Take Me to the River Special Events

These special activities are designed to give you an opportunity to learn about the future programs and projects the River Parkway Trust is currently working on. Join us for a walk along the river or a unique restoration day on a Parkway location. Take a look at the many wonderful activities we will be offering throughout the winter and spring seasons. We hope to see you soon down by the San Joaquin!

To register for any of the walks or canoe trips please call 559-248-8480 ext 115. Reservations are required, as space is limited for each walk.

For information about our volunteer activities please call 559-248-8480 ext. 106.

Please note: stated ending times are approximate.

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February 2010

Parties for the Parkway Art Exhibit
February 1 - February 28 at Fresno City Hall
Parties for the Parkway is entering is 18th season of delighting and entertaining our community. To bring the parties to life, artists donate original artwork, which is then photographed and placed alongside a party description in our beautifully bound Parties book. View the works throughout the month of February at Fresno City Hall during normal business hours. Call 248-8480 ext. 116 for more information about the party art and artist's reception.
Free

Parties for the Parkway Artist's Reception
Thursday, February 4 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Each year the River Parkway Trust hosts a special reception to honor the local artists who donate original works to Parties for the Parkway. Part of Fresno's monthly ArtHop, this is your opportunity to come out and thank the artists in person. It is also a chance to view the exhibit outside of the normal business hours of Fresno City Hall. We hope that you will make an effort to join us in celebrating the 18th season of Parties for the Parkway and Fresno's wonderful art community.

Be a Stick in the Mud
Saturday, February 6 at 9:00am
We will use a water auger to plant Willow and Cottonwood pole cuttings at Jensen River Ranch or Spano River Ranch. Volunteers will help prepare the tree pole cuttings and plant them on a restoration site. We recommend wearing rain boots or shoes that can get wet and clothing you don't mind getting muddy in.
Free Volunteer event

Bald Eagle Viewing by Canoe
Saturday, February 6 and Saturday, February 13 from 8:00am to 1:00pm
Every winter a population of Bald Eagles escapes the severe cold of northern Canada for the winter paradise of Millerton Lake. Prepare to paddle your way across the water for a chance to see these majestic birds.
$40 per person, $30 for Trust members

Walk Where Eagles Soar FULL
Saturday, February 6 and Saturday, February 13 from 9:00am to 1:00pm
Bald Eagles fly in from northern Canada to winter here is our backyard, and all we have to do to is pack our binoculars and take a little stroll through Millerton State Recreation Area to see them. Pack a lunch and make a day of it with your family.
Free, $5 suggested donation

Elk, Ducks and Wetlands - A Guided Tour to the Merced and San Luis National Wildlife Reserves Near Los Banos
Saturday, February 20 from 7:30am to 3:30pm
Wetlands are places teeming with life and the Central Valley's wetlands are no exception. This guided tour of the State's oldest protected wildlife area will include information on the management of this important waterfowl habitat. You won't want to miss the sight of the Tule Elk on US Fish and Wildlife Service Lands along the way. Our guide will be Jack Sparks, Outdoor Recreation Planner with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
$10 per person, $5 for Trust members

Legends of Ledger Island
Saturday, February 20 at 8:30am
Visit the I-Ball Saloon, a popular haunt along the river from a by-gone era, and hear stories of the San Joaquin River along the way. You will enjoy crossing the "cement bridge" and walking beneath the spreading branches of some of the Parkway's largest and oldest Valley Oaks.
Easy 3-mile walk - Free, $3 suggested donation.

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March 2010

Rock, Thistle and Grub
Saturday, March 6 at 9:00am
Help us destroy the Blessed Milk Thistle, and invasive weed found at Jensen River Ranch, while rocking our to live music. After the work is done, we will enjoy a barbeque by the river.
Free Volunteer event

Millerton's Pincushion Peak
Saturday, March 13 at 8:00am
This marvelous hike takes you to a spectacular vista overlooking Millerton Lake and beyond. Although the 3-mile round trip is fairly steep and uneven toward the top, and requires a few minutes of scrambling over a rock outcrop, it is well worth it for the novice "peak-bagger," so bring a camera.
$10 per person, $5 for Trust members

Gorge-ous Day of Hiking 15-16 Mile Hike
Saturday, March 13 at 7:30am
Feeling adventurous? Up for a long hike? Join trail-bosses Shirley and Mark Spencer on this 16-mile hike downstream from the San Joaquin River Gorge to Sky Harbor (the last three miles are uphill). This hike is strenuous and is suitable for distance hikers in good physical condition. The rewards include gorgeous views and a wealth of information about the riparian environment through the foothills. Ages 18 and up are welcome.
$10 per person, prerequisite experience required

To Owl Hollow and Back: Evening Birding at the River Center
Saturday, March 13 from 6:15pm to 8:45pm
The Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies is a fabulous place to see birds. Join us for a walk around the River Center, where you might spot a nesting owl or a heron perched by the water. An easy walk to the river reveals the glorious main attraction, the San Joaquin River, in addition to other nearby watering holes popular with wildlife.
Free, $3 suggested donation

Pancake Breakfast at the River Center
Saturday, March 20 from 8:00am to 10:30am
Stop by the River Center for a delicious pancake breakfast. You'll enjoy all-you-can eat pancakes, sausage, and assorted beverages.
$5 per person for all-you-can-eat.

Wildflower Walk at the River Gorge
Saturday, March 20 from 9:30am to 2:00pm
See the foothills on a 2-mile round trip with one of our volunteer nature walk guides. We plan to see spring wildflowers, see the amazing hydro-power system at the Gorge, which was built long ago, and is still being used today. We will also walk across the footbridge that spans the River Gorge itself. After enjoying a picnic lunch, visit a re-created Native American Bark Village before heading home to the valley below.
$10 per person, $5 for Trust members

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April 2010

Legends of Ledger Island
Saturday, April 3 from 8:30am to 12:00pm
Visit the I-Ball Saloon, a popular haunt along the river from a by-gone era, and hear other stories of the San Joaquin River along the way. You will enjoy crossing the "cement bridge" and walking beneath the spreading branches of some of the Parkway's largest and oldest Valley Oaks.
Free, $3 suggested donation

Table Mountains Hike
Saturday, April 10 from 8:00am to 5:00pm
As lava flowed down the ancient bed of the San Joaquin River, it left a solid volcanic footprint that has stood the test of time. The softer outer banks eventually eroded away, taking sand and sediments and lowering the valley floor. Today, we are left with the fantastic landforms of the Table Mountains, which support an array of special vernal pool flora and fauna on the top of the mesas. Watch the water flow into Millerton from this spectacular vantage point.
$10 per person

Pancake Breakfast the River Center
Saturday, April 17 from 8:00am to 10:30am
Stop by the River Center for a delicious pancake breakfast. You'll enjoy all-you-can eat pancakes, sausage, and assorted beverages.
$5 per person for all-you-can-eat.

To Owl Hollow and Back: Evening Birding at the River Center
Saturday, April 17 at 6:15pm
The Coke Hallowell Center for River Studies is a fabulous place to see birds. Join us for a walk around the River Center, where you might spot a nesting owl or a heron perched by the water. An easy walk to the river reveals the glorious main attraction, in addition to other nearby watering holes popular with wildlife.
$10 per person, $5 for members

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May 2010

Who Lives in the Water?
Saturday, May 2 from 8:30am to 12:00pm
A clean river is full of life! Wade up to your knees with us and learn how running water creates a unique habitat for the living world. Check out the quality of the water, meet common invertebrates, and learn what they tell us about the health of our river, with Dr. Bert Tribbey, biology professor at Fresno State, and his wife Edith, a docent with our Education Team. Space is limited, so sign up early! Participants must be at least 9 years old, and children should be accompanied by an adult.
$10 per person , $5 for members.

Bagels and Birding
Saturday, May 8 at 8:30am
Before the rest of the world wakes up, Parkway nature walkers will be poking their beaks through the hole in a bagel and heading out for a morning with other early risers. Birds are known to be some of the most diverse creatures in nature, and the Parkway is a wonderful place to discover birds. We will visit Lost Lake, which is home to many varieties of birds, including aquatic ducks and geese, migratory songbirds and birds of prey.
$12 per person, $7 for Trust members

Paddle the Parkway 1: Calm Water Canoe Adventure at Friant Cove
Saturday, May 8 at 9:30am and 11:30am
Friant Cove, in the town of Friant, just below Millerton Lake and upstream from the bridge to Madera, is a wonderful place to explore! It is the beginning of the Parkway and this trip is perfect for beginners and experienced canoers alike. This easy 1-hour session at Friant Cove is especially suitable for families with children ages 6 and up.
$15 per person, $10 for Trust members

Edible Plants Along the Parkway
Saturday, May 15 from 8:30am to 12:00pm
Could you survive in the wild places of the Central Valley? What did local people eat before the introduction of non-local foods? Come along with Dr. John Pryor, Professor of Archeology at Fresno State, and discover just how rich our area is in natural food sources.
$10 per person, $5 for members.

Secret Splendor: A Trip to Rank Island
Saturday, May 15 8:30am
Join us for a rare opportunity to see the Rank Island Ecological Reserve. Accessible only by canoe, this beautiful island was one of the first properties to become part of the San Joaquin River Parkway.
Moderate 2-3 mile walk - $5 per person, free for Trust members

Three Days on the River
Saturday - Monday, May 29-31
Canoe the Parkway from Friant Cove to Skaggs Bridge on this x-stream expedition involving three full days of canoeing. If this sounds like your kind of adventure, contact Mary at 559-248-8480 ext. 115 for more information.