Join an interpretive ranger from the Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and Heather Stewart-Ahn, a Master’s student from Eastern Washington University, as we explore the history and unique biodiversity of the Horseshoe Ranch Wildlife Area. At 9,100 acres, Horseshoe Ranch was added to the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in 2017 as part of the Monument expansion. Located in Siskiyou County, it is the only part of the monument in California. There, Heather will also take us to a site where we can view the incredibly rare lichen, Umbilicaria phaea var. coccinea, which she studied as a recipient of the 2022 Friends Research Fund Grant.

Heather presented her findings at our 2023 Monument Research Symposium.

We will meet at 9am at the Rite Aid in Ashland and make our way into the Monument from there. Bring a lunch or snack to enjoy at the top, as well as plenty of water and sun protection for the more exposed sections. Hiking boots are recommended. This will be a moderate to easy hike.

The Friends of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is a nonprofit organization and our mission is to support the protection, restoration and conservation of the monument through service, advocacy and education.