Mather Vernal Pools April 15

Friday, April 15, Mather Vernal Pools, 9:15am – 11:45am

You MUST sign an Electronic Liability Waiver in advance for Sacramento Valley CNPS Friday Walks. This is a permanent change required by CNPS statewide. Note that this Waiver is for Sacramento Valley CNPS Friday Walks only and does not cover Sacramento Valley CNPS Field Trips nor any Events or Field Trips offered by other CNPS Chapters. The only difference with the Sacramento Valley CNPS Friday Walks Liability Waiver is that once signed it is valid through the end of the current calendar year.
To sign up for the April 15 Friday Walks and receive the link for the Electronic Liability Waiver, email John Schmidt or call 916-500-8456 for more information.

The vernal pools at Mather Field are among the largest in our area. Last week there were patches of flowers including Downingia, Meadowfoam, Navarretia, Tidy-tips, Goldfields, Owl’s Clover, White-tipped Clover, Checkerbloom, Poppies and Lupines. Earlier visits this spring found some water in the pools and water is still remains in a few areas. This has been a very dry winter and the colorful floral displays will not match good years. This is a flat walk across a weedy field with neither trail nor shade. The walk is about 2.5 miles. For more information, email John Schmidt or phone 916-500-8456.

DOGS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT MATHER VERNAL POOLS.

Bring water, sunscreen, snack and hat. Some might like to have an umbrella for shade. Rain is also possible, so check Thursday night if the forecast is for heavy rains.

Parking is free, although parking is NOT FREE at Mather Lake Regional Park which has the closest rest facility. Bring you Sacramento County Park Pass if you wish to use the rest facilities there. The park entrance is about 150 yards south on Zinfandel Dr. after crossing Douglas Blvd.

There are no rest facilities. Closest are at Mather Lake Regional Park, see above.

Use the directions below or the map. The meeting location is at the red teardrop.

Driving directions from Sacramento:
Note: If using Hwy 50 it is easier to take exit 17, Zinfandel Dr. and follow Zinfandel south all the way to the meeting location. But the directions below work for those coming from all directions.

-Take exit 17, Zinfandel Dr.
– Right unto Zinfandel
– South on Zinfandel crossing Douglas Rd. at 2.6 miles
– Continue on Zinfandel another 1.4 miles to where the pavement turns to dirt.
– Meet near the kiosk about 150 yards south along the dirt road on your right.

If using Sunrise Blvd instead of Hwy 50
– South on Sunrise Blvd across Hwy 50 for 4.7 miles
– Right on Douglas Rd. which has a traffic signal for 1 mile.
– Left at the light onto Zinfandel Dr. for 1.4 miles to where to pavement ends.
– Meet near the kiosk about 150 yards south along the dirt road on your right.

Once assembled we will head west into the fields on a narrow path and make a wandering loop stopping at various pools and possibly a stream for about 2 hours.

Please try to arrive on time. The walk will start by 9:30am