfully (don't put it on drip!). If we're lucky, the hummingbirds will be taking advantage of the nectar on the Manzanita flowers. Along the way we may see some early wildflowers.
Meet at the White Barn. Wear appropriate footwear for dirt trails with gravel (and perhaps some mud) with multiple layers of clothing (it may be cold, especially at the start). Bring at least one quart of water, a snack (if you like), and hiking poles (if you use them). If you use iNaturalist or would like to learn how to use it, make sure it’s already installed on your phone before you arrive for the hike. Heavy rain cancels. Parking fees apply.
Ease of Access: From the White Barn parking lot, we will do the Meadow- Hillside loop. Meadow Trail it's sunnier (85% sun exposure), while Hillside Trail is shadier. The White Barn parking area has one van-designed parking spot and one accessible porta-potty. The Meadow Trail is a gravel fire road that is fairly flat with a bridge. Hillside Trail is a gravel fire road most of the way, but has a single-track portion that crosses a narrow bridge near the end. Hillside has a few hills for an elevation gain/descent of approximately 250ft.
