REGISTER FOR POINT REYES BIRDING & NATURE FESTIVAL >
Join Catie Clune, Brian Peterson, and Julia Berkey of All Hands Ecology for an afternoon of discovering the disappearing coastal prairies and how the use of fire is restoring this rich habitat along the Bourne Ridge at Martin Griffin Preserve. This short and strenuous one-mile uphill trek up the ridge will bring us to our coastal prairie restoration site. We will make frequent stops to observe and discuss the landscape to learn how this once-thriving coastal prairie ecosystem has gradually transformed into a dense Douglas fir forest and how we are working to restore it.
These grasslands, once dominant across California’s coastal landscapes, are an often-overlooked biodiversity hotspot. However, they are among the state’s most rapidly vanishing ecosystems, with less than 1% of undisturbed prairie remaining—primarily within Point Reyes National Seashore. Coastal prairies are disturbance-dependent ecosystems, meaning they not only adapt to change but require it to thrive. On Bourne Ridge, small remnants of these grasslands persist, with native seed banks lying dormant beneath encroaching firs and shrubs. Since 2016, All Hands Ecology’s Fire Forward program has been working to restore ecological balance by reintroducing beneficial fire to the landscape. Prescribed burns conducted during the moist winter months help reduce forest density, allowing more sunlight and space for native grassland species to regenerate. As sunlight reaches the soil, long-buried native grass seeds can germinate and flourish once again. Pack a lunch, and we will enjoy a midday picnic in the heart of a coastal prairie meadow. Optional: Trekking poles.
Experience Levels/Ages: All levels (participants should be able to hike uphill), Ages 15+
Difficulty/Length: Moderate to strenuous, 2 miles round-trip
# of Participants: 16
See all experiences available at the 2026 Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival >
