Join Elan Alford, our Chapter's Rare Plant Chair for San Mateo County, to see the coastal beauty at McNee Ranch, which is a rare plant hotspot in San Mateo County. McNee Ranch is on Montara Mountain and offers coastal mountain bluff trails.
We’ll start by meeting at 9am at La Costanera Restaurant (8150 Hwy 1, Montara, CA 94037). There, we’ll explore nearby coastal prairie to see the rare perennial goldfields (Lasthenia californica ssp. macrantha).
After exploring, we will drive less than a mile north to Gray Whale Cove Parking lot for the hike. We will explore the Gray Whale Cove trail and see coastal scrub and coastal prairie. We may also see the rare and threatened Potentilla hickmanii, a California Rare Plant Rank (CRPR) 1B.1 plant. The trail parallels Highway 1 and has extensive Pacific Ocean views. The hike is about 2.5 miles out and back with about 270 feet in elevation gain.
There is poison oak along the trail, which is exposed to the sun and wind, so bring sun protection and a hat. Also bring adequate water and a lunch. We will eat at the picnic tables along the trail.
This is a popular weekend trail and thus we will limit the hike to 12 people. To reserve your spot, email Elan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Sat Apr 20 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Mon Apr 22 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Tue Apr 23 @ 7:00PM - 09:00PM Native Plant ID |
Fri Apr 26 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Friday Edgewood Restoration |
Sat Apr 27 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Sat Apr 27 @ 9:30AM - 04:00PM Wildflower Show |
Sun Apr 28 @10:00AM - 02:00PM Rancho Cañada del Oro OSP (Morgan Hill) |
Mon Apr 29 @ 8:00AM - Lake Cunningham Native Garden |
Thu May 02 @ 7:00PM - 08:30PM Bringing Beauty and Biodiversity to an Urban Preserve, a talk by Stephanie Saffouri (with Laura Powers and Petra Boester) |
Fri May 03 @ 9:00AM - 12:00PM Friday Edgewood Restoration |