Mindfulness Hike at Santa Rosa Plateau (Free Community Event)

About the Santa Rosa Plateau Mindfulness Hike
This is a unique day trip experience at one of our favorite places outside of Orange County. Please read the description and ask/message questions far enough ahead of time to be sure if it is a suitable fit regarding travel time, physical challenges of the hike, and other considerations. (In the event of rain/mud or Ortega highway closures, we will change to a different hiking location.)

ABOUT THE MINDFULNESS HIKE:
The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve (SRPER), located at the Southern edge of the Santa Ana Mountains in western Riverside County, is one of our area’s most remarkable natural history and botanical sites. Varied soils, a basalt rock base, clay composition and a moderately level terrain have created a very special area for nature lovers.
This is an immersion in nature hike, with mindfulness practices along the way. Rachel is the Trail Guide and California Native Plant expert. Treeesa is the Mindfulness, Earthing and Grounding Coach and leads the mindfulness practices. The total hike time will be 3 hours including breaks.

We will start from the parking lot at the South/Vernal Pool Trailhead (43311 Vía Volcano, Murrieta, CA 92562). Route will start on the Vernal Pool trail through grasslands and oak trees with wonderful views of the local mountains and many opportunities for wildlife viewing. We transition into chaparral with a descent to the Historic Adobes area and join the Adobe Loop trail. We will experience a forest bathing practice in this oak woodland and riparian area. Once back at the Historic Adobes, we can pause for snacks and nature breaks. Then begin our return to the parking lot via the Trans Preserve trail.

WHERE TO MEET:
· SRPER South/Vernal Pool Parking Lot. (We are NOT meeting at the Visitor’s Center.)
· 43311 Vía Volcano, Murrieta, CA 92562. (Look up this location ahead of time.)
· There is a large parking lot portable restroom, map kiosk and pay station. We begin the hike promptly at 9:30am.
· Allow ample time to find this location, arrive at the parking lot, and get ready.
TIMELINE:

• 8:15am - Depart Gelson's Rancho Mission Viejo (30371 Gateway Place, Rancho Mission Viejo) for those who want to caravan.
• 9:15am - Arrive at the SRPER South/Vernal Pool parking lot, use facilities, gather up and pay.
• 9:25am – Introductions.
• 9:30am - Begin our mindfulness hike.
• 12:30pm - Meetup concludes. Option to join up for lunch at local Murrieta eating spot before driving back to O.C.

HIKE STATS: Trails are mixture of rocky single track and wide fire road. Total length: 4.60 miles. Elevation gain: 407ft. This is a moderately challenging hike due to rocky, uneven trails, total length and steeper hill areas.
WHAT TO BRING/WEAR: Long hiking pants or long leggings, so legs are fully covered. Sturdy, close-toe trail shoes/boots, water, hat, layered clothing, camera, snacks. Optional: Walking stick for hills. Binoculars for wildlife viewing.
OPTIONAL LUNCH AFTER: If you wish to join up for lunch after the hike, we can find a place off Clinton Keith Road by the 15 freeway such as Barron’s or the Mexican Restaurant on the corner before driving up Ortego Highway.

LOCATION FEE: Daily entrance fee is $6.00 per adult payable in the “iron ranger”. Fees help fund SRPER care and maintenance, preserve staff salaries and construction of improvements.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS:
· From south Orange County take Ortega Highway to Lake Elsinore. Right on Grand to Clinton Keith. Right on Clinton Keith (pass the SRPER Visitor’s Center), to Tenaja Rd. (past Sylvan Meadows and Hidden Valley parking lots) to Via Volcano. You will see the parking lot on the left.
· From San Diego or inland, take the 15 freeway to Clinton Keith west. Follow Clinton Keith (past Visitor’s Center to Tenaja Rd. (past Hidden Valley and Sylvan Meadows parking lots) to Via Volcano. Parking lot will be up on the mesa on the left-hand side of the road.
PLEASE NOTE: We start promptly at 9:30am. Official hike start is at the map station kiosk at the South Parking Lot. We will head out the Vernal Pool Trail – if you are late, you can follow this flat trail to catch up with us.
WILDERNESS PARK PRECAUTIONS: We need to be aware of snakes, ticks, flying insects, poison oak and natural hazards along the trail. Long hiking pants or long leggings (due to poison oak and cactus) are recommended and closed toed hiking boots/shoes are mandatory.

This offering is a free gift to my community, for the month of December.
For those who feel called within their heart to make a donation to help support our community and my mission of helping people stay harmonized in mind, body, soul you can do so via PayPal
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=MXUFXF9ZXHWKC
Venmo: @Treeesa88 - Treeesa Nieto or on my website at:
https://jinzangsitreeesa.com/donate-now/

I am so grateful for you, your participation and generous contributions.

For those interested in receiving more one on one support with me or booking individual, group or team building events, you can view my offerings on my website at: https://jinzangsitreeesa.com/offerings/
or my booking link: https://mindfulnesswithtreeesa.as.me/schedule.php

Looking forward to connecting with you in nature soon.
With Love and Gratitude,
Treeesa

Disclaimer: You agree that your membership of this group is based on an "at will" basis. By being a member of this group you hereby agree to assume all risk and liability related to or resulting from any group function. The group organizer assumes no liability for you or your guests.