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SOLANO COUNTY Rush Ranch Open Space (below) Grizzly Island Wildlife Refuge AG-C; *** ; 4+ miles; Rainy Weather No INFO MORE INFO
When I was there, the maze of trails varied from muddy, to overgrown, to hard gravel. Even in wet weather, the gravel roads would be fine, but most dirt and grassy paths would not. The narrow wooden bridge pictured is quite accessible and not as scary as it looks, as are other bridges we encountered. In dry weather uncomfortable and tiring rough going is the main difficulty a wheelchair will have. There is very little in the way of benches, and no drinking water. The wildlife viewing was very nice, though we didn't see otters or any very unusual birds (Nor, for that matter, many other people).But it is a long drive. The second link above provides a detailed description and lots of photos. The Refuge is usually open for hiking and nature viewing from February through July, and at the end of September; to check status, call the park office at 707-425-3828 Details: From Hwy 80 take Hwy 12 east for about 4 miles. Turn right onto Grizzly Island Road and go 9 miles to the park office. After registering ($2.50/vehicle) and picking up a map, you can drive another 5+ miles on a gravel road. The bridge shown here is at Trailhead #3. Park office is open weekdays: 707-425-3828. Last visit spring 2005 Rush Ranch Open Space AG-C*** 2+ miles; Rainy Weather No Like Grizzly Island, above, Rush Ranch is on Grizzly Island Road, but it's much closer to Highway 12. And it's free, and open year-round, and nobody shoots at the critters here, so they're more likely to stick around and let you watch them. But if you want to take a long hike at Rush Ranch, you better be willing to deal with rough going. Grizzly Island has the better trails. Rush Ranch is owned and managed by the Solano Land Trust. The California clapper rail and the Suisun song sparrow are two of many rare and endangered species that survive here in the mix of fresh, brackish, and salt marshes. The good news for a wheelchair user is that it's flat out here. The ranch sits on a shallow rise adjacent to Suisun Marsh, and most of its trails head out over the lowlands.
Nevertheless, there's much to enjoy here. The Marsh Trail's first quarter mile descends easily to the marsh. Across the wetlands, swallows swoop and dive and herons fly low over lush vegetation. Several tule structures have been built here and we saw a group of schoolchildren being instructed on Patwin food preparation by volunteer docents. Beyond this point, the levee section of Marsh Trail is not accessible due to flood damage. One can go further on the nearly-level South Pasture Trail, a 2.4 mile loop with a few rough patches. Both trails have markers and printed guides with information for visitors. Except near the ranch buildings, all the trails here have some rough going. An alternative is to take one of the free horse-drawn carriage rides for mobility impaired visitors provided several times a month by Access Adventures. These "carriages" are equipped with wheelchair lifts! For more information, call 707-426-3990. Details: There's a pleasant picnic area on a medium-rough lawn under eucalyptus, with an accessible vault toilet, and a small but accessible visitor center. No blue spaces in the parking lot, but it's not likely to be crowded. To reach Rush Ranch take Highway 80 east to Highway 12, go four miles east to Grizzly Island Road, then 2.5 miles south. No entry fee. |
I
visited Grizzly Island in spring of 2005, and enjoyed it, but didn't
find time to write it up, and now I can't find my notes about it, so
I can't offer much information. When I called the park office (February
2006) a recording said the park is closed due to flood damage, and of
course, that could mean changes to access when they do open again. Anyone
who can help (especially about accessible toilets, since I can't remember
if there are any) please let me know.
The
bad news is, even the hills get really muddy when it rains, and what
with grazing cattle, in many places that mud dries into hoofprint-pocked
hummocks that are tortuous if not impassible.