Dye Creek Preserve

03/17/2026

This spring, The Nature Conservancy in California and the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County are offering free hiking access at the Dye Creek Preserve and the Vina Plains Preserve. Come witness the vibrant seasonal blooms at both preserves, and observe how Dye Creek Preserve is recovering from the Park Fire.

The Dye Creek Preserve’s trail will be accessible for three days between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. with four start times per day to choose from as a self-paced hike. This format allows hikers to enjoy the trail at their leisure without large crowds. The trail is a rugged, rocky footpath leading into the Dye Creek canyon. The full out-and-back hike totals 5 miles, but hikers can turn around at any point for a shorter trip. Along the way hikers can connect with docents stationed on the path to learn about the preserve's geology, wildlife, habitats and cultural history. Self-paced hikes are scheduled for Sunday, March 22, Saturday, April 4, and Sunday, April 12 between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. In addition, preserve staff will lead an off-trail hike on March 22 and April 4. Register with the link below.

The Vina Plains Preserve offers two chances to explore the unusual invertebrates that inhabit the preserve’s rare vernal pools. Walks will take place on Saturday, March 28 and Saturday, April 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The walk on March 28 will focus on vernal pool invertebrates; guests can walk at their own pace between several docent stations to see fairy shrimp and tadpole shrimp that have been carefully netted from the pools by experts, along with a diverse array of wildflowers. The event on April 25 will be a guided group walk in the western part of the preserve that focuses on learning to identify organisms with iNaturalist. The Vina Plains Preserve is located east of Vina on Highway 99E.

Please note that these events have little to no shade, and restroom facilities are limited. Youth under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Pets are not permitted.

Reservations are required for all events. Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To secure your spot, go to nature.org/CAevents to find the event page for each preserve. For more information, contact the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County at 530-727-1280.

12/18/2025

It's the time of year for holiday cheer!

While holiday lights certainly make the season brighter, they can also make it harder for nocturnal animals to find food and shelter, and can disorient waterfowl that migrate at night 🌙✨

However, there is a way we can enjoy holiday lights and protect wildlife at the same time!

Before you deck your home with festive decor, check out these tips from DarkSky International on how you can decorate mindfully to help preserve dark skies for wildlife and humans alike: https://nature.ly/4a0mMTb

📸 Bill Marr

11/22/2025

Join us for a hike tomorrow morning! It's going to be a beautiful day.
Register here: https://form.jotform.com/rcdtc/PublicHike112225

11/18/2025

The Nature Conservancy invites you to hike at the Dye Creek Preserve to witness the Preserve's ongoing recovery from the Park Fire and its gradual transition into the rainy season.

Our hiking dates for autumn 2025 are Saturday, November 22nd and Saturday, December 6th.

Here is your chance to explore the Dye Creek canyon with family and friends! This is an out-and-back trail, and your group can take it as fast or as slow as you like. Our knowledgeable Docents will be stationed along the trail to answer your questions about the Preserve's geology, wildlife, habitats, and cultural history.

The trail will be open for hiking between 9:00am and 2:00pm. To prevent overcrowding on the narrow trail, all hikers need to be registered for a start time (only one person per group needs to register). Hikers should return to headquarters by 2:00pm.

Register today using the links below!

Register to hike this Saturday, Nov 22: https://form.jotform.com/rcdtc/PublicHike112225
Register to hike on Saturday, Dec 6: https://form.jotform.com/rcdtc/PublicHike120625

The Nature Conservancy in California offers these hikes with help from our wonderful volunteer Docents and our partners at the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County.

11/12/2024

Este otoño, ¡únase a una caminata guiada en la Preserva de Dye Creek! Los docentes voluntarios guiarán caminatas en grupos pequeños el domingo 17 de noviembre y el sábado 7 de diciembre.

La fecha de noviembre ofrecerá dos caminatas de ritmo moderado, una caminata a las 8:30 a.m. en inglés y una caminata a las 9:30 a.m. en español. La fecha de diciembre ofrecerá una caminata de ritmo más rápido a las 8:30 a.m. y una caminata de ritmo moderado a las 9:30 a.m., ambas en inglés. Estas caminatas brindan una excelente oportunidad para observar la recuperación del paisaje del incendio del parque en tiempo real.

Tenga en cuenta que se requieren reservas ya que el espacio es limitado y se llenará por orden de llegada. El Canyon Trail es un sendero hermoso pero accidentado y extenuante en el cañón de Dye Creek. El viaje de ida y vuelta de 5 millas demora aproximadamente 4,5 horas con descansos. Los visitantes deben estar preparados para una caminata de ritmo moderado con terreno irregular, rocas sueltas, algunas secciones empinadas, un cruce de arroyo poco profundo sobre piedras para pisar y peligros de tropiezos. La ruta no tiene sombra en gran parte, por lo que debe planificar en consecuencia. Los jóvenes menores de 18 años deben estar acompañados por un padre o tutor. El acceso a la preserva para estos días de caminatas gratuitas es posible gracias a The Nature Conservancy a través del apoyo de docentes voluntarios y la colaboración con el Distrito de Conservación de Recursos del Condado de Tehama. Fomentamos la fotografía para uso personal; no se permite la fotografía comercial. Todas las caminatas en la preserva requieren inscripción previa. La inscripción es gratuita, pero el espacio es limitado.

¡Regístrese hoy!
Caminata del 17 de noviembre (8:30 a.m. en inglés): https://form.jotform.com/243107461972154
Caminata del 17 de noviembre (9:30 a.m. en español): https://form.jotform.com/243128100842143
Caminatas del 7 de diciembre (8:30 o 9:30 a.m. en inglés): https://form.jotform.com/243107018508147

11/12/2024

This fall, join a guided hike at the Dye Creek Preserve! Volunteer docents will lead small group hikes on Sunday, November 17 and Saturday, December 7.

The November date will offer two moderate-paced hikes, an 8:30 a.m. hike in English and a 9:30 a.m. hike in Spanish. The December date will offer a faster-paced hike at 8:30 a.m. and a moderate-paced hike at 9:30 a.m., both in English. These hikes provide an excellent opportunity to observe the landscape's Park Fire recovery in real time.

Please note that reservations are required as space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. The Canyon Trail is a beautiful but rugged, strenuous trail in Dye Creek Canyon. The 5-mile round trip takes about 4.5 hours with breaks. Visitors should be prepared for a moderately paced hike with uneven footing, loose rocks, some steep sections, a shallow creek crossing on stepping stones, and tripping hazards. The route is largely unshaded, so plan accordingly. Youth under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Access to the Preserve for these free hiking days is made possible by The Nature Conservancy through the support of volunteer docents and collaboration with the Tehama County Resource Conservation District. We encourage photography for personal use; commercial photography is not permitted. All hikes in the preserve require advance registration. Registration is free, but space is limited.

Register today!
Nov 17 hike (8:30am English): https://form.jotform.com/243107461972154

Nov 17 hike (9:30am Spanish): https://form.jotform.com/243128100842143

Dec 7 hikes (8:30 or 9:30am): https://form.jotform.com/243107018508147

07/31/2024

04/10/2024

Spring is here! Come see wildflowers while hiking at the Dye Creek Preserve on the next three Saturdays, April 13, 20, and 27.

To register online, visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/events/dye-creek-hikes-ca/. To register by phone, call/leave a message for Kathryn at the Resource Conservation District: (530)-727-1280 ext. 114. Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

03/19/2024

This spring, The Nature Conservancy in California, in collaboration with the Resource Conservation District of Tehama County, is offering free hiking access at the Dye Creek Preserve's canyon trail.

The canyon trail is a rugged, rocky footpath in the beautiful Dye Creek canyon. All hikes are at-your-own-pace. The route is a 5 mile out-and-back trip, but hikers can turn around at any point for a shorter trip. Along the way you can speak with Docents to learn about the Preserve.

Hikes will be offered on Saturday, March 23rd, Saturday, April 13th, and Saturday, April 20th, and will run from 1-7:15 PM. On April 20th, the Preserve’s volunteer Docents will also lead an off-trail hike to explore areas around the Dye Creek canyon.

All hikes at the Preserve require advance registration and space is limited. To register online, visit https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/events/dye-creek-hikes-ca/ . To register by phone, call/leave a message for Kathryn at the Resource Conservation District: (530)-727-1280 ext. 114. Youth under 18 need to be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Join us on a guided hike of the Dye Creek Preserve’s Canyon Trail this year.

11/28/2023

Join us for a hike this Saturday afternoon! We still have plenty of space. Register here:
https://form.jotform.com/rcdtc/dcp-december-2nd-hike

11/17/2023

Unfortunately we need to cancel tomorrow's hiking day. The incoming storm system is predicted to bring rain, strong wind, and possibly lighting. Stay safe out there!

Registration is still open for our next hiking day on December 2!
https://form.jotform.com/rcdtc/dcp-december-2nd-hike