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The Mare Faire– Celebrate the Original Mare Island

Recent Events at The Preserve.....Click here for recent events

Mare Faire Host

$3,000 and above

Weston Solutions, Inc.

Mare Faire Sponsor

$500 to $999

CS Marine Constructors, Inc.

Lennar Communities

Mare Faire Donor

$250 to $499

1. •Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District
   

2. •Touro University-California

May 9 SECOND SATURDAY HIKES

9am-7pm Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve Self-guided Walk

Plan to check in with volunteers at the “warming hut” and pick up a trail guide with 13 points of interest. Walk or bike at your own pace as far as you like on the 1.2 mile paved road to the hilltop scenic vista. Continue another 1/2 mile to explore two small bunkers on the west-facing roadway that forms a warmer “bench” protected from the wind and overlooking San Pablo Bay. Dogs are allowed on leash.

9:30am-12:30pm Sierra Club Led Hikes (note: unless you can talk Myrna into giving this hike, this is the last one until the July hike...Don’t miss it!)

Sierra Club-Solano Group hike leader Kenn Browne  often guides hikes that coincide with the Second Saturdays along the south shore following the Napa River/Mare Island Strait to its convergence with San Pablo Bay and the Carquinez Strait at Pier 35. Walk near nests of great blue herons (5 confirmed as of March 5, 2009) and ospreys (2 confirmed as of March 5, 2009) perched high above on abandoned light poles and pass by the oldest munitions storage magazines on the Island, which celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2007. The 4 mile roundtrip hike is on level paved and dirt roads in an area slated for expanded regional parklands but not yet open to the the public. For more information call Kenn at 707-319-1846. Click here for a schedule of upcoming Southshore Hikes. NEW! Click here for a slideshow of Kenn’s photos of the hike route. Meet at the “Warming Hut” at the Visitor Center entrance past the gate at the south end of Railroad Ave.

10am-1pm Search for Native Plants Off Road

This is the p

rime time of year for discovery of California native plants. After 150 years of Navy presence and use of the original Mare Island even by the Spanish for horse grazing, it is a wide world of possibilities for the discovery of natives and even the distinct possibility of finding rare plants here. Why, maybe there’s even something found no where else in the world waiting to reveal itself. Join Brian and Archi and members of the California Native Plant Society Willis Jepson Chapter on a somewhat rigorous hill climbing adventure off road. That does mean keeping a lookout for rattlesnakes and checking yourself for ticks for the next day or so. Not suitable for young children or pets. Meet at the warming hut. Bring water and snacks. Rain or shine.

3-4pm Guided Walk in the Preserve

Join Preserve volunteer Myrna Hayes for a fact and fable filled leisurely walk and talk on the first 6 stops of the trail to the top of Mare Island’s highest point. Go as far as you like along the remainder of the trail. The entire 2-mile roundtrip paved route with 13 points of interest, winds from sea level to 384 ft. which doesn’t sound like much until you arrive at the hilltop with stupendous views of 7 Bay Area counties, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tamalpais, Mt. St. Helena, the Coast Range, East Bay Hills, the Carquinez Bridges and the Sonoma and Napa Valleys.  Meet at the “warming hut” at the entrance to the Preserve Visitors Center through the gate at the south end of Railroad Ave.

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Second Saturday Access Day

and Sierra Club Southshore Hikes                                         Click here for driving directions