About LandPaths

LandPaths is an environmental education and conservation leader with the mission to foster a love of the land in Sonoma County. We believe everyone should have access to the awe and inspiration of nature.

Annually, we engage thousands of participants like you in joyful, caring, and transformative relationship with the land. We do this mainly through creative outings led in both English and Spanish, environmental education, nature camps, and people-powered land stewardship of local open spaces.

Land Acknowledgement

Our community gardens, office, and preserves throughout Sonoma County are located on the ancestral homelands of the Pomo, Coast Miwok, Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians, and the Wappo people, past, present, and future. We recognize them as the First Peoples and the First Stewards of this land.

 

Initiatives

Rooting Youth in Nature

LandPaths significantly reduces the barriers and expands opportunities to get outside so that more youth are able to experience wonder, joy, awe, belonging, and connection in nature.

Branching Out Conservation for Everyone

LandPaths expands the amount of people in Sonoma County who benefit from healthy land, understand the value of nature, and cultivate a sense of wanting to care for the land that gives so much back to us.

Community Care

Growing Community with Nature

Reciprocal and joyful relationships between people and the land is a solution to climate disruption. From volunteer land stewardship days to community gatherings in local open spaces, you’ll find a range of creative, impactful opportunities to participate with LandPaths and make a difference.

Featured Outings

Full Moon Hike at Lafferty Ranch

  • Day: Sunday, November 2
  • Time:3pm – 5pm
  • Place: Lafferty Ranch, Petaluma
  • Cost: Free; registration required

 

Join us for a beautiful autumn hike at Lafferty Ranch as we head out to catch a glimpse of the almost-full moon! The moon will reach its highest point in the sky at 8:24 PM on this day—guaranteeing us a spectacular view! This is just a couple of days before the actual Beaver Full Moon on the following Wednesday.
We’re planning a moderate, 2.2 mile out-and-back hike. We’ll set off at a little after 3pm (please arrive on time) and move at a relaxed pace, taking plenty of time to enjoy the crisp autumn air and the early sunset colors. Our goal is to be back to the cars by 5PM, well before it gets dark.

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Garden Day at Ocean Song Preserve

  • Day: Sunday, November 16
  • Time: 10:30am – 3pm
  • Place: Ocean Song Preserve, Occidental

Please join us to tend the pollinator and habitat garden at Ocean Song-Myers Preserve in Occidental! Volunteer land stewardship days like this are a good way to experience the preserve, which is closed to public access.
Activities depend on the season, and might include pruning, mulching, mowing or other seasonal needs. Your ability will guide the task! The day will be led by by volunteer garden steward Jan Lochner. We are thankful to her for alll the work she does, along with dedicated volunteers like you, to maintain this iconic garden!

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Vamos Afuera: Caminata en el parque Grove of Old Trees

  • Día: Saturday, November 22
  • Hora: 8:30am – 2pm
  • Nos reuniremos en Bayer Farm, 1550 West Ave, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 a las 8:30a
  • Gratis

 ¡Están cordialmente invitados a una caminata con LandPaths dentro del bosque majestuoso de árboles secoyas antiguos! Vengan a esta caminata y participen en una búsqueda de tesoro y la oportunidad de ganar un premio. Todos son bienvenidos. ¡Te esperamos, a ti y a toda tu familia!

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Autumn Morning Hike at Lafferty Ranch

  • Day: Saturday, November 22
  • Time: 8am – 11:30am
  • Place: Lafferty Ranch, Petaluma
  • With partners at the City of Petaluma

Late November brings shorter days and crisp mornings to Petaluma’s Lafferty Ranch on Sonoma Mountain. Join public lands advocate and LandPaths’ Lafferty docent Larry Modell to learn about the natural history and human history of this special place. This 270-acre property is the only publicly-owned land on the west side of Sonoma Mountain. Under contract with the City of Petaluma, LandPaths has been leading hikes on the land to introduce groups to its history and natural features since the summer of 2022. The hiking terrain ranges from broad, gentle meadows to steep challenging hillsides with a narrow path, about 2.2 miles and 500’ elevation gain total.

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Stories + News

Stories of Impact

A Heartwarming and Powerful Safe Space in Nature for LGBTQ+ Youth and Allies

July 24, 2025

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It’s the fourth day of Camp Trillium at LandPaths’ Bohemia Ecological Preserve in Sonoma County, California and the sun is shining in a clear, blue sky. Camp Trillium was […]

A photo of a prescribed burn at the Grove of Old Trees. Redwoods are engulged in smoke and orange flames are under the trees but not out of control.

Why Do We Conduct Prescribed Burns at our Sonoma County Preserves?

May 29, 2025

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Reflections from Jim & Betty Doerksen, Land Partners at Rancho Mark West

February 14, 2025

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Jim and Betty Doerksen purchased Rancho Mark West in 1967. The Doerksens have worked tirelessly, planting upwards of “one million trees,” according to Jim. They also started […]

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