Beginners Walk to Franklin Point, part of Año Nuevo State Park, Hwy 1

RSVPs will open one week before the event.

Please join co-leaders Toni Gregorio-Bunch and Vicki Silvas-Young on a short beginners walk to botanize and picnic at Franklin Point, located in the northern part of the Ano Nuevo State Park on the San Mateo County coast. We will be exploring the surroundings as we walk to Franklin Point which is the most botanically interesting area of Ano Nuevo State Park. Some of the Coastal Prairie flora we expect to see includes Silver Bur Ragweed (Ambrosia chamissonis), California Goldenbush (Ericameria ericoides), Coastal Sagewort (Artemisia pycnocephala), and Argentina Anserina (Potentilla anserina). Expected Dune flora includes Yellow Sand Verbena (Abronia latifolia), Pink Sand Verbena (Abronia umbellata), and American Dunegrass (Eleymus mollis). In the Coastal Scrub community expected species are Bee Plant (Scrophularia californica), Coast Buckwheat (Eriogonum latifolium), maybe Sea Cliff Bluff Lettuce (Dudleya farinosa) and Fleshy Jaumea (Jaumea carnosa).

We will be walking on sand dunes for short stretches of this 3 mile hike. Bring your choice of optics and layers of clothing for variable coastal conditions including wind, sun, precipitation and fog.

For dining on the beach bring a lunch or snacks and water or something to drink.

Note that there are no bathrooms at Franklin Point, however flush toilets are located at the main parking lot of Ano Nuevo State Park, which will require payment to enter to use the facilities.

Directions from the South (Santa Cruz side)
Pass the main entrance to Año Nuevo State Park and continue on about 2.8 miles. You will pass Whitehouse Canyon Rd on your right. Immediately across from Rossi Rd, you will see a turnout for North Whitehouse Creek Trailhead on the left side of the road. You may park at the trailhead or along Hwy 1.

Directions from the North (Half Moon Bay / Pescadero side)
Pass Gazos Creek State Beach on your right and continue about 1.5 miles. The road widens. Just before the road narrows again, you will see the turnout for North Whitehouse Creek Trailhead on the right side of the road. You may park at the trailhead or along Hwy 1.

Before signing up, please read the Ano Nuevo State Park Welcome page at www.parks.ca.gov/?page_idd=523 Space is limited so please reserve your spot by going to our Chapter's Meetup page to sign up. https://www.meetup.com/California-Native-Plant-Society-Santa-Clara-Valley-Chapter/

For more information, please contact Toni at 408-373-4497 or Vicki at [mrnngwrblr@gmail.com](mailto:mrnngwrblr@gmail.com)