Education & Recreation
Guided Nature Walks Along the San Joaquin River
Come join us for a walk along the San Joaquin River! Walks often take place on Parkway properties that are only accessible with a trained guide.
Our Nature Walk program is expanding-- in addition to our regular Saturday Morning walks, we are happy to offer walks for academic credit, special evening walks, and walks to further Parkway reaches. We hope that you will join us on these new walking adventures.
Our Saturday morning Nature Walks begin at 8:30am and end by noon. These easy walks are approximately 2-3 miles, on unpaved trails, with sometimes uneven terrain. Meeting places vary, registration is required. These walks, led by Parkway Volunteers, are free to River Parkway Trust members and children under 6. For all other guests, fees for our regular Nature Walks are $2 - $5.
Our walks for academic credit are led by professionals from local universities. Credit is available through CSU Fresno. For more information on these walks, see our catalogue of events link, Discover the Wonders Where You Live.
Please call 433-3190 extension 3# to register or for more information.
2008 January through June Nature Walk schedule:
1/5 Willow Unit Wonders
$2, free to members
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 2-3 mile walk
The Willow Unit of the San Joaquin Ecological Reserve is only accessible on a guided walk at certain times of year. Don't miss your chance to visit this protected 250 acre property, led by a River Parkway Trust and Department of Fish & Game volunteer.
1/12 Migratory Bird Walk
Lynn Hemink
$2, free to members
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 2-3 mile walk
Bring your binoculars and field guide, or just your curiosity to see some of the migrating water fowl that make the San Joaquin River part of their annual journey. Your guide is fabulous birder and River Parkway Trust Board Member, Lynn Hemink.
1/19 Tule Fog River Walk
Saundra Plett & Dr. Sam Omalaya
$10 per person, academic credit available
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 2-3 mile walk
Tule fog turns the river bottom lands into a lovely wonderland every winter. Bundle up for chilly weather and be amazed at giant oaks emerging from the mist, or calling birds shrouded in the mysterious air. CSU Fresno Earth and Environmental Science Samuel Omolayo and River Parkway Trust Education Director Saundra Plett will guide you.
1/19 Walk Where Eagles Soar
$5, free to members
Saturday, 9:00-11:30am
Easy 3 mile walk
Bald Eagles fly in from Canada to winter here in our backyard, and all we have to do is pack our binoculars and take a little stroll through Millerton State Park to see them. Pack a lunch and make a day of it with your family! For those who would prefer to canoe, consider one of our Bald Eagle Canoe Tours.
1/26 Walk Where Eagles Soar
$5, free to members
Saturday, 9:00-11:30am
Easy 3 mile walk
Bald Eagles fly in from Canada to winter here in our backyard, and all we have to do is pack our binoculars and take a little stroll through Millerton State Park to see them. Pack a lunch and make a day of it with your family!
2/2 River Restoration Walk
Mary Aldern
$2, free to members
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 4-5 mile walk
River Restoration is coming! What will a restored area look like? Where will the salmon run and make their redds? Start your walk at Woodward Park and journey back to some possible sites that restoration ecologists are considering along the river, learning about the history and needs of Chinook Salmon as you go. Leading the way is Mary Aldern, Education Programs Manager for the River Parkway Trust.
2/9 Willow Unit Wonders
$2, free to members
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 2-3 mile walk
The Willow Unit of the San Joaquin Ecological Reserve is available only by guided walk and only at certain times of the year. Don’t miss your chance to visit this protected 250 acre wildlife habitat, led by a River Parkway Trust / Department of Fish & Game volunteer.
2/16 Walk Where Eagles Soar
$5, free to members
Saturday, 9:00-11:30am
Easy 4-5 mile walk
Bald Eagles fly in from Canada to winter here in our backyard, and all we have to do is pack our binoculars and take a little stroll through Millerton State Park to see them. Pack a lunch and make a day of it with your family!
2/16 Bike Tour of the Lewis S. Eaton Trail
$5, free to members
Saturday, 8:30am-noon
5 miles one way
The Lewis S. Eaton Trail carries walkers, joggers, bikers, skaters, and equestrians for 5 miles from Woodward Park to the River Center on Old Friant Road. Put air in your tires and join Dave Koehler, Executive Director of the River Parkway Trust, for a leisurely ride with many stops. You'll learn the history and future of the trail, get an explanation of sights along the way, and have a chance to ask Dave all about the river and the River Parkway Trust.
2/23 Elks, Ducks, and Wetlands
Car Tour / Walk, National Wildlife Refuge Complex, San Luis Unit
$10 per person, academic credit available
Saturday, time TBA
Wetlands are places teeming with life, and the Los Banos Wildlife Area is no exception. This guided tour of the State's oldest wildlife area will include conversation on the management of this important waterfowl habitat. You won't want to miss the sight of Tule Elk on US Fish and Wildlife Service Lands along the way.
3/1 Riverbottom Nature Walk
$2, free to members
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 2-3 mile walk
Beautiful stretches of land along the San Joaquin River have been preserved for future generations, and we should all be proud of this great accomplishment! Now come on out and see a piece of this wonderful gift for yourself.
3/7 Native American Cultural History Seminar with Ron Goode
$35, includes Friday and Saturday events
Academic credit available
Friday, 5:00 - 9:00pm
Classroom Setting, includes dinner
The first people along Central Valley Rivers built a rich and fascinating culture in harmony with the land. Experience a little bit of life the way it was before European contact and learn the history of native food, art, medicine, ritual, and play. Our guide is Ron Goode, local tribal leader.
3/8 Walk the Old Ways: Native Americans by the River with Ron Goode
$10 per person, academic credit available
Saturday, 8:30 - 1:30pm
Easy walk
Explore ancient archeologic sites along the river and learn to identify natural resources used for medicine, basketry, tool making and more. This walk is part of the seminar described for Friday March 7, but is open to those who can only join us for the walk on Saturday.
3/8 Gorge-ous Day of Hiking
Shirley Spencer
$10 per person, academic credit available
Saturday, 8am - 5:30pm
Are you feeling adventurous and up for a long hike? Join Naturalist Shirley Spencer to hike the 14 miles downstream from the San Joaquin River Gorge to Sky Harbor. This hike is strenuous and is suitable only for those in good physical condition. The rewards are spectacular views and a wealth of information about the riparian environment through the foothills. Ages 12 and up welcome.
3/15 Willow Unit Wonders
$2, free to members
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy walk
The Willow Unit of the San Joaquin Ecological Reserve is available only by guided walk and only at certain times of the year. Don’t miss your chance to visit this protected 250 acre wildlife habitat, led by a River Parkway Trust / Department of Fish & Game volunteer.
3/21 Sunset / Moonrise at the River with Saundra Plett
$2, free to members
Friday, 6-8pm
Easy 1-2 mile walk
End your busy week with a quiet time at the river, watching the sunset and the full moon rise. Bring a picnic supper, the special people in your life, and prepare to exhale.
3/29 Wildflower Walk at the River Gorge with Saundra Plett
$10 per person, academic credit available
Saturday, 9:30 - 2:00pm
Moderate 2 mile walk
A trip to the San Joaquin River Gorge in wildflower season is enough to convince anyone just how special our part of the world really is. Take an easy 2-mile round trip walk with River Parkway Trust staff to explore an amazing variety of wildflowers, and walk across the footbridge that spans the River Gorge (don’t forget your camera!). After a brown-bag lunch we’ll meet with Bureau of Land Management staff for a close look at Native American artifacts and a chance to throw an ancient tool called an atlatl.
4/5 Edible Plants Along the River with John Pryor
$10 per person, academic credit available
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 2-3 mile walk
Could you survive in the wild places of the Central Valley? What did the Natives eat before the introduction of agriculture and non-native foods? Come along with Dr. John Pryor, professor of archeology at CSU Fresno and discover just how rich our area is in natural food sources.
4/11 Field Biology Walkabout with the legendary Bob Winter
$10, academic credit available
Friday, 8:30-1 pm
Easy 4-5 mile walk
A quiet day of walking through river bottom lands will enrich your spirit and engage your mind. Did you always want to know the name of that wildflower? How can you identify that bird flying overhead? Why does a particular plant only grow near the water? Ask questions, hear stories, and learn more than you thought possible in one day from a man who has been exploring this part of the world for decades. That one-of-a-kind field guide is Bob Winter, instructor at Fresno City College.
4/12 Daytime Astronomy and Solar Cooking with Mary Aldern
$2, free to members
Saturday, 8:3 -12:00 noon
Easy 3-4 mile walk
Stars and planets don't go away during the day, but they are outshined by our most precious star--the sun! Come along and find out what daytime astronomy is all about, including a solar cooking demonstration. Mary Aldern, Education Program Manager for the River Parkway Trust, will lead the way.
4/19 Riverbottom Nature Walk
$2, free to members
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 2-3 mile walk
Beautiful stretches of land along the San Joaquin River have been preserved for future generations, and we should all be proud of this great accomplishment! Now come on out and see a piece of this wonderful gift for yourself.
4/20 Sunset / Moonrise at the River with Saundra Plett
$2, free to members
Sunday, 6:30-8:30pm
Easy 1-2 mile walk
Wrap up your weekend with a quiet time at the river, watching the sunset and the full moon rise. Bring a picnic supper, the special people in your life, and prepare to exhale.
5/3 Riverbottom Nature Walk
$2, free to members
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 2-3 mile walk
Beautiful stretches of land along the San Joaquin River have been preserved for future generations, and we should all be proud of this great accomplishment! Now come on out and see a piece of this wonderful gift for yourself.
5/10 A Visit to Rank Island (access by canoe)
$5, free to members
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 3-4 mile walk, will cross river in canoes.
A rare opportunity to see Rank Island Ecological Reserve.
5/17 Who lives in the Water? with Burt and Edith Tribbey
$10 per person, academic credit available
Saturday, 8:30-12:00 noon
Easy 1-2 mile walk
A clean river is full of life! Come and learn how running water creates unique opportunities for living things to adapt and interact in a riparian ecosystem. We’ll collect samples from the river, identify common macroinvertebrates and decipher the message they give us about the health of our river. Guides will be Dr. Bert Tribbey of CSU Fresno and Edith Tribbey, a Docent with the River Parkway Trust.
5/19 Sunset / Moonrise at the River with Saundra Plett
$2, free to members
Monday, 6:30 - 8:30pm
Easy 1-2 mile walk
Adjust your Monday with a quiet time at the river, watching the sunset and the full moon rise. Bring a picnic supper, the special people in your life, and prepare to exhale.
Registration: Call (559) 433-3190, ext. 3# to make your reservation.
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