What happens when king tides meet a restored wetland? And what might these conditions foretell about climate change in the Bay Area? Located in Redwood City, Bair Island gives us a front-row seat. Read more before the 2026 king tides arrive on January 2-3.

What a year! 🌿 Thank you to our incredible community for showing up at our 2025 events—whether you joined us on the trails, tuned into our online talks, or connected in person. Our January events are already live! Check out openspacetrust.org/events today. See you on the trail next year! 🥾

Banana slug posing in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (@postlandtrust.bsky.social) 🐌

Water connects everything on the Peninsula. From seasonal rains to dry months, healthy watersheds store and share water across landscapes we all rely on. Protecting healthy soils and vegetation helps keep water flowing for wildlife and people when it’s needed most. Read more: https://bit.ly/4apTYDU

Grey skies (and muddy trails) are on the Bay Area forecast this week. What's an outdoorsy person to do? Try some paved walking routes that are a good match for your waterproof boots! (Reminder: check the trail to rule out flooding!) https://openspacetrust.org/blog/rainy-day-walks/

Our 2026 Hiking Calendar is here! Explore 12 curated trails across Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz counties—from coastal views to quiet redwood groves. 🌿🥾 Looking for a weekend escape or new challenge? Start exploring with our guide. 💙 👉 Explore the guide here: https://bit.ly/4iXwA2C

Waterfalls, waves, wetlands and redwoods top the list of the most popular hikes on our website this year. Plus, read about our stewardship wins and the blog posts that readers loved most this year.

Last fiscal year was one of our most impactful ever, with POST surpassing 90,000 total protected acres! If you're interested in learning more about the accomplishments of the last fiscal year head here 👉 https://bit.ly/3LKalRq

Find your version of coastal bliss: maybe it’s the waves, the seabirds, the view. These stops along this ever-growing regional trail are as flexible as your week is busy.

A beautiful day on the San Mateo Coast

Happy Sunday. Today we have a black phoebe (Sayornis nigricans). San Benito County, California. Fun fact: phoebes are not songbirds in the full sense of the word. Their songs are innate and simple not learned and complex like true songbirds. #birds #wildlife #phoebes #newworldflycatchers #tyrannids

What ingredient from your heritage would you share far and wide if you could? We love Cristóbal's story of his small, bustling farm's chilacayota crop: 35 years in the making! “It’s one of the hundreds of types of squash grown in Mexico," he beams. "It’s a cultural crop that I don’t want to lose.”

🌊 King tides hit Monterey Bay Wed–Fri! Explore tidepools teeming with anemones, hermit crabs & more — nature’s tiny aquariums 🐚🦀 Best views at low tide (-1.0 to -1.4 ft). Waterproof shoes recommended! Dive in 👉https://bit.ly/4hCV4xs

It's National Native American Heritage Month, and its up to us to learn more about Indigenous histories close to home. Walking in these local parks allows us to reflect while stepping into generations of stewardship and resilience. 🍁

South Bay adventures are calling! Take a day trip to see the landscapes and local gems that make South San Jose, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and San Martin shine. ☀️

We spotted three bucks and thought: that’s a solid return on investment. 🦌 💰 Every acre of protected open space is a home for wildlife like these, keeping ecosystems strong for generations to come. 📍 Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, Los Gatos, CA

We love this fun-gi filled day to celebrate some of the hardest workers in the redwood ecosystem. 🍄 Mushrooms help recycle nutrients, nurture roots, and feed new life in the forest. Happy #NationalMushroomDay! 🍄‍🟫 📸 Photo Credits: 1. Amanda Krauss 2. Ian Bornarth 3. Orenda Randuch

Trail professionals and nature stewards: this webinar’s for you. Tomorrow, join POST's Zionne Fox from 10 a.m. - 11. a.m. PST to explore an approach to sustainable trail design grounded in relationship, humility, and ecological wisdom. https://bit.ly/3WrMUOV

Big news for local conservation! 🌿 We have permanently protected 668 acres in the Upper Pajaro River Valley, where Santa Clara and San Benito Counties meet. This project strengthens climate resilience, supports local farms, and restores vital habitat in an important wildlife corridor.

That's us! 👋 We are the Palo Alto environmental group.

Queers of a Feather is flocking to Gilroy! 🐦🌈 Join LGBTQ+ community members and allies on Oct 11 for a joyful day of birding, nature, and connection. No experience necessary!

Mark your calendars for October 6 (tonight!), November 5, and December 4, because it's supermoon season. We've got the Hunter's Moon, the Beaver Moon, and the Cold Moon respectively. 🏹🌝

Everyone in every Bay Area neighborhood deserves access to the life-giving benefits of trees. Think cleaner air, cooler temperatures, and improved mental and physical health. That’s tree equity! And who better to break it down for us than Canopy's Teen Urban Foresters? https://bit.ly/4nJAAVz

From Golden Gate Park to the South Bay hills, coyote sightings are becoming more common. Conservation scientist Dr. Christine Wilkinson shares research about coyote behavior and insights into how our species can safely coexist. Watch the recorded webinar here: https://bit.ly/425at3g

🎵 Get your motor runnin' ... head out on the highway! 🎶 Check out these daytrip recs along scenic Highway 9, a mountainous, tree-lined thoroughfare with plenty of nature-y stops along the way. https://openspacetrust.org/blog/highway-9/

This rain is unseasonal but is it "earthquake weather?" Earthquakes happen pretty evenly regardless of weather. Big shifts in air pressure from storms like typhoons and hurricanes can sometimes lead to tiny earthquakes in Earth's crust but these are statistically insignificant. So short answer? No🤪

Today is officially the first day of fall, but we're still experiencing some of that toasty summer-like weather. Don’t let the heat keep you stuck inside! 🌞 Check out these six beautiful local places, and enjoy nature! savemountdiablo.org/blog/6-east-...

🥾 How do YOU use local trails? A 2-year regional study led by the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network asked just that—and the findings are in. POST was proud to be part of this effort! https://bit.ly/3ICDgFw

🚴‍♂️ Join us, @greenfoothills and partners on Sept 13 for a community bike ride through Coyote Valley! Explore how this unique landscape connects over one million acres of core habitat while supporting vital environmental functions. 🌿 Register now! https://bit.ly/47CyDpl #CoyoteValleyBikeTour

Isn't it fascinating that a simple acorn holds everything needed to sprout a majestic oak tree? 🌳 As a vital food source for a variety of wildlife, acorns play a crucial role in California's oak ecosystems. This life-sustaining harvest begins each September when they ripen and fall to the ground.

The CZU and SCU Lightning Complex fires of 2020 were an intense, often harrowing part of our region’s recent history, and their impact on our open spaces is still unfolding. The good news? Nature is rebounding like a pro. Here's where you can get outdoors in the Bay Area and see for yourself!

Happy World Conservation Day! 🌲 CAL FIRE’s Demonstration State Forests protect California’s diverse plants, animals & fungi—and serve as living labs for sustainable forest management. Celebrate with our retro-style coloring page! 🎨👇 bit.ly/WNCDpostcard #WorldConservationDay #Conservation

At 7 p.m. on a Thursday, your brain deserves more than feeling mushy and fatigued from an endless scroll spiral. On 7/24, join us for an energizing look at how prescribed burns, traditional knowledge, and science all shape the future of California’s forests.

Shh... what’s that sound? A sudden shake, a soft slither, a stunning species that's seriously misunderstood. Rattlesnakes may startle, but they’re shy guys at heart. Stay alert, step with care, and share the trail—these scaly serpents just want space, not showdowns.

The Forest Management Educational hike is this Sunday, the 20th. Sign up today! 🌲🌳💖

Looking for more ways to get out in nature before the end of July? (Client) @postlandtrust.bsky.social has several upcoming events that you won't want to miss. Click the link below for more info: openspacetrust.org/events/ #ExploreNature #BayAreaHikes #ConservationMatters #GetOutside

For 1,200 years, this monumental redwood has stood watch while the world around it transformed. It’s seen wildfire, multiple waves of colonization, the advent of cars, the reshaping of entire landscapes, and more. If you're ever in San Mateo County, you can see its ancient splendor up close!

Decades of fire suppression, hotter temperatures, and development in fire-prone areas have fueled today’s megafires. Learn how we got here, what it means for those of us here in the Bay Area, and what we can do to reduce risk and build resilience.

While it's sweltering in the South Bay, it's still windbreaker weather in San Francisco. These hikes are worth the drive—from breezy coastal trails to hidden forest gems, all packed into one walkable city. Stretch your legs, see the sights, and sweat from exertion (not just existing)!

This is one of the reasons I love living in San Benito County. #birds #birding #birdwatching #wildlife #NPS #Californiastateparks #sanbenitocounty 🪶

A moment of magic at the Methuselah Tree for your Monday … (Photo: Orenda Randuch)

ATTN: Land trust staff and board members! Apply for our online course "Empowering Land Trusts to Engage Online Audiences: Content Creation for Nature" with @michellefullner.bsky.social. Learn more & apply by July 18: bit.ly/4058haD This program is generously funded by @calconservation.bsky.social

What’s the relationship status between fire and forests? It’s complicated! Join POST on Thursday, July 24 for an online event at 7 p.m. to learn more. From traditional ecological knowledge to climate-smart forest management, this one-hour webinar will explore fire's role in healthy ecosystems.

Bookmark this article for the next heat wave. Pairing dinner with a summer breeze makes all the difference when it's too hot to turn on the stove. These scenic, no-fuss spots in the South Bay—complete with trails, shade, and accessible amenities—will be a balm for the scorching days ahead. 🌞

We put together a list of 5 Bay Area parks where you can explore the magic of trees—plus a fun, free Tree Explorer’s Handbook to spark kids' curiosity on the trail. They'll learn about everything from dendrochronology to forest stewardship. 🌳 Check it out: openspacetrust.org/blog/bay-are...

Coyotes using culverts like… 👀🐾 This dog-shaped creature is a coyote, but what the heck is a culvert?! These roadside tunnels promote drainage and serve as safe passageways for wildlife! In Coyote Valley, culverts help animals cross roads and roam between the Santa Cruz Mountains and Diablo Range.

Summer’s short—and strawberry season’s even shorter. 🍓 Don’t miss your chance to support San Mateo County’s incredible farms while the harvest is still sun-kissed and sweet. These outings are family-friendly, full of flavor, and rich with opportunities to learn where your food comes from.

🌈 Pride in the outdoors? Let's go! POST’s Megan Nguyen co-leads Queers of a Feather with Bay Area community orgs. Occurring ~6x per year, this birding event is for LGBTQ+ folks and allies to get outside and build belonging. FYI: Meg's "spark bird" is a chicken! 🐣 Read more at @kqednews.kqed.org

Looking for an engrossing summer read with a conservationist twist? Check out the twenty titles below nominated by our science-savvy staff. It includes books by @sabs.bsky.social, @kateschapira.bsky.social, @zoeschlanger.bsky.social, @bengoldfarb.bsky.social, and more!

Meet our oldest recyclers—this one in chocolate flavor. 🍫👀 Slime molds have been on Earth for a billion years—long before plants or animals. Non-edible Chocolate Tube Slime like this is a forest-floor fungus starting as a gooey white blob before sprouting dark, spiky tubes for spreading its spores.