About Santa Rosa Plateau Visitor Center
The Santa Rosa Plateau, at an average elevation of 2,000 feet, is located at the southern end of the Santa Ana Mountains in southwestern Riverside County, California. Ancient oak woodlands, rare bunchgrass prairie and endangered vernal pool wetlands are a few of the six distinct habitat types that reside on this land located less than 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
The Plateau’s mild climate made the area ideal habitat for people, beginning thousands of years ago with the arrival of Native Americans. Ancestors of the local American Indians, known today as the Luiseno, harvested and hunted the many plants and animals that are still found on the land today. This hunting and gathering way of life came to an end on the Plateau with the establishment of the missions.
Location
39400 Clinton Keith Rd., Murrieta, CA 92562
(951)-677-6951
Reserve Hours
Visitor Center
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.┃Tuesday - Saturday
Trails
7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.┃No dogs allowed on trails.
Reserve Fees
$6 per adult and $3 per child
Outdoor Nature Education
The Reserve offers a number of interpretive programs and trail walks. Horseback riding and mountain biking are popular activities in the Sylvan Meadows Multi-Use Area of the Plateau.
Third-Grade Field Trips
2024-25 3rd Grade Field Trip Online Registration opens at 4:00pm on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. The online registration tab will not be active prior to this date and time. Registration will close on Saturday, September 7, 2024 or earlier once the field trip calendar is filled.
Riverside County public schools may schedule a 3 hour field trip to the Ecological Reserve. The program offers an enriching nature education display and includes a walk through plant communities recovering from the 2019 Tenaja fire. The field trip focuses on plateau geology, animal and plant life adaptations, and the human history of the area.
- One teacher handles all 3rd grade registration per school.
- ADA and special needs students welcome.
- Field trips run October – May, Tuesday – Friday,
from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Student Fee is $10 each.
- In March & April, only 1 field trip per school is permitted, use other months for additional dates.
- 60 students maximum per field trip (new)
- No fee for teachers, student aides, and 3 chaperones per class.
- Maximum 3 chaperones per class. No families may attend.
- One bus per field trip date is reimbursed.
Online 3rd Grade Field Trip Registration Tips:
- School address and school office phone number
- Total student count of all third graders
- For each field trip (maximum 60 students) provide 3 optional dates. Do not repeat these dates for additional field trips
- Provide each teacher’s name and their accurate email for each field trip
- Provide class student count for each teacher
- Although one bus is reimbursed for each field trip, if an additional bus is needed for student’s mobility issues, please reach out to staff prior to the field trip.
A Message to Teachers
The links below are tools for educators to use before a visit to the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve. They are designed to help introduce some of the subjects and concepts to students as they prepare for their visit. These materials adapt well for post Reserve visit use too.
Each of five animal packets includes a Teacher Guide, an Animal Letter and a photo. The Teacher Guide includes a vocabulary list, suggested questions and activities complimenting California’s Third Grade Science Curriculum.
The ‘Animal Letters’ are a fun way to introduce students to some of the important safety lessons and ecological concepts that they will encounter during their visit to the Reserve. Each letter is “written” by an animal representative. The Animal Letters incorporate the four different habitats that students will experience on their hike – woodland, grassland, riparian wetland and chaparral. The vocabulary used in each letter is also chosen from state science standards curriculum and will prepare students for their visit.
We encourage teachers to use any or all of these teaching tools. Introducing students to the Plateau in the classroom will help students better appreciate their experience on the Reserve’s trails!
Western Pond Turtle : Letter 1
Western Fence Lizard: Letter 2
Acorn Woodpecker: Letter 3
Tarantula: Letter 4
Mule Deer: Letter 5
Suggested Field Trip Timeline & Tips for Success
Group Trips
Scout groups, home schools, private schools, high schools, colleges, and groups may schedule a 3 hour field trip to the Ecological Reserve. The program offers an enriching nature education display and includes a walk through plant communities recovering from the Tenaja fire of 2019. The field trip focuses on plateau geology, animal and plant life adaptations, and the human history of the area.
Field trips are for guests ages 8 years and older on Tuesdays-Saturdays. A minimum of 20 guests per group is required.
Fee is $10 per participant.
Remember what to bring!
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Long pants
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Closed-toed shoes
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Sun protection/hat
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Jacket/Layer of clothing
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Eat breakfast & bring water
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3-4 Chaperones per class
E-mail: [email protected]
