Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve

The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve (SRPER), located at the Southern edge of the Santa Ana Mountains in western Riverside County, is one of our area’s most remarkable natural history and botanical sites. Varied soils, a basalt rock base, clay composition and a moderately level terrain have created a very special area for nature lovers.

Zach Principe, project director with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), will lead this amazing trip to the SRPER, an area managed as a reserve by TNC, CDFW and Riverside County Parks. Zach refers us to Tom Chester’s website - Field Guide to the Santa Rosa Plateau, as a good information source for the field trip, including a list of plant species.

The route will be dependent on weather and trail conditions. We will visit vernal pools and other areas of interest, but no rain or significant rain the week before the event will determine the field trip location(s).

When: Saturday, April 25, 2026.

Time: 8:30am, about 4 hours, depending on the group.

Where to Meet: Santa Rosa Plateau Visitors Center. 39400 Clinton Keith Rd, Murrieta, CA 92562

What to Bring: Sturdy trail shoes/boots, water, hat, layered clothing, and optional: snacks, hiking poles, binoculars, camera, smartphone.

Hike difficulty: Variable, advanced beginner to moderate, around 3-4 hours.

Who can attend: Open to CNPS members.

SRPER Fee: A $6 day per person pass payable at trailhead in cash or via QR code.

Restrooms: Yes. At Visitors Center and other trailheads throughout SRPER.

Hike Guides: Zach Principe, The Nature Conservancy and Rachel Whitt, OCCNPS ([email protected]).

Note: Before arriving, please clean out boots, pant cuffs, pockets, bags, etc., of all seeds to prevent spreading of invasive weeds. If travelling to additional location, we will be spraying car tires and boots on arrival with hydrogen peroxide to prevent the spread of rabbit hemorrhagic disease and soil and water borne pathogens in the Phytophthora genus.

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Host or Publisher Rachel Whitt