Hike of the Month: Fall Color Field Trip

Fall views on the Heart K Ranch, courtesy Feather River Land Trust.

Fall colors are just around the corner, and for this month’s hike, we decided to suggest a little field trip to visit our partners to the north.

Heart K Ranch is a 903-acre preserve protected by our partners and fellow members of the Northern Sierra Partnership – the Feather River Land Trust. About a two-hour drive north of Truckee in Plumas County, the property is a working historic ranch.

Fall foliage includes black oak, cottonwood, large willow stands, and golden grasses. Fall is also a good time for bird watching with bald and golden eagles, wild turkey, red-shouldered hawks, and barn and great-horned owls frequenting the property.

While there are not formal trails on the property, dirt and sparsely trafficked paved roads offer routes to explore the land. Feather River Land Trust suggests staying out of the tall grass to avoid rattlesnakes. Cyclists can cover more ground on the paved and dirt roads that cross the property.

To learn more about Heart K Ranch, activities, history, and to get directions, click here to visit the Feather River Land Trust page.