When: Friday, July 31st 2026 at 7:30 pm
Where: Laursen Bear River Preserve, North Auburn
Join us for an early evening hike in the oak woodlands! We will gather as it begins to get dark, and the moon will rise as the hike progresses, transforming the preserve as the night grows darker. Placer Land Trust docents will lead us through the woods, looking and listening for wildlife and enjoying the sounds of our footsteps in good company!
Please bring a bring a flashlight or headlamp, with a red bulb if possible to minimize glare. We may also walk without any lights. Guests are also encouraged to bring a camp chair to sit and stay a while as a group and enjoy the night sky when the hike is complete.
Distance and difficulty: This will be an easy outing with about 1.5 +/- miles of walking, mostly on trails, a bit across fields with minimal hills; some uneven terrain and two narrow canal crossings. Some of the walking may be off trail in tall grass. The walk will take about an hour, and the entire outing will be about 1.5 – 2 hours long.
Who should attend: This hike is recommended for people ages 12 and older who can hike at a slow to moderate pace. This is a short hike and great for those who might be intimidated by our longer, steeper moonlight hikes. Sorry, no dogs are allowed unless they are service animals due to the potential conflicts with livestock and wildlife.
This is a free event; however, donations help make these activities possible! We suggest a donation of $10 per person or $25 for a family. You can donate during registration, and we’re happy to accept cash or a check at the event in an envelope with your name written on it.
Registration:
- You may only register yourself and members of your household. People outside of your household must register themselves.
- The deadline to sign up is noon on the Wednesday before the event unless the event fills first.
- Space is limited! Please only register if you will be attending so that you don’t take a spot away from someone else.
- If you signed up and can no longer attend, please contact Elia by email.
This activity is a wilderness outing in a natural setting. PLT reserves the right to cancel an event in cases of extreme weather, bad air quality, rain, or other conditions beyond our control.
Directions to the Preserve will be emailed after registration. Check your spam folder if you do not receive the email within 15 minutes of registering.
About Laursen Bear River Preserve: This preserve, which includes a working cattle ranch, protects critical unfragmented oak woodlands in the Bear River watershed, and is part of one of the last relatively “wild” areas in western Placer County. The preserve is comprised of 361 acres of blue oak woodland and about 1.5 miles of riparian habitat along the banks of the Bear River on the far north side. Learn more about this beautiful preserve here.
Important Note: Our Big Hill, Harvego, and Laursen Preserves, including the roads surrounding them, are not open to the public. Please help us respect the neighborhoods around these preserves by only visiting during scheduled guided activities that you are registered for. Trespassers will be prosecuted.
