Après Turkey Family Hike

China Camp Village Point parking lot

Instead of shopping on the busiest day of the year, come stretch your legs in the beauty of China Camp. Our day-after-Thanksgiving Day hike will follow the easy Shoreline Trail to the enormous “Mother Oak Tree.” Along the way we will look for the bright red berries of toyon (assuming... Read more »

Free

November Birding Hike: end of fall migration

Turtle Back Trailhead

Nearly three out of four species of birds spread their wings and fly away to different climes when autumn arrives and days turn colder. This month marks the end of the great fall migration. Here in Northern California, the flooded rice fields of the Central Valley and surrounding farm fields... Read more »

Free

November Naturalist’s Book Club

In this month’s reading selection, esteemed planetary geologist Erik Asphaug explores why the moon’s two sides are markedly different: the far side is mountainous, the near side has plains created by lava. In this exhilarating read, Asphaug takes us on a tour through the farthest reaches of our galaxy and... Read more »

Free

November Full Moon Hike

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

As we count down to the Winter Solstice (December 21), the Beaver Moon will rise in our night sky. This full moon is said to get its name from the busyness of beavers this time of year, as they bolster up their dams and lodges in preparation for winter. We... Read more »

Free

Volunteer Work Day

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 »

Volunteer Work Day

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 »

December Birding Hike

Turtle Back Trailhead

Look up in the wintry skies over the park this month and you might spy a spectacular snow goose or even a trumpeter swan. These big and beautiful water birds, along with Ross’s geese, sometimes take a break at China Camp as they head to their wintering grounds in the... Read more »

Free

Volunteer Work Day

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 »

Volunteer Work Day

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 »

Volunteer Work Day—CANCELLED

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 »

December Naturalist’s Book Club: Canceled

Please note that, due to the holidays, our December book club has been canceled. The next virtual book club will be held on January 28, 2024, when we will be discussing author Siddhartha Mukherjee’s fascinating book, The Gene: An Intimate History. This is a hefty read, with over 300 packed-full pages, so... Read more »

First Day Hike 2024

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

Ring in the New Year in an unforgettable way! Join the California State Park's annual tradition of watching the year’s first sunrise from a spectacular vantage point overlooking the bay. If your New Year’s resolution is to get your blood pumping and stay fit, this is a great way to... Read more »

Free