McCarthy Blue Oak Ranch Preserve
Located five miles north of Springville, SRT's McCarthy Blue Oak Ranch Preserve is a magnificent 908-acre nature preserve nestled among substantial public lands, including Giant Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia National Park and the Sequoia National Forest. This preserve is open to the public weekends from dawn to dusk.
The preserve includes rolling blue oak woodland, chaparral, and the headwaters of Sycamore Creek. Located within the Tule River area, this magnificent nature preserve protects an important corridor of habitat between the foothills and higher elevation riparian areas for rare mammals like the Pacific fisher and for songbirds like the Swainson's thrush and black swift as they migrate between their summer and winter ranges.
The pond at Blue Oak
Conservation Stewardship Plan
What to do if you'd like to visit SRT's Blue Oak Ranch Preserve
908 acres of blue oaks and wildflower
Sequoia Riverlands Trust purchased the land for the Springville area nature preserve in 2005. It is located just across the road from the venerable Clemmie Gill School of Science and Conservation (SCICON). In 2019, Blue Oak Ranch Preserve was named in honor of former SRT Executive Director Soapy Mulholland, who retired in December of that year and was instrumental in the establishment of the preserve during her tenure. By working with neighbors and the local community, SRT has developed a long-term conservation plan whose vision includes sustainable grazing as a land management tool.
The site is open each weekend, sunrise to sunset.
Blue Oak Ranch, northeast of Springville, is located near Scicon. Trails are under construction, and catch-and-release fishing for members is also allowed on some open days. The Springville Archery Club has a set-up for practicing and often does demonstrations on open days.
Photo Permit Program
Learn more about SRT’s Photo Permit program for professional photographers.
Sequoia Riverlands Trust is a nonprofit organization whose priority is to keep our preserves open to the public. There is no fee to visit our preserves, but visitor donations help us maintain these spaces for generations to come.
Donations can be online or left in the onsite secure donation box.
Reserve A Preserve
You can now reserve a picnic area at our beautiful Kaweah Oaks Preserve for a delightful outdoor experience.