Field Trips

Guided Nature Walk Inside the Fort Ord Impact Area

May 9, 2026

Sign-up for a guided nature walk inside the Fort Ord Impact Area and learn about ongoing munitions removal, prescribed burn program and habitat management. Participants can choose between two guided routes, one 1.6-mile and another 3.75-mile in length, both on fuel break roads that have been cleared of munitions and explosives of concern. Each walk will be led by guides who are familiar with the cleanup and the unique habitat of Fort Ord. There is a mandatory safety briefing at 9:40 AM that all Guided Nature Walk participants must attend. Participation will be limited and sign-ups will be required. A sign-up form will be available on FortOrdCleanup.com or you can send an email to Outreach@FortOrdCleanup.com or call (831) 393-1284. Please include the name of each participant and your preferred route. All participants under 18 years old must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian prior to the event. The waiver form is available in the news section of FortOrdCleanup.com. More information such as driving directions will be sent to participants once sign-ups have been finalized. Please note, dogs or any other pets are not allowed on the Nature Walk. You can click the following link for more information (https://fortordcleanup.com/archives/2026/save-the-date-fort-ord-impact-area-guided-nature-walk-may-9- 2026/). If you have any questions, please contact the Fort Ord Community Relations Office at 831-393-1284, or by email at Outreach@FortOrdCleanup.com.

Hike Vicente Flat Trail, the Quintessential Big Sur Experience

May 16, 2026

Join us on Saturday, May 16 th , 9:00 am, when the Monterey Bay and San Luis Obispo CNPS Chapters celebrate the re-opening of Highway 1 with a spring hike into the Ventana Wilderness on the wild Big Sur coast. We’ll be hiking the Vicente Flat Trail, the quintessential Big Sur experience with sweeping ocean views, giant redwood trees, rolling wildflower-covered hills, rock outcrops, and deep canyons of riparian splendor . Along the trail, we’ll find coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) growing alongside Spanish bayonet (Hesperoyucca whipplei), a striking, surreal experience of clashing ecosystems – the cool, moist, dark forest and stream meeting the sharp, dry, sun-scorched coastal scrub. The juxtaposition is a testament to California’s extraordinary biological diversity, where extreme, contrasting plant communities exist in close proximity.

This is a challenging and strenuous 10+ mile round-trip hike with over 2,000 feet of elevation gain. We’ll meet at the Kirk Creek Trailhead on Highway 1 at 9:00 am. Bring a sun hat, long sleeves, sunscreen, lunch, snacks, sturdy hike shoes, and at least 2-3 quarts of water. We’ll be out for most of the day.

For the Monterey Bay Chapter, carpooling will be encouraged. Registration is required. Monterey Bay Chapter members can contact field trip coordinator Phil Lombardino at philliplombardino@gmail.com to reserve a space on this outing. Let Phil know if you can offer a ride for a fellow hiker or two. MB trip leader Patrick Furtado (415-559-6935) can be contacted at pfurtado@berkeley.edu for questions regarding field trip details.

For the San Luis Obispo Chapter, carpooling is available from San Luis Obispo, Morro Bay, and Cambria; departure times will be forthcoming. SLO Chapter members can contact trip leader Bill Waycott (805-459-2103) at bill.waycott@gmail.com for answers to questions and/or carpool information. Please sign the Liability Waiver and register for this event by clicking the link below. Rain or the threat of rain cancels this outing.

Chews Ridge Wildflowers

May 23, 2026

Join Stanley Dudek on this special traditional CNPS outing to Chews Ridge. As the highest public road (5,000’ elevation) in Monterey County, the area around Chews Ridge offers a unique variety of plants, including some species not seen or rarely seen elsewhere. We will make several stops with easy to moderately paced hikes of a few yards to one or two miles. Meet at the Garland Ranch lower parking lot (near the footbridge entrance) by 9:00 AM. Bring water and lunch and sturdy footwear. AWD or 4WD vehicles are recommended and carpooling is encouraged. We will return at 4:30 PM or thereabouts depending on what we find. Limit of 12. Text Stanley at 831-726-6200 or email sdudek829@gmail.com for information, and email Phil Lombardino to sign a CNPS waiver and reserve your spot philliplombardino@gmail.com.

A botanical and archaeological wonderland, the Milpitas Special Interest Area (aka The Indians) of the Los Padres National Forest in southern Monterey County is a must-visit place to explore and experience. We will camp for two nights at Memorial Campground, approximately 17 miles northwest of Mission San Antonio. Guided plant walks will be offered to three different areas along with birding, stargazing, and campfires.

Carpooling is recommended (please let us know if you can give anyone a ride) and participants will be responsible for their own gear, food, and water. Camping fee for each person will be $20. Contact our chapter’s field trip coordinator Phil Lombardino at philliplombardino@gmail.com to register. Contact trip leader Patrick Furtado at pfurtado@berkeley.edu for questions regarding campout details. Payment will be necessary to confirm your reservation. Additional camping details will be sent to participants.

Monterey Bay and San Luis Obispo Chapters will join together for a late spring outing to Pinnacles National Park. The 5-mile hike will be fairly steep, and moderately strenuous, up the Juniper Trail to the High Peaks. If you have not visited the Pinnacles, this area is a mixture of chaparral and grey pine woodland, interspersed with the remnants of 23 million year old volcanic eruptions that form rocky spires and deep canyons. It’s a truly spectacular landscape not to be missed! Earlier wildflower blooms, such as Johnny-jump-ups, virgin’s bower, gilia, suncups, chia, black sage, pitcher sage, larkspur, and bush lupine, will still be visible. However, with May blooms, the focus shifts to species that thrive in hotter, drier conditions, including chamise, buckwheat, clarkias, orchids, penstemons, and roses.

Bring adequate water, a lunch and snacks, and dress in layers for the weather; a hat and sturdy shoes are advised. Temperatures may be on the warm side. Please register for this event by contacting field trip coordinator Phil Lombardino at philliplombardino@gmail.com. Trip leader Patrick Furtado can be contacted at pfurtado@berkeley.edu for questions regarding field trip details. Carpooling will be an option or meet at the West Visitor Contact Station (36.491649, -121.209641) at 9:30 am. Take US 101 to Soledad and CA 146 east to the park. WARNING: CA 146 from Soledad is steep and narrow. Allow plenty of time to reach the park. Entrance is $30/vehicle.