Painting by Carlo Carlucci

Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve

The Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve (www.mareislandpreserve.org) is a 215 acre parcel located at the south end of Mare Island on land that formerly served as the U.S. Navy's first Naval Ammunition Depot. Founded in 1857, the property has been off-limits to the public until recently due to past sensitive Navy munitions storage and transport operations and more recent environmental cleanup. The property was granted by the State of California Lands Commission to the City of Vallejo for development as a park in 2002. Although the first phase of the Preserve is still generally closed, we are excited that Arc Ecology volunteers now open 98 acres of the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve for Second Saturday Access each month from 9am-5pm in the winter and longer hours spring, summer and fall. Other occasional guided outings and tours are given by local non-profit groups. Arc Ecology hosts Mare Island Star Parties at the Preserve on a regular basis. The Preserve includes the oldest naval cemetery in the Pacific, founded in 1858. A 1.2 mile roadway leads to the hilltop vistapoint where barring fog, the visitor may view 7 Bay Area counties, Mt. Diablo, Mt. Tamalpais and the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. For outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs, photographers and artists, the southern "original" hill and shoreline of Mare Island is a unique attraction. Plan to hike the south shore of Mare Island, the former Naval Ammunition Depot and participate in other tours, outings and events throughout the year hosted by the Sierra Club-Solano Group and Arc Ecology through their arrangements for guided access to the site with the U.S. Navy and the City of Vallejo. To subscribe to our e-newsletter, email us or call 707-649-9464, 707-557-9816. Click here to download our newsletter update and calendar of outings and events.

Learn about the future plans and how you can be a part of developing this newest of our regional parks by clicking on the Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve Proposal Narrative.
Download the entire Taskforce recommendations submitted to the Vallejo City Council in December of 2007.

Directions:
From main entrance Tennessee and Mare Island Way, cross the Napa River on Wichels Causeway. Turn at first left onto Nimitz Ave. Continue on Nimitz to 15th St. Turn right. Continue one block to Railroad Ave. Turn left. Continue to gate at deadend of Railroad Ave. where carpools will form.
From Hwy 37 Mare Island exit, continue on Walnut Ave. to stop sign at G St. Turn left. Continue past flashing stoplight one block to Nimitz Ave. Turn left and follow directions above.
For onboard navigation systems and web directions, use 17th Street and Railroad Ave. Vallejo CA 94592, continuing approximately 3 blocks to the deadend of Railroad Ave.

Important Reminders for Your Visit!The Preserve is not yet developed as a park, so you will be visiting it with an escorting non-profit organization and their representative. We suggest that you download the newsletter and calendar above, print it and use it for a guide when planning to visit. For example, bring snacks and drinks, a comfortable camp chair, binoculars, a scope, and/or a camera if you have them. Dress in layers as the weather can be windy, sunny, hot, cool, foggy and rainy. Only heavy rain cancels any scheduled outing. Access as a group through a locked gate.
Call Myrna at 707-249-9633 if you get lost or are delayed.  

Photographs by John Klycinski

Sierra Club Hikes Spring, Summer and Fall

Photograph by John Klycinski

Sierra Club-Solano Group hike leader Kenn Browne guides hikes along the southshore following the Napa River/Mare Island Strait to its convergence with San Pablo Bay and the Carquinez Strait at Pier 35. Walk under nests of great blue herons and ospreys perched high above on abandoned light poles and pass by the oldest munitions storage magazines on the Island, which celebrated their 150th anniversary in 2007. The 4 mile roundtrip hike is on level paved and dirt roads in an area slated for regional parklands but not yet open to the the public. For more information call Kenn at 707-319-1846. Spring dates are Saturdays, April 19, May 17 and June 14.

 

Outings, Tours and Events Hosted by Arc Ecology

Photograph by John Klycinski

Myrna Hayes, Arc Ecology's volunteer north bay projects manager guides outings to the proposed regional park hilltop and cemetery areas on the second Saturday of each month thru January 2009. Times vary with season starting earlier and staying later as the spring and summer progress. See downloadable calendar for actual times. Plans continue to create a regional park here, but it is not currently open to the public except through these guided outings. We plan to launch an e-newsletter with more specifics: email us to subscribe to our e-newsletter or call 707-649-9464 or 707-557-9816.