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Visiting the Preserve

PLEASE NOTE: We will be returning to our pre-pandemic summer schedule of suspending docent-led tours during the summer, given reduced docent and staff capacity and high fire danger during summer months.  In view of this we will not be offering docent-led tours for the public or processing requests for public tours beginning June 8, 2022. We will resume offering docent-led tours when the 2022-23 academic year commences in September. Check here for the resumption date as September approaches.  Have a great summer everyone!

Visitor Information

Visitors must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  See this link for what constitutes verification of vaccination.

Quick links:

In conformance with current county, state, and Stanford guidelines, as of March 30, 2022, restrictions to use of Jasper Ridge by visitors have been relaxed relative to protocols that were in place earlier in the pandemic. These requirements are subject to change as county, state, and Stanford University requirements evolve. Current protocols are as follows.

 

ALL VISITORS

DOCENT VISITS

  • Docents can now use their access cards to visit the preserve during daylight hours anytime they want to review for a tour, etc.  That is, these kinds of “docent refresher” visits (i.e., those that involve only a docent plus no more than two companions) can take place any day, not just on Sunday—no need to schedule them in advance. 

  • However, note that all tours other than refresher visits—even tours you might organize yourself—still have to be arranged in advance using the Contact Us webform.

  • Also, please note that you should continue to use the paper trail registers to record your “refresher” visits.

DOCENT-LED TOURS

Restrictions still in place at Jasper Ridge are:

  • Vaccinations are required for all non-Stanford visitors (also generally for Stanford affiliates but guidelines in place at Stanford allow for rare exceptions)

  • Stanford employees, students and visitors may not come to campus or enter campus buildings if they feel unwell or exhibit signs or symptoms of COVID-19

  • Stanford community members and invited visitors who test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days of visiting campus and entering a campus building MUST notify the university. Non-employees or designates may notify the university by submitting the General COVID-19 Case Reporting Form.

  • Face-coverings must still be worn in classroom spaces as noted above.

No longer required are: 

  • Tour participants (and docents who come on site) no longer have to provide a health attestation, either verbally or on-line.

  • Density restrictions (except for fire capacity enforcement) or social distancing are no longer required.

  • Use of face-coverings outside of classroom or transportation settings are no longer required (please note Caltrans has their own policy which requires masking)

  • Note face-coverings are still required in classroom settings but face-coverings can be removed when speaking

  • Access to Sun Field Station is no longer restricted. People without a SUNET id can now enter the building as in pre-pandemic days.

  • Daily submission of Health Check for fully vaccinated individuals is no longer required.

  • Visitor restrictions (other than those in place for minors etc.) are lifted, except as np

  • Submission of daily visitor attestation forms for volunteers, invited visitors, event attendees, or any members of the general public are no longer required.

Optional Dependent on Individual Docent Preference:

  • Docents may still feel free to instruct their tour participants according to their own comfort level as to the use of face-coverings and social distancing on tours you lead.

  • Docents may ask for proof of vaccination for visitors on tours but are not required to do so.

Quick links:

Public Tours

Jasper Ridge offers docent-led tours from October through May (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). Request tours at least two weeks in advance using the JRBP Contact Us web form.

Please note that children under 14 are not allowed.

Jasper Ridge is a Stanford University field station whose mission is research and education about natural systems, and in that context we can accommodate a limited number of tours of guests who would like learn about what we do.  All tours are docent-led and must be requested through our Contact Us web form.  While we make every effort to respond as quickly as possible, due to the high volume of requests it can be a week or more from the time you submit your request until you receive a reply from us.  Therefore requests should be submitted at least two weeks before the date you would like a tour. All participants must remain on designated trails.

Jasper Ridge is about a 20-minute car ride from the main Stanford University campus. There is no public transportation from the campus to Jasper Ridge. It is a strenuous bike ride (mostly uphill) from the Stanford campus and usually takes between 30-45 minutes.

Due to limited parking, we ask groups to carpool whenever possible.

Touring Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve

A tour is typically 2 to 2.5 hours (can be shorter if requested). Tours are designed to introduce the public to the natural history of the Santa Cruz Mountains and the research at the preserve. Hikes can be strenuous, so please indicate ahead of time if there are physical limitations in your group. Food is not allowed on the trails.

Contact Us to schedule a tour. NOTE: Due to the high volume of requests it can take a week or more for us to respond. Requests are answered in the order they are received.

Please provide the following information to help us book your tour:

  • Cell #: for use the day of the tour, if necessary.
  • Date and time you wish to take a tour?
  • Number of people in your group? Minimum 3-5 people. Please note each docent led group is limited to 8 people, with larger groups generally requiring additional docents. Each docent takes a different route.
  • Please note children under 14 are not allowed. Requests to bring younger children must be brought to the Executive Director for approval prior to the tour. There must be special, mitigating circumstances for approval. Children under 14 are not allowed to cross the Searsville Dam. No pets are allowed on the preserve.
  • Will your group have special requests or mobility issues?

When your tour is booked a confirmation email with a small map of the area will be sent to the group organizer that can be distributed to tour group members.

The lead docent will call several days before your tour to exchange cell numbers, discuss your particular points of interest, and in case of inclement weather "go/no go" scenarios.

Thank you for your interest in Jasper Ridge.

Academic or class tours

For academic or class tour, please fill out this form:

https://jrbp.stanford.edu/content/class-visit

Alternative Parks and Open Spaces

Stanford Campus nature walk

A self-guiding podcast tour of plants, animals, and science art on the Stanford Campus. Click here to start.

Huddart Park

Nearby Huddart Park, operated by the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Division (http://www.eparks.net), is a great place for picnics and retreats and has many of the same vegetation communities as Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve.

Edgewood Park

Edgewood Park, also operated by the SMC Parks and Recreation Division, provides wildflower walks and bird walks led by members of the Friends of Edgewood Park (http://www.friendsofedgewood.org). Reservations are not required for groups of less than 10 people for these walks.

Meeting Venues at Jasper Ridge

JRBP is primarily an outdoor classroom and laboratory, combining trailside teaching for visitors together with long-term monitoring, fundamental science, and ecosystem preservation and restoration. When there are openings in the education and research calendar, portions of the Leslie Shao-ming Sun Field Station may be available to Stanford groups for small workshops, meetings, or events related to our academic and conservation mission. If your Stanford-affiliated organization is interested in using the facilities of Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve as a venue for a meeting that would fit with our mission, please Contact Us. Due to staffing and scheduling constraints we can only accommodate a limited number of these requests and a fee is charged to cover our expenses.