Annual community meeting

Much has happened in the past year at China Camp State Park—updated park signs, electrical upgrades, safer access for people with disabilities, and a shiny new truck! Join us at our annual community meeting to learn about our successes and challenges over the past year, get a peek into the... Read more »

Secrets of our tidal wetlands

Summertime is go time in China Camp’s tidal wetlands. Plants grow lush and full; baby birds hatch; tiny fish thrive in the channels. Learn about this boom season on an informative walk following Turtle Back Nature Trail, offering some of the park’s best views of our ultra-productive and important “pickleweed... Read more »

Summer shorebirds walk

During this month's birding walk, we will scan the bay and marshland in search of shorebirds, including sandpipers, ducks, gulls, egrets, and majestic great blue herons. Among the most challenging species to identify are newly-fledged gulls. These newbies are undergoing a remarkable four-year transformation, with the color of their plumage... Read more »

Give-back morning at China Camp

China Camp Ranger Station 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, United States

Enjoy a morning making a difference in the park. Our weekly maintenance days tackle a host of jobs large and small, so there’s something for everyone. You don’t need to be a weightlifter or a construction worker to help out, in fact we’ve got men and women of all shapes,... Read more »

Free

Book Club: The Backyard Bird Chronicles

During June’s Naturalist Book Club, we will discuss The Backyard Bird Chronicles by critically acclaimed local author, Amy Tan, who also shows off her impressive illustration skills in this memorable book. Excerpt from the publisher’s website: “Tracking the natural beauty that surrounds us, The Backyard Bird Chronicles maps the passage... Read more »

Give-back morning at China Camp

China Camp Ranger Station 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, United States

Enjoy a morning making a difference in the park. Our weekly maintenance days tackle a host of jobs large and small, so there’s something for everyone. You don’t need to be a weightlifter or a construction worker to help out, in fact we’ve got men and women of all shapes,... Read more »

Free

Give-back morning at China Camp

China Camp Ranger Station 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, United States

Enjoy a morning making a difference in the park. Our weekly maintenance days tackle a host of jobs large and small, so there’s something for everyone. You don’t need to be a weightlifter or a construction worker to help out, in fact we’ve got men and women of all shapes,... Read more »

Free

Birding Walk

A flock of sanderlings shimmers across the water. Marbled godwits poke their long beaks into the mud. Snowy plovers and Western sandpipers scurry in ragged rows along the shoreline. July is peak time for shorebirds at China Camp, and bird expert Jerry Coe will help you catch all the action... Read more »

Junior Ranger Program: Animal Olympics

The Summer Olympics have arrived at China Camp — Squirrels take the lead in arboreal gymnastics, grasshoppers beat out the competition at the grassland long jump, cormorants get a 10 out of 10 at the high dive, and woodpeckers nab acorns and dodge interceptions at forest rugby.  Who’ll come out... Read more »

Trees of China Camp

Join us on a walk through China Camp’s upland forest to learn about the park’s diverse woodland ecosystem. Learn about the unique adaptations of majestic buckeyes, elegant willows, hardy manzanitas, and grand coastal and valley oaks; some of these species serve as critical keystone species, nurturing the landscape’s rich tapestry... Read more »

Midsummer Night’s Dream wildlife walk

Owl’s hoo-hoot. Hares hop out from the shadows. Raccoons prowl. Frogs sing to the stars. There’s magic in the park on soft summer evenings. On this easy, flat walk we will stop, look, and listen for all the life that unfolds in the park as day turns to night. Guide... Read more »

Give-Back Morning at China Camp

China Camp Ranger Station 101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA, United States

Join us for a morning of making the park look beautiful. There’s always plenty to do—trail grooming, fence mending, log splitting, litter pickup, and so much more. Join us and make a difference! No previous experience needed. Difficulty ranges from easy to a good work out. No long-term commitment required—but... Read more »