Vernal Pool Public Tours

Our FREE vernal pool public tours are coming back in 2018! Registration is open. Tours sold out very quickly last year, so register soon!

Vernal Pool Critter Walks

Sunday, March 4 – 10 AM to 12 PM & 1 PM to 3 PM
Sundary, March 11 - 10 AM to 12 PM & 1 PM to 3 PM
Sunday, March 18 – 10 AM to 12 PM & 1 PM to 3 PM

Vernal Pool Flower Walks

Sunday, April 15 - 10 AM to 12 PM & 1 PM to 3 PM
Sunday, April 22 - 10 AM to 12 PM & 1 PM to 3 PM

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F.A.Q.

Can I go see the vernal pools by myself?

No, the Mather Field vernal pools are now part of a preserve set up by the county and entry without official guidance is prohibited.

Are the tours really free?

Yes, all vernal pool public tours are completely free. If you’d like to support Splash’s environmental science programs for schoolchildren, you can make a tax-deductible donation through Eventbrite when registering.

How long are the tours?

Vernal pool tours last approximately 2 hours.

Are tours canceled due to rain?

No, tours run rain or shine.

Do I need to bring anything?

You will be walking over uneven ground in direct sun or possibly rain. Please come prepared with sturdy walking shoes, long pants, rain gear, and/or sunscreen & sun hats.

Are the tours wheelchair accessible?

Certain areas of the preserve are wheelchair accessible, please email us at events@sacsplash.org, and we will do our best to accommodate you.

How many people may I bring with me?

Tickets are limited to 2 adults and 3 kids per household. If you have more than 2 adults and/or 3 kids in your household, please contact us at events@sacsplash.org.

I want to bring my friends, how do I get more tickets?

We’d love for you to invite your friends to experience the vernal pools. Please have each of them register their own households separately from each other. This system allows us to keep better track of attendance and cancellations.

Do you offer any other free public tours besides the ones listed?

No, due to the nature of the vernal pool ecosystem, the months of March and April are the best apt for public touring. In previous years, we added additional tours to accommodate people on the waitlist, our ability to do that in the future depends on staff and volunteer availability. If you would like to be informed of any new public events, please join our newsletter.

I made a mistake while registering on Eventbrite, what do I do?

If you made a mistake while registering (wrong name, phone number, address, wrong number of adults and/or children, etc.), please send us an email at events@sacsplash.org with your name, tour date, and the mistake you made so we can fix it on our end.

How do I cancel my reservation?

If you cannot honor your reservation, please free up your space for someone on the waitlist by canceling your reservation as early as possible.

Do you offer private tours?

We offer private tours during January, February, March, April and June. If you would like more information, please click here.

Are there other vernal pools in our region I could go look at?

Yes, there are multiple vernal pool areas in California. To see a list, click here.

I would like to help out, how can I volunteer?

If you are passionate about local ecosystems and wildlife and would like to volunteer your time to help us provide visitors with an awesome experience at Splash. Shoot us an email at events@sacsplash.org. 

I have a special situation, who can I talk to about it?

Email events@sacsplash.org with any inquiries not addressed above. Please allow 72 hours to receive a response.