Point Reyes National Seashore Association
Bear Valley Visitor Center
Mar 15 from 9am to 3pm PDT
Tickets: $22-85
How has this unique 5,000 acre fire reshaped the landscape, and what we can it teach us about coastal fires going forward?
Hike 6 miles through one of Point Reyes’ most dynamic landscapes—where fire, forest, fog and renewal intertwine. Once known as the “Slow Burn,” the 5,000-acre Woodward Fire of 2020 transformed Mt. Wittenberg, burning with mostly low intensity across 67% of its range. Remarkably, considering that the same lightning storm sparked catastrophic damage in the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Woodward Fire was a gentler rejuvenating burn —a story of resilience written in flame.
Part of the Woodward Fire also re-burned areas last touched by the intense 1995 Vision Fire, making this a rare ecological case study: two burns within just twenty-five years.
Five years later, the mountain tells a tale of recovery. On this 6-mile guided hike, we’ll explore how Douglas fir forests, coastal scrub, and Ceanothus shrublands are responding to fire and renewal. Along the way, we’ll observe fire-adapted plants, discuss wildfire behavior, and immerse ourselves in a living landscape that’s writing its next chapter.
Tanya Baxter, M.S. is a botanist, ecologist and educator. Tanya conducts rare plant surveys post wildfires in remote rugged areas on the Sierra Nevada and teaches at the Sierra Nevada Field Campus through San Francisco State University each summer. In Marin, Tanya led landscape scale habitat restoration projects for Golden Gate National Recreation Area for 8 years. Tanya is leading a multi year study on plant community change following the Woodward Fire in Point Reyes National Seashore. She currently leads innovative collaborations with Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority and Land Trust partners as a consultant.
Details
-We will be meeting in front of the Bear Valley Visitor Center
-Once gathered we will car caravan to the Sky Trailhead together
-This class will require vigorous hiking 6 miles on dirt trails with some elevation changes
- Please arrive 10-15 minutes early to check in
- Refunds available for all classes 7 days in advance of the start date, after 7 days and before 2 days, participants can credit their class for a future date. All requests less than 48 hours in advance will be declined.
- Please follow the parking instructions for the facility used that day
- Please provide an email you check regularly for updates and reminders about your class
- Registration is required online prior to the event in order to maintain class sizes
- Sales end 48 hours before the start date.
- Waitlists are available when the class sells out
Ticket Pricing
A range of pricing options is available to meet your needs. We welcome your participation and appreciate your support at any level.
What to Bring
Day Pack
Lunch
Warm Variable Weather Clothing
Hiking Shoes - appropriate for 6 mile hike
Water Bottle
Notebook and Pen/Field Journal
Eventbrite Confirmation Email
Binoculars (Optional)
Camera (Optional)
About the PRNSA Field Institute
The PRNSA Field Institute offers hands-on environmental education classes throughout the year that foster enjoyment of Point Reyes National Seashore. Our classes are led by expert instructors, who take you out of your everyday life and into the natural world. We host a variety of classes about the arts and sciences and have something for everyone. You can reach the Field Institute at (415) 663-1200 x304 or by email at fieldinstitute@ptreyes.org.
Interested in becoming a member of PRNSA? Click Here!
Interested in becoming a PRNSA Field Institute volunteer facilitator, or are you an outdoor educator or artist who would like to teach a PRNSA Field Institute class? Send an Email!
For any questions, please email us at fieldinstitute@ptreyes.org.