Deer Creek Hills Preserve

FALL SPECIAL - run free! SVC is sponsoring the cost for the September trail run. Kick off the fall season by bringing a friend out to run the trails. Pre-registration is still required. Join us for a Saturday morning trail run! Explore a new area of Deer Creek Hills Preserve from 8:00-11:00am. Attendees can either follow the marked loops through the north property for self-guided running. Or, at 8:30am, participate in a docent-guided, 5-6 mile run along an alternate route.…

Join Deer Creek Hills' docents for a guided tour under the stars at the darkest site in all of Sacramento County. Amateur astronomy has come a long way in the past few years. Prepare to be amazed! On this night, see hundreds of thousands suns crowded into the Hercules Cluster. Marvel at the shimmering "Wild Duck" cluster. Spot NASA’s iconic “Pillars of Creation” in the Eagle Nebula.  Consider the existence of life in the spiral arms of the Andromeda Galaxy. You will…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the golden grasses and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in open…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the golden grasses and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in open…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the golden grasses and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in open…

Guided by Miki Fujitsubo with input from fellow lead docents, this outing will review how to successfully contribute to fun and safe guided public tours at Deer Creek Hills Preserve. New docents are asked to attend as you increase your comfort and confidence on the property. Returning and lead docents are also asked to participate, for a helpful refresher and to share your knowledge and experience. Rough Agenda To Be Covered What to Bring / What Not to Bring Basic…

Step back in time and join us for the Deer Creek Gold Rush. Lead docent David Scharlach will guide us on a hike 3-miles long and a century and a half back in time as he retells the story of the search for gold at Deer Creek. In 1849, it is said that a gold nugget the size of your fist was found nearby on the Cosumnes River at Cooks Bar. By 1850, the town that sprang up there boasted…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…

What grows at Deer Creek Hills Preserve? This month's docent-guided natural history hike (second Saturday of every month, Feb-May) will be a 2-3 mile Mushroom Meander. Join our docents who will share what they have discovered in the way of macrofungi this past week. This will be a slow moving stroll through the blue, live and valley oaks on the property. A short informational handout will be provided. A camera and hand lens will be helpful in this exploration. As…

Current SVC equestrian docents will gather at Deer Creek Hills to review emergency response protocols, practice hands-on emergency scenarios and gain valuable information on how to ensure group safety during an emergency. There will be a 30 minute review of protocols and orientation to docent resource binder followed by a short hike to the training location near the Oxbow pond. Snacks and drinks will be provided at the corral. Docent and nurse Sue Fossum will be leading the human safety scenarios and Docent and Veterinarian…

Docents welcome all ages of new and experienced birders alike, who are ready to tackle this 3-4 mile off-trail walk through open grasslands that overlie the Gopher Ridge (metavolcanic) Formation. Open grassland habitat in the Sacramento area continues to disappear making this local resource ever more important. These are hunting grounds for winter resident raptors such as Ferruginous and Rough-legged Hawks and year-round residents such as Red-tailed Hawks and burrowing Owls. Falcons are represented by the year-round American Kestrel and…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…

Join us as we spend the morning talking under the oaks as we learn about indigenous perspectives and and their deep connection to the land. The talk will be led by Kimberly "ShiningStar" Petree Executive Director of the Cosumnes Culture and Water Ways. The CCaWW is a 501c3 that is "dedicated to preserving the indigenous culture of the Miwok people, caring for the land, animals, and the waterways." In October of 2022 CCaWW partnered with American River Conservancy, REI and…

"We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to Nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves..." ~Andy Goldsworthy, Artist Please join SVC Docents on a guided, gentle "mindfulness" hike among the Blue Oak Woodland. We will explore Nature while doing some gentle stretching and yoga (no previous yoga experience required), breathing, Nature observation/discussion, and mindfulness exercises. The walk will be about 1-2 casual miles…

Real life Solomon Miser will take you from his homestead into the hills of Deer Creek to reminisce about coming to California before the gold rush, the wagon train he led West and his neighbors and early settlers like Jared Sheldon, Bill Daylor and William Hartnell. Join Deer Creek Hills historian David Scharlach as he tells of the amazing first owners of Deer Creek Hills including a cowboy Casanova, a drunken scoundrel and murderer, the intrepid teenage daughter (and survivor)…

*Due to weather conditions, this ride will be rescheduled. Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders…

Join experienced docents for a venture to the southern part of Deer Creek Hills, Sacramento’s largest open space preserve. The lovely South Pond is home to Wilson’s Snipe, Sora and vocal (and many times visible) Virginia Rail. Up to 31 Snipe have been observed at one time sunning themselves along the pond’s edge. Loggerhead Shrike are occasional visitors here as well. We will make a nice transect through the old growth blue oak woodland looking for winter and year-round resident…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…

"We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to Nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves..." ~Andy Goldsworthy, Artist Please join SVC Docents on a guided, gentle "mindfulness" hike among the Blue Oak Woodland. We will explore Nature while doing some gentle stretching and yoga (no previous yoga experience required), breathing, Nature observation/discussion, and mindfulness exercises. The walk will be about 1-2 casual miles…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…

This is one of our longer guided hikes. Meet at the corral for checkin from 8:30-8:45 so we can depart promptly at 9am. We will carpool/caravan further up Latrobe Road (higher clearance vehicles recommended) to an area of the property not open to self-guided hikers. The hike will be 5.5 miles over easy to moderate terrain, trails mostly, but not exclusively. Multiple stops and breaks along the way. Expect to return to the corral and depart around 1:30 to 2:00.…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…

Oak Whispers in Science Facts and Poets' Words Science documents the importance of oaks in the ecosystem; language records their centrality in culture and their wonder flows from the poet’s pen. Blue oaks are a “keystone” species that support a wide diversity of life forms.  Languages across the northern temperate zones from North America to Europe, the Slavic Countries, and China—the distribution of the genus Quercus—all have unique words for “oak”, prividing evidence of the special importance of this tree in…

The route for this outing will depend on the weather, bird migration activity, nesting activity and scouting results from the docents earlier in the week, plus input from the guests. Sunrise is at 6:30 and the weather in April can be unpredictable, so layered clothing, a hat, sunscreen and water are advisable. Docents have a fair knowledge of local wildflowers, insects and the natural landscape in addition to the local birds. So if you are curious about something, just ask…

Please grab your uke and join us for a short casual stroll into the Blue Oaks of Deer Creek Hills for a sing along in the woodland. All ages and levels of players and singers welcome as we play a few simple songs (think campfire genre). Last time the cows were very intrigued and interested. Please bring ukulele, a daypack, layers of clothing, something to sit on (blanket or portable chair), water, snack/lunch, and a song if you want to…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…

* The guided portion of this outing has been cancelled, however, all are welcome to run the pre-marked self guided trails whenever the preserve is open for hiking.* Join us for a Saturday morning trail run! Explore a new area of Deer Creek Hills Preserve from 8:00-11:00am. Attendees can either follow the marked loops through the north property for self-guided running. Or, at 8:30am, participate in a docent-guided, 5-6 mile run along an alternate route. Space is limited for the docent-guided run. VISITORS MUST:…

"We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to Nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves..." ~Andy Goldsworthy, Artist Please join SVC Docents on a guided, gentle "mindfulness" hike among the Blue Oak Woodland. We will explore Nature while doing some gentle stretching and yoga (no previous yoga experience required), breathing, Nature observation/discussion, and mindfulness exercises. The walk will be about 1-2 casual miles…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…

Due to rain and muddy conditions on the Preserve, Deer Creek Hills will be closed May 6 and this hike has been postponed to May 13. If you previously registered, your ticket has been transferred to May 13. If you are unable to attend, please contact Carly or Amy for more options and to free your space for someone else to enjoy the hike. CANCELLATION POLICY: Extreme weather, unsafe air quality, rain or flooding on Latrobe Road will close Deer…

Due to the expected rain, this ride has been postponed to May 13. If you already registered, please email Amy or Carly to transfer your ticket to next Saturday. If you are unable to attend, tickets can be transferred to any other outing this month or registration fees donated to support stewardship projects on the preserve. View the full calendar for options for ticket transfers.   Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the…

Archaeology of Deer Creek Hills These beautiful hills will disclose to us clues that may link the mysterious paleolithic Indians of 12,000 years ago with the early nomadic hunters of 6000 years ago and the seasonal travelers from 600 years ago and sooner.  We will find the sites that overlay the rush for gold upon the remnants of native habitation.  Actual artifacts from nearby areas will assist us.  So much time to traverse in just three miles!  As the weather…

What grows at Deer Creek Hills Preserve? Explore California’s unique landscape—a Blue Oak Woodland. On this wildflower grassland your Naturalist will help sharpen your senses as they lead you under the oak canopy pointing out the interconnected world of insects, birds, plants, animals and even the lowly fungi that weave together this amazing ecosystem. Taking you back in time, you’ll discover the bounty Native Americans found on this land. It served as grocery store, pharmacy and Home Depot! Walking the…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…

Deer Creek Riparian Area and Oak Woodland (DO NOT drive into the usual spot at Eagle Camp Corral.)  Meet promptly at 6:30am at the corner of Stonehouse and Latrobe Roads. We have an early start to avoid the heat and see the best bird activity. We will caravan to Deer Creek Hills North promptly at 6:45am. This is a rare opportunity to join our birding docents on a trip to the northern part of the preserve, which is not on any of the self-guided…

Join us for a Saturday morning trail run! Explore a new area of Deer Creek Hills Preserve from 8:00-11:00am. Attendees can either follow the marked loops through the north property for self-guided running. Or, at 8:30am, participate in a docent-guided, 5-6 mile run along an alternate route. Space is limited for the docent-guided run. Pace will depend on the group, but guided runs tend to follow an 11 min/mile pace with enough stops to the front and back of the group within sight of each…

Join us for a Saturday morning trail run! Explore a new area of Deer Creek Hills Preserve. Attendees can either follow the marked loops through the north property for self-guided running from 8:30am-1pm. Or participate in a docent-guided, 6-8 mile run along an alternate route. Space is limited for the docent-guided run and will depart at 8:45am. Pace will depend on the group, but guided runs tend to follow an 11 min/mile pace with enough stops to keep the front…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…

Buddy up with your horse and take a docent-led equestrian adventure, traveling over the rolling hills, and maneuvering past outcrops of rocks along the trail’s edge. Take in the seemingly endless grassland and tree-studded horizons of this pristine protected landscape. BYO horse and gear, including a muck bucket and water for your horse after the ride. Groups travel at a walk and are usually from 8-10 in size. Horses and riders should be accustomed to riding in groups and in…