A Gem: Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve

The Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preserve is a true gem. I discovered it soon after moving to Healdsburg in mid 2009.

On my first visit to the preserve I caught this picture. We watched each other for about 3 minutes. Then I made the mistake to shift slightly and he was gone in a flash of his white tail.

The preseve is located at the end of Arabian Way and contains several trails. I soon learned that most involve either going up or own hill. My usual route is to head east on the Fox Pond Trail. This trail is only .3 miles long and gradually climbs. At the end you and go left to the Fox Pond viewpoint or turn right and take the Ridge Trail. the name is a little deceiving. Most of this trail is very steep. From the Fox Pond Trail it is a steady climb through the Oak trees that cover the perserve.

This is one of homes I could see through the branches of the bare Oak trees as I climbed the Ridge Trail. I walk daily and thought I was in pretty good shape. I was wrong and had to take frequent stops on the climb.

The Russian River takes a perpentine path as it flows out of the Alexander Valley to the North and goes around Fitch Mounain. After floating the river once in a canoe, making a couple of trips to the preserve and viewing the area on Goggle Maps I finally understood the lay of the land.

The buildings in the center of the picture is the Rio Lindo Adventist Academy. At this point the river is flowing North toward you. It then turns left and flows past the academy again. At the end of the bit of water you can see is where the canoes are taken out of the water. The trek starts 8 miles up river, where the Alexender Valley Road crosses the river.

This last picture was taken from the Ridge Trail. This is Mount Saint Helena. The mountain has flanks in Napa, Sonoma and Lake Counties. It is one of the few local mountains that receives any snowfall during the winter.

After visiting the Russian River Overlook I took the Ridge Trail down to the All-The-Oaks Trail and headed back to the preserve entrance. What is interesting is that from the Overlook down, the trail is paved. I have a feeling this area was set for development at one point.

I have just begun to explore the Healdsburg Ridge Open Space Preseve. There are two other trails, the Serpentine Trail and the Blue Oak Trail. I'm sure I will be posting more pictures in the future. According to the sign at the entrence there are eight different oak trees in the preserve. Maybe I can find an example of each. When I visited the preserve last June the wildflower season was ending. Maybe I can catch it earlier and add to my wild flower collection.

This preseve is a true gem and I have encountered very few people and no trash. Thank you Healdsburg.