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Jenner Headlands Preserve
Nature reserve in Sonoma County, California From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jenner Headlands Preserve is a nature preserve owned and managed by The Wildlands Conservancy, a nonprofit land conservancy. Covering 5,630 acres (22.8 km2) in Sonoma County, California, the preserve offers views of the Russian River and the coastline. It is part of the organization's collection of natural lands, and more preserves can be found in the list of preserves.
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Recreation
The preserve includes 16 miles of hiking trails through redwood and Douglas fir forest and coastal prairie. A 400-foot accessible trail provides an ocean overlook.
Geography
The preserve features a mix of coastal prairie, redwood and Douglas fir forests, and oceanfront bluffs. It offers expansive views of the Sonoma Coast and the Pacific Ocean. These varied habitats support raptors such as red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, and broad-winged hawks, which are commonly observed from the ridgeline during fall migrations.[2]
History
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Between 2009 and 2011, multiple conservation groups, including Sonoma Land Trust and Save the Redwoods League, collaborated to purchase the 5,630-acre Jenner Headlands property from a private timber company. The acquisition was one of the largest conservation purchases on the Sonoma Coast at the time and aimed to protect the land from potential development.[3][4]
In the following years, ownership and stewardship of the property were transferred to The Wildlands Conservancy, which began planning for public access improvements and trail development in coordination with regional partners.
In 2014, Sonoma Land Trust acquired a 238-acre property that includes the 2,204-foot summit of Pole Mountain, the highest point on the Sonoma Coast. A ridgeline trail connects Jenner Headlands Preserve to the peak, offering expansive views of the surrounding landscape.[5]
In 2016, the State Coastal Conservancy approved funding for trail layout, signage, and interpretive design at Jenner Headlands Preserve, facilitating preparations for public access and future education programs.[6]
In September 2018, the preserve opened to the public for light recreation, with a parking lot and day-use facilities established to support access. Additional improvements, including accessible trails and coastal viewing areas, were completed in the following years.[7][8]
In 2023, the California State Coastal Conservancy approved funding for fire resiliency and forest health improvements at the preserve. Planned efforts include thinning overly dense stands of Douglas fir, removing dead or dying trees, and conducting prescribed burns as part of a broader landscape-scale stewardship plan.[9]
Gallery
Russian River mouth
Rock formation and tree
Jenner Creek
Tree on rock cluster
See also
References
External links
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