Jepson Prairie Preserve Tours

Public, guided tours of Jepson Prairie Preserve are held every Saturday and Sunday from mid-March through mid-May. Tours begin at 10:00 am and last approximately two hours. We ask for a donation of $5.00 per adult. No advance reservations are required.

On guided tours, knowledgeable docents share information about the vernal pool ecosystem, including the beautiful flowers and the fascinating aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates that live in the vernal pools.

You should bring a warm jacket (it can be windy and cold even later in the spring), closed-toe shoes suitable for walking in a natural area, and a water bottle. Expect an easy pace, but you may be walking on uneven ground.

See the Solano Land Trust Calendar for the current schedule of tours.

The information in the Natural History section of this website is a summary of the more detailed and extensive content of the Jepson Prairie Preserve Handbook. This handbook can be purchased from the California Native Plant Society, or in person from docents if you attend a Jepson Prairie Preserve tour ($10.00).

Special Group Tours

In addition to our public tours, the Jepson Prairie Docents can arrange for a special tour for your group. These can be similar to our public tours, or they can be customized to fit your group’s special interests. For information on the fee and other requirements for a special group tour, contact the Jepson Prairie Docents at info@jepsonprairiedocents.org.

For Directions or to Visit on your Own.

Become a Docent

Guided tours of the Jepson Prairie Preserve are offered every Spring, led by members of the Jepson Prairie Docent group. If you would like to become a docent, we hold classes every other year, generally in February. Typically there are four weeknight sessions (in Davis) and four field sessions at Jepson Prairie on Saturday mornings.

Topics include:

• An overview of the history and management of Jepson Prairie Preserve
• Introduction to vernal pools
• How to conduct a tour at Jepson Prairie
• Flowers of vernal pools and grasslands
• Hydrology, soils, and landforms
• Aquatic invertebrates
• California Tiger Salamander life history
• How grazing and fire affect vernal pools
• Birds of Jepson Prairie
• Solitary bee and pollination ecology

No prior experience is required, just bring your enthusiasm for this wonderful, unique, amazing ecosystem.

Docents are able to self-schedule for tours. You can lead a tour, assist a tour leader, or present information on the endangered invertebrates in the pools (additional training/licensing is required).

Interested? Contact us at info@jepsonprairiedocents.org for more information.