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China Camp Reserve 

Visitor Center Address

101 Peacock Gap Trail, San Rafael, CA 94901

Directions

From Highway 101 in Marin County, take the North San Pedro Road exit. The park is about 5 miles east on N. San Pedro Road.

Our Partners and Activities at China Camp

China Camp is part of the Bay Area District of California State Parks. State Parks owns and manages the Park and handles all natural resource issues. For more information, please visit the Parks website for China Camp.

Friends of China Camp operates the Park on a daily basis. They manage parking, reservations for camping, day use areas and special events, and lead a variety of naturalist activities. For more information, please visit the FOCC website.

Landscape

China Camp State Park is a 1,640-acre state park located on the southwest shore of San Pablo Bay about three miles northeast of downtown San Rafael in Marin County. The Park protects 100 acres of wetlands (salt marsh, muted tidal brackish marsh, and freshwater marsh), as well as neighboring tidal mudflats, cobble beach and rocky shoreline and the surrounding 1,540 acres of uplands (including grasslands and oak woodlands). The surrounding upland hills of San Pablo Ridge rise steeply from the Bay’s shore, reaching a maximum elevation of about 1,000 feet.

Plants and Animals

A total of more than 140 species of birds, 26 species of mammals, 44 species of fish, and 15 species of reptiles and amphibians have been observed within China Camp (California State Parks 1979). The hills support at least three small groves of coast redwood, in addition to coastal shrub, oak woodlands, and isolated riparian stands. The association of coast live oak forest and tidal marshland is a particular characteristic of this site.

The tidal marshlands at China Camp host several species that are listed as endangered by both the federal and the California State species protection laws, including the Ridgway’s Rail and California Black Rail, as well as the Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse. The site also supports a variety of other species of special status or concern, including golden eagles, peregrine falcons, Northern Harriers, San Francisco Song Sparrows, and Soft Bird’s Beak.

History and Land Stewardship

China Camp was designated as a California State Park in 1978, and a general plan for the property was completed in 1979. China Camp State Park owned by California State Parks (CSP) which is the lead agency for CEQA, CSP provides support for district staff, and retains management of all the natural and cultural resources. Friends of China Camp (FoCC) is the park operator responsible for day-to-day operations. There is an operating agreement between FoCC and California State Parks that defines the roles and responsibilities of the operator and California State Parks. 

Rush Ranch Reserve 

Visitor Center Address

3521 Grizzly Island Road, Suisun City, CA

Directions

From Interstate 80 in Solano County, take the CA 12 East Exit. Drive about 4 miles on Highway 12, then turn right onto Grizzly Island Road. Follow Grizzly Island Road 2.5 miles south then turn right on to the gravel driveway. There is a large sign that says “Rush Ranch”.

Our Partners and Activities at Rush Ranch

Rush Ranch Open Space Preserve is owned and operated by the Solano Land Trust. For information about the Preserve, its history, visiting the Preserve, and more, please visit the Solano Land Trust website for Rush Ranch

Landscape

Rush Ranch Open Space is a 2,070-acre site located on the northern margin of Suisun Marsh in Solano County. The Open Space consists of approximately 1,050 acres of brackish tidal wetlands (old high-elevation marsh), 950 acres of grassland (including the Ranch headquarters), seasonal systems, springs and ponds, and a 70-acre managed wetland.

Plants and Animals

The Suisun Bay, in general, supports a great diversity and large numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as migratory passerines, due to the position of the Suisun Bay and the Pacific Flyway and also due to the conversion of the historical tidal marshlands to diked and intensively managed seasonal wetlands. The brackish tidal marsh at Rush Ranch is exceptionally rich in vegetation as well.

Numerous sensitive species inhabit the Suisun Bay area, many more than are listed here. Threatened, endangered or rare animals include Delta Smelt, Sacramento Splittail, California Black Rail, Salt Marsh Song Sparrow, Suisun Shrew, and California Tiger Salamander. Threatened, endangered or rare plants include Suisun Thistle, Soft Bird’s Beak, Contra Costa Goldfields, and Suisun Marsh Aster.

History and Land Stewardship

Rush Ranch Open Space is part of the land where the Patwin, a southern group of the Wintun people, lived for thousands of years. Throughout the 20th century, the ranch was operated by the Rush family. Rush Ranch was purchased in 1988 by the Solano Land Trust (SLT) through funding provided by the California State Coastal Conservancy. An Enhancement and Management Plan for this area was completed in 1989. In 2014, SLT approved the current Rush Ranch Management Plan.