Visitor Information
Rush Ranch is 2,070 acres of open space of which about one half is undiked brackish tidal marsh, a part of the Suisun Marsh. Brackish tidal marshes are very significant environmentally because many endangered plant and animal species require this habitat, and tidal marshes are needed to support many food chains. The majority of the Suisun Marsh is diked managed wetlands, owned by duck clubs and managed to promote food and habitat for waterfowl. Only about 10 square miles of tidal marsh remains, and of this about 1.6 square miles are on Rush Ranch. For more information about the Suisun Marsh, visit the Suisun Marsh Charter website.
Rush Ranch was acquired by the Solano Land Trust in 1988 with a grant from the State Coastal Conservancy. The Solano Land Trust is dedicated to the preservation of farmlands and open space in Solano County. Also, visit the website of the Greenbelt Alliance to learn how you can help preserve farmlands and open space in the greater San Francisco Bay area. Suisun City's Historic Waterfront is a nearby area of local historical interest.
Rush Ranch was dedicated as a component site, along with China Camp State Park, of the newly created San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in August 2003. Visit their website, SF Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve to get the full scope of what this means for Rush Ranch.
There are a number of picnic tables and a sun and rain shelter in the picnic area next to the barn. All visitors should park in the designated area north of the barn, except for Suisun Hill Trail hikers who can park near the entrance gate. There are currently no entrance or parking fees. Toilets are located at the Education Center.
For even more information about Rush Ranch and some really great pictures visit this website, http://www.geolit.org/rushranch by Linda Ferguson and Eva LaMar.
For general questions regarding Rush Ranch, contact Ken Poerner, Land Steward for the Solano Land Trust. Or call his mobile phone 707-580-6277.
If you have any questions regarding the Rush Ranch Docent led school program or want to schedule a school tour, please call Patricia Cooper at 707-321-3085. But check here first.
RUSH RANCH FLORA AND FAUNA
Flora
The Rush Ranch open space is divided almost equally into two distinct plant communities. These are the grasslands and the brackish marsh. As a result, because most plants can't coexist in both communities, there are a wide variety of plants found on the ranch. No complete and systematic identification of plants has been done, but currently there are 214 identified species in 47 different families that have been listed. In both the spring and summer, to aid visitors, signs are placed along th trails to identify plants growing on the ranch.
The wildflowers in the grasslands, in most years, start blooming in early march. During the course of the season over 50 varieties may be seen. A number of wildflowers may also be seen along the edges of the marsh. There are no trails in the marsh, and visitors must stay out of the marsh. There are tidal channels in the marsh, hidden by vegetation, which make walking there dangerous.
A Native Plant Demonstration Garden is being developed just east of the water tower before the entrance to the South Pasture Trail. Many of the area's native grasses and plants are viewable with informational posters nearby. Thanks to Malcolm Evett for the many hours he puts into the garden for visitors to get a sense of the area's native plants.
Fauna
There are 15 different mammal species that are known to live on the ranch. Most are nocturnal and are not likely to be seen except at dusk or early in the morning. The list of birds seen on the ranch now totals 123 different species. The best places to see birds are around the ranch buildings and on the Marsh Trail. A bird list is available in the Visitor Center. Near the buildings at dusk the air is alive with hunting owls year round. The best time of year to see birds is in the winter. There are 43 all year residents and 50 that are present only in the winter. There are substantially fewer species that are resident only in the summer. There are of course many insect species. There are 16 species of butterflies that have been observed. There are also two varieties of solitary bees, and the holes leading to their brood chambers may be seen on the trails. Other less desirable insects, such as wasps and mosquitos are found also, but they have never been a major problem.
Rush Ranch is a working cattle ranch. As the visitor hikes along the trails, don't be surprised by a few grazing cattle. They will normally ignore hikers, but cows with calfs may be protective.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR TEACHERS
The program lasts two hours, generally from 9:30 to 11:30 A. M. Plan to arrive no later than 9:30. Many classes stay for lunch and a few take a short hike afterwards. There is a nice picnic area by the barn. The children should bring their own water for drinking. There is bottled water on the information center porch, but the lessons take place elsewhere. The program normally takes place outside so dress for the weather, it can be cool and windy or hot and sunny. Light or threatened rain does not cancel as classes can be held in the barn and other ranch buildings.
Rush Ranch is about two miles south of Highway 12 and Suisun City on Grizzly Island Road.
At the intersection of Grizzly Island Road and Highway 12 there is a small shopping center and a McDonalds's Restaurant. Turn south at this intersection and proceed for about two miles until you see the large Rush Ranch entrance sign on your right. Proceed down the gravel road to the right and park near the barn.
If you bring 50 - 60 children please divide the children into six groups. If there are only 30 to 45 children divide them into three groups. If this is done ahead of time it will save much time and confusion. Many teachers use a plant, bird or animal name to designate the groups as this makes it interesting for the children.
After a brief introduction, the children will walk about one quarter of a mile to the marsh. They will then rotate through six teaching stations, and at each one they will be given a 15 minute lesson. The path to the marsh is a dirt road, but it is accessible by wheelchair except in the spring when its wet and muddy.
The six teaching stations are as follows:
1. Plants for Food and Medicine
2. Hunting and Fishing
3. Trading and Project (The children will complete a project at this station)
4. Village Life
5. Food preparation (Acorn Grinding)
6. Baskets and Games
If you have any questions regarding the Rush Ranch Docent led school program or want to schedule a school tour, please call or email Patricia Cooper at 707-321-3085.
Rush Ranch, a Link to the Past
The Patwins, the Native Americans that lived in the Solano County area, and areas to the north, lived on what is now Rush Ranch for hundreds of years. They left behind evidence of their presence, on Rush Ranch, which are grinding holes that were used to grind food. The Patwins lived in small villages of 100 to 200 people. In the winter they resided near rivers and marshes where they could fish and hunt waterfowl. We may speculate that they had a village on Rush Ranch and used the grinding holes to grind seeds and also to probably grind dried fish into fish meal.
The Spanish first arrived in California in 1769, near San Diego, and slowly moved north as they established new missions. The Patwins of Solano County were not much affected until 1810, when Spanish soldiers first arrived. Some of the Patwins died as a result of battles fought with the Spanish or from diseases resulting from contact with the Spanish. Those remaining were forced to move to missions. In 1823 Father Jose Altimira, who subsequently established the Sonoma Mission, visited Solano County and found no Patwins, just abandoned village sites.
From about 1820 to 1849 there was probably no one living on Rush Ranch. In 1848 gold was discovered in California, and in 1849 thousands of people came to California to hunt for gold.
It was in this year that Hiram Rush, and his wife Sarah, came by wagon train and drove a small herd of cattle out from Indiana. Hiram first settled near Sacramento but in the late 1850s moved to Solano County and in 1864 started acquiring the property which is now Rush Ranch. Hiram eventually owned about 2,500 acres at Rush Ranch plus thousands of other acres elsewhere. Hiram started raising cattle, horses and sheep on the Rush Ranch site. When Hiram died in 1869, the operation of the ranch was eventually taken over by his son Benjamin F. Rush. Benjamin continued to acquire land until Rush Ranch was about 5,000 acres in size. He became well known as a scientific breeder of horses and cattle. He and his wife Anna established their home in Suisun City. Benjamin was very active in civic affairs. He was the Solano County sheriff from 1894 to 1899 and a California State Senator from 1906 until 1930. He died in 1940. The ranch was subsequently leased out and operated by tenants. It was acquired by the Solano County Farmlands and Open Space Foundation(now the Solano Land Trust) in 1988.
When the ranch was acquired in 1988, several of its 100+ year old structures were on the verge of collapse. Volunteers restored the barn by raising each wall with house jacks and attaching sister posts set in concrete. Due to its exposure to the prevailing winds, rain, and sun, the south wall was completely replaced. In 1999 a new roof was added by a contractor. Similar repairs and improvements were made to the tractor shed and blacksmith shop. The blacksmith shop is completely restored and operational. Its not unusual for SLT staff to ask the blacksmith for a little help with a repair project. The blacksmith shop can be opened upon previous arrangement or during one of the blacksmithing demostrations. See the Events page for the blacksmith's schedule. The water tower was formerly located in front of the Kit House and had to be replaced because it had a very distinctive lean to it. The current water tower located south of the tractor shed is a replica of the original and has the original redwood tank on top. The water tower gets its water from the windmill just to the south. The Kit House was acquired in about 1930 as a kit from Sears Roebuck & Co., first for family members and then as a foreman's residence. The Kit House is now used as an un-manned information center and always open.
RUSH RANCH DOCENT PROGRAMS
Under the auspices of the Rush Ranch Educational Council, Rush Ranch Docents provide scheduled programs for groups visiting the ranch. These have included bird and plant walks and slide shows on Rush Ranch wildflowers and ranch history tours. These programs are normally scheduled on Saturdays and are open to the public. Docents also organize the annual Rush Ranch Open House held each spring. Special group tours covering ranch history, the blacksmith shop, and the marsh may also be arranged, but are dependent upon Docent availability. Visit the events schedule.
Docents also provide an educational program for school classes on Tuesday mornings in the spring and fall that was designed on 3rd and 4th grade curriculum. The program is based on the Native American Patwins who lived in Solano County previous to the arrival of Europeans. In this program a recreated Patwin village is used in exploring their uses of plants, tools for hunting and fishing, village life, food preparation, trading, and baskets and games.
The school programs are booked well in advance, and each year there are more requests than there are openings for classes. For more information or to schedule a class or special tour call or email Patricia Cooper at 707 321-3085. Teacher Instructions
RUSH RANCH TRAIL GUIDES-Marsh and South Pasture Trails subject to gate hours.
Trail Rules:
-No dogs are permitted on the Marsh or South Pasture Trails.
-There is currently no public equestrian access at Rush Ranch.
-Visitors may have their dogs off-leash on the Suisun Hill Trail. Dogs must always be under owner's control. Do not permit dogs to harass other visitors, wildlife or cattle.
-Bicycles are not permitted on any trail due to our limited trail maintenance capabilities.
-Please ensure all gates are closed behind you.
-No collecting of any flora or fauna is permitted without permission from the Solano Land Trust.
-Please stay on the trail. Some trail portions pass through sensitive habitats.
-Fishing, with proper license, is permitted from the levee on the Marsh Trail.
-Trails are normally not mowed in winter due to wet conditions.
-Leave only footprints, don't trash Rush Ranch.
Marsh Trail
The Marsh Trail is about 2.2 miles long and will take about an hour or more to walk. The trail is mostly level and does not have any waterways to cross. The Marsh Trail begins behind the Visitor's Center. An overlook with benches is only a short distance from the Visitor Center. After the overlook, the trail proceeds along a levee and then through a pasture planted with Harding Grass.
The Marsh Trail has numbered trail posts and a trail guide available at the Visitor Center explains the features marked by the trail post. Click here for a printable copy of the Marsh Trail Map.
South Pasture Trail
The South Pasture Trail is about 2.4 miles long and will take about an hour or more to walk. It is mostly level with no extreme changes in elevation. The South Pasture Trail begins at the water tower south of the main barn. After a short hike south, which is very wet in winter, the visitor climbs a small overlook and a short spur trail leads to a Native American grinding rock site. A bench is provided at the overlook. The visitor can then proceed along a level trail through the South Pature past a water tank and cattle trough. After that the visitor crosses First Mallard Slough by way of a boardwalk and comes back through the Middle Pasture. A shortcut along First Mallard Slough is located before the first overlook.
The South Pasture Trail has numbered trail posts and a trail guide available at the Visitor Center explains the features marked by the trail post. Click here for a printable copy of the South Pasture Trail Map.
Visit this website, http://www.bahiker.com/eastbayhikes/rushranch.html, for some great photos and a running documentary of the South Pasture Trail.
Suisun Hill Trail
Suisun Hill Trail is open dawn to dusk seven days a week. The trail is about 2.0 miles long as it climbs the 500 ft Suisun Hill providing the hiker wonderful 360 degree views of the area. Benches are provided on the hilltop. Hikers can access the trail by parking near the entrance sign and crossing Grizzly Island Road to the gate. Proceed to the left and follow the trail posts. Hikers may have dogs off-leash, but they must always be under control. Do not permit dogs to harass the wildlife or cattle.
Gate Hours: Every Day - 8:00am to 7:00pm
Food Preparation Station
Directions to Rush Ranch Open Space
Address: 3521 Grizzly Island Road, Suisun CA 94533
From Highway 12 in Suisun City California, turn south on Grizzly Island Road, opposite McDonald's and the Shell station. Proceed about two miles south. Rush Ranch is on both sides of the road after you go over the Hill Slough Bridge. The entrance gate is on the right at the BIG Rush Ranch sign in about another 3/4 mile. Suisun Hill hikers may park at the sign and cross the road to the trail (watch out for fast traffic). All others must enter the gate, drive down the gravel entry road, and park next to the barn.
Reservations must be made through the Solano Land Trust for large group picnics, group camping, nature center conference room use, and overnight stays in the guest quarters.
Please view this document for a complete description of available facilities and application procedures.
Contact Jennifer Fernandez at the Solano Land Trust office to make reservations or for additional information by email (Jennifer@solanolandtrust.org) or call her at 707-432-0150 ext. 209.
Website provided by
Rush Ranch Educational Council
Rush Ranch Logo
A burrowing owl on a wooden fence post.
Simpson Percheron Team during the 2006 Ranch Day
Steve with one of his hunting falcons during the 2006 Ranch Day
Docents at Ranch Day 2006
A few friendly steers during
Ranch Day 2006
Plowing the Land during Ranch Day 2006
Support the Rush Ranch
Stewardship Campaign
Support the endowment that will fund operation of the new Rush Ranch Nature Center by purchasing a personalized Nature Center patio brick. This is your chance to leave a permanent legacy at Rush Ranch. Although the patio is built, we can always add new personalized bricks.
Click on “Donate” for more information
The ultimate goal is to raise a $2-million endowment fund for Rush Ranch. A portion of your donation will pay for on-going management of the ranch’s abundant natural resources. The balance will guarantee a revenue stream to cover ongoing maintenance of the new classroom and nature center, caretaker residence and facilities for visiting National Estuarine Research Reserve scientists.
Rush Ranch was the first property acquired by SLT after its founding in 1986. Area farmer and businessman Bob Dittmer, whose son Jeff now sits on the SLT board, sold the ranch to SLT in 1988. At that time, no money was available to establish an endowment for on-going stewardship of the land. In past years, stewardship has been accomplished largely by volunteers, particularly the members of the Rush Ranch Educational Council and SLT’s Land Steward Ken Poerner, as well as through use of grants received for specific projects. The SLT board is now focusing on the need for funds to provide for improvements and on-going maintenance.
House Demolition - August 25
Photo by Kirsti Muskat
Education Center Updates
Demolition of the old house took place in August 2006. In its place has emerged a state of the art facility for the entire community to use and enjoy. Contact Jennifer at the SLT office for more information about renting the meeting room or guest quarters.
Come out to see the new patio, completed in May 2008. Landscaping for the patio was installed on May 14th, 2008 by a great group of volunteers from the Papyrus Corporation. Exhibits will go up during the winter of 2008/09. Our Caretaker/Field Steward moved into the residence in March 2008. Please respect his privacy.
Thanks to our funders:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration- $500,000 for construction
State Coastal Conservancy-$500,000 for construction
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-$457,000 earmarked for:
$194,000-Remaining construction costs$$210,000-Interpretive exhibits$35,000-Courtyard landscaping$17,500-Furnishings
Birds
of the
Grizzly Island Wildlife Area
And
Suisun Marsh
Brochure Funded by:
California Waterfowl Association
And
California Department of Fish and Game
Maureen Geiger observing the two personalized bricks she purchased in memory of her brother and sister.
