Stinson Beach Native Seed Collecting with Pollinator Partnership

Stinson Beach Native Seed Collecting with Pollinator Partnership Wednesday, September 10th, 9:30-11:30am
Leaders: James Hart, Pollinator Partnership Conservation Manager; Caroline Christman, Marin CNPS
Location: Lower Dipsea Trail, near Stinson Beach

Join Pollinator Partnership in collecting local native wildflower seed! We will be gathering seed from several species along the lower portion of the Dipsea Trail near Stinson Beach to help support habitat restoration in a nearby monarch butterfly overwintering site. We will be looking for bush monkey flower, California goldenrod, Pacific aster, pearly everlasting, and perhaps some other species along the way. There are different techniques used for collecting these different species, so we will spend time discussing each as we come across them.

Pollinator Partnership staff will guide participants in proper seed collecting techniques, including sanitary protocols to ensure ecologically sound collecting. This seed collection event is part of Project Wingspan: Golden State, an initiative of Pollinator Partnership funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Seed collected through this event will be grown into live plants and used for habitat planting in the area. You can learn more about Project Wingspan on our website.

We will be hiking an approximately 1-mile stretch of the lower Dipsea Trail. We will start our hike at the Dipsea Trailhead Parking Area on Panoramic Highway just off Highway 1 near Stinson Beach. The hike will be a total of 2 miles roundtrip, going out and back along the Dipsea Trail. This section of the trail will involve some moderate elevation gain, increasing about 250 feet over 1 mile, with some wooden stairs built into the trail in the first couple of hundred yards. The trail is in good condition.

Pollinator Partnership staff will provide the supplies needed (pruners, bags, gloves) for collecting seed. Please bring snacks, water, appropriate layers (it could be cool if foggy or warm if sunny) and sun protection. Pants are recommended, as there is some poison oak on the sides of the trails.

This event will be rescheduled if there is rain.
Maximum Group Size: 15 people

Directions: Meet at the trailhead near the intersection of Panoramic Highway and Highway 1. This is before you enter the main downtown area of Stinson Beach. There is a dirt parking area that can fit roughly 12 cars. You can find the exact location on Google Maps here. If this lot is full, you can find additional parking in the larger Stinson Beach parking lot here.

Please:  Sign the Waiver for Marin Chapter 2025, if you have not done so already.  Practice clean trail etiquette. Pocket Guide – Every Step Counts and Cleanliness Tips for Hikers 

Sorry, no dogs on this trip.