547-Acre California Preserve Opens After 100 Years

A breathtaking piece of California's coastline that was locked away for 100 years is finally welcoming visitors, and nature lovers are already calling it something special.

The Estero Americano Coast Preserve opened in November after years of careful planning. This 547-acre gem spans Marin and Sonoma counties, offering visitors a rare glimpse of nearly untouched North Coast wilderness.

The land was a privately owned ranch for decades until 2015, when a coalition of conservation groups pooled $3.8 million to purchase it. The Wildlands Conservancy led the effort, backed by the State Coastal Conservancy, Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and individual donors who believed this landscape deserved protection.

Since the purchase, crews have built trails, restored habitats, and prepared the site for public access. Now anyone can explore the windswept coastal prairie from sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, completely free.

The preserve features roughly five miles of hiking trails, including a gentle 1.6-mile path that winds down to a secluded beach tucked beneath dramatic bluffs. Another trail climbs to the highest point, where views stretch south to Point Reyes National Seashore and west to the Farallon Islands on clear days.

Spring transforms the hillsides into a wildflower wonderland. Colorful irises and California poppies blanket the coastal prairie in a display that has conservationists buzzing with excitement.

The Ripple Effect

This preserve protects vital habitat for threatened and endangered species, including the central California coast steelhead, endangered tidewater goby, and California red-legged frog. The landscape safeguards tidal marshes, eelgrass beds, and mudflats that support countless creatures.

Visitors can hike, picnic, birdwatch, and spot migrating whales during the right season. Dogs on leashes are welcome, making it a perfect family destination. The conservancy plans to eventually add a kayak pullout for paddlers exploring the Estero Americano Estuary.

Misti Arias, general manager of Sonoma County Ag + Open Space, has worked in conservation for 30 years and says she's never seen anything quite like this preserve.

After a century behind locked gates, this spectacular stretch of coast now belongs to everyone.