We have a vision for the ranch – it’s a regional hub for hikers, cyclists, equestrians, naturalists, ecologists, botanists, and birders, for children and adults alike.
Gateway Ranch is now open for the public to enjoy, dawn to dusk, at no charge.
The ranch already has five specific sites that are making all this happen.
A. Native Plant Nursery – to propagate a collection of native plants typical of this location to use in re-vegetation efforts on site and throughout the region.
B. Native Plant Re-vegetation – to use propagated native plants to restore the native vegetation on and around this site.
C. Wildlife Habitat Garden – to illustrate the practical application of using drought tolerant vegetation in residential and commercial landscape projects.
D. The Ed Shed – to help Redlands residents and visitors of all ages explore information about regional ecosystems, the interconnectedness of the natural world and human world, and strategies large and small for stewarding the land and wildlife.
E. Trailhead – to provide a safe staging area for trail users and a safe and inviting access to public trails on City of Redlands’ Herngt ‘Aki’ Preserve and West Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority’s land south of Gateway Ranch.
Today, Volunteers are still the driving force for realizing the mission for Gateway Ranch.
We need your volunteer time:
Help with the native plant nursery
Help with native plant re-vegetation
Help maintain the Forest of the Canyons
Redlands Gateway Ranch history and details
The Redlands Gateway Ranch site at 31313 Live Oak Canyon Road had been the Otis Hudson Family ranch since the 1950s. A site of 167 acres in total, the property was purchased with grants from the Wildlife Conservation Board (state agency), West Riverside County Regional Conservation Authority, Rivers and Lands Conservancy, and City of Redlands.
Official project statement: The Redlands Gateway Ranch project mission is “to instill in Redlands’ residents and visitors a sense of stewardship for Redlands’ wild places.” The mission advocates that we Protect Habitat (monitoring, barriers, patrols), Restore Habitat (education, research, native plant management), and Steward Habitat (trails, education, native plant management). We will expand residents’ and visitors’ understanding of and enthusiasm for native vegetation, wildlife habitat and corridors, and the synergistic relationship that exists between human life and wildlife on Redlands’ natural open spaces.
Our Progress!
