Jepson Prairie Preserve - Dixon, California

Holly

Highly recommend visiting in the spring ?. Check online about tours on the weekends. I might be biased, but the volunteers are excellent about sharing fascinating information about aquatic species and the beautiful flowers. For restrooms, there is a port-a-potty next to the parking lot. There are also a couple of picnic tables near the parking lot.

Tyler Alexander

Went on an early spring day. Incredibly serene besides hearing ATVs from nearby motocross. Also a couple of huge old bombers kept doing circles as Travis AFB is close. Lots of flowers, birds, and not a lot of people. Beautiful place and they have portable restrooms.

Ellen Rim

Enjoyed wildflowers in full bloom. We visited on a Saturday - we missed the tour but got to chat with a friendly docent. Lucky to be close to a beautiful spot full of native plants.

Jasmine Westbrook

Jepson Prairie is an internationally recognized vernal pool system hone to hundreds of species of plants and animals. Trails are open to the public in a small part of the preserve 7 days a week for self-guided tours. On weekends, Docent tours start at 10:00 Saturdays and Sundays through Mother's Day. On a Docent tour, you can see parts of the property that are closed to the public, and get a close look at endangered species that live inside Olcott Pool. Docent tours are $5 and proceeds directly support the preserve.

KS G

Beautiful natural vernal pond, the flowers are in bloom. Enjoy the refreshing and beautiful hike.

Carlos Diaz

I can't say enough about this magic place. When the flowers are in bloom it's is our of this world. Don't just stay on the main road through the preserve, go on the side roads and explore. There isn't little cell service and you'll need a higher clearance vehicle but almost any SUV will be fine. Bathrooms are at the visitor center and the camp sites. Not really any other service are to be had nearby.

Jim Hardwick

Beautiful displays of vernal pool wildflowers can be seen here from March through May. A claypan layer of sediment underlies the thin soils of the Jepson Prairie. Rainfall collects in Olcott Lake and smaller pools throughout the area. Winter rainfall collects in these pools and persists until the water is evaporated by the summer sun. Picnic tables and porta-potties are available.

Shelley Breidenstein

My husband (66), my son (7), my daughter (5) and I (41) all visited the Jepson Prairie Preserve yesterday Sat. April 20. It was our very first time, we all have different fitness levels and attention spans, but our whole family loves learning about nature - especially local gems like these vernal pools!

It was a perfectly clear, warm day, and a little windy, which was refreshing as the day got warmer. Hat and light jacket recommended. There was ample parking and roughly 40-50 people participated in our docent-led tour. Porta potty facilities were clean and well maintained. The signage around the gathering area was easy to read and the signs inside the gathering area were beautiful and highly informative.

The docents gathered the group on some sturdy benches under a beautiful eucalyptus. They acknowledged and honored the local Native American tribes who have been stewards of the land for thousands of years, and continue to protect and maintain it today. They gave us a general rundown of what to expect, and then divided us into two groups. One group would walk to the vernal pool edge to learn about the marine life, while the other group learned about the local grasses and wildflowers.

Our group went to the water's edge first. The docent had netted several specimens of aquatic animals from the pool earlier that morning and put them in labelled clear containers filled with clean spring water. He held up each critter, discussed what it was and some interesting facts, and then passed the specimens around the group, often with a magnifier glass so we could appreciate every tiny detail. We all got a kick out of holding the juvenile California Tiger Salamander, which looks like something from another planet!

Next, we toured the fields of wildflowers, and learned about local birds along the way. I have always had a deep love for nature, but never made an effort to learn much about local botanicals, so this was actually fascinating to me. The docent kept a comfortable, easy pace, frequently stopping to point out different flowers or birds and answering questions all along the way. The flowers were stunning, and I took a moment to be grateful to experience the peace and beauty surrounding us. My kids loved running through the tall grasses without worry of ticks or rattlesnakes, and they developed a new appreciation for our local wildlife. We purchased a field book as we left, a great deal at only $10.

I was so incredibly impressed by the entire experience. All of the docents were helpful, informative, and best of all - excited and passionate about the subjects. My family and I left with a ton of new knowledge, beautiful pictures to remember the day, and a new feeling of honor and responsibility towards the land.

A job well done by everyone who volunteered their time. We appreciate you!