Where do we meet?    Our hikes take place on two properties within the Sutter Buttes.  One is a 5,000-acre ranch on the mountain's west side, the other is 300-acres on the north.  For hikes onto the first ranch we meet in Yuba City, for the property on the north we meet in Live Oak.  When you register for a hike you will be given directions and time to meet to the appropriate gathering location.

When do we pay?   For simplicity sake we collect hike fees at the meeting site just prior to an outing, checks are preferable to cash.

Is there room for us?   Our hikes are full at 30 participants, we do not have a waiting list.  Since hikes filling up a month ahead of time, it is important to register early.


Are there restrooms?  Restrooms are available at both Yuba City and Live Oak meeting sites.  Also there are porta-potties at the trail heads for all our hikes.

What should I bring on a hike?  Our hikes take up most of a day, so be sure to bring the basics: lunch, water and  hat. As with any outdoor activity you will need to factor in weather conditions, so depending on the day you may need to bring warm clothing or ways to stay cool.  Water is important particularly later in the year when the weather warms up.  We suggest you bring a minimum of two quarts of water on a hike, three if it is going to be a hot day.   Most of the places we walk there are no trails, so a good pair of hiking shoes (boots) is important.  Tragically, about thirty years ago a rancher in the Buttes thought it would be a great idea to introduce pigs in order to hunt them.  Now there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of pigs in the Buttes.  Therefore most of the places we trek we walk over areas where swine have dug up the soil in order to find underground food.  This makes walking difficult, and gives even more reason to wear good hiking footwear.

What if it is raining?   Our hikes take place rain or shine.  UNLESS there is a big storm barreling down upon us.  In that case the guide will phone the participants the night before to cancel.  This is more likely in the winter than spring.  Spring storms are more of the showery type.  The day starts out cloudy and dreary, then the sun comes out and perhaps there are showers in the afternoon.  On numerous occasions the National Weather Service has said "80% chance of rain" in the forecast and the day turns out  beautiful.  There are always some inconveniences when going out in nature and with wet weather at least it is cool and the surroundings can be dramatic when clouds and mountains interact.''


Can my Prius make it in?  The roads into the Sutter Buttes are intended for ranching activities, so not the best for cars designed for paved roadways. For the hikes where we meet in Yuba City the road into the Buttes is in pretty good shape.  There is a creek to cross, and low lying cars have been known to scrape bottom a little.  We haven't seen any damage to them however.  For the hikes that gather in Live Oak, the road into the Buttes has some large pot holes, low lying cars will have to maneuver around them.  The Prius' that have made it in have scrapped bottom on several sites, again, no apparent damage.  HOWEVER, if you have a vehicle that is higher off the ground, it is best to take it.  We also encourage car pooling, so for those who have cars that are low to the ground try to go in with someone with a higher clearance vehicle. 

Can I bring my dog on a hike?  Landowners on all the properties that we lead hikes onto do not allow us to have dogs on hikes.

I hear about some lawsuit?    There is a lawsuit filed against State Parks and the landowners on whose property we conduct our hikes on within Peace Valley, on the northern portion of the Buttes.  The lawsuit claims that the 150 year old easement only allows "traditional" uses of the road into and out of the properties. Traditional uses being traveling on the road to farm crops or tend animals. The plaintiffs  claim that traveling on the easement in order to access property to conduct our hikes is  not allowed under the terms of the "historic" easement.  We are confident these landowners do not have a case and that we have every right travel the road to lead hikes within the Buttes.  The litigants also fear that their farming operation is threatened if they were to apply pesticides while vehicle were traveling past their almond orchards.  Yet pesticide application is an occasional undertaking, and in the rare instance where a tractor sprayer and vehicles coincide, it is common courtesy for the tractor driver to briefly shut off the nozzles  while vehicles pass.  We believe the real reason that neighboring landowners have filed the lawsuit is that they simply do not like the idea of the State of California being a neighbor and are grasping straws to find any reason to keep people out of the State Park.  Despite intimidation from some of these landowners the Yuba Historical Society has always been respectful.  We drive  slowly and  stay as a group on our way in and out.  Actually we seldom  see anyone in the orchards when we drive through.  If these property owners had a valid concern we would be willing to work with them.  However claims against us are false and concerns raised are not what any reasonable person would consider an issue.

 Read  the Appeal Democrat article on the lawsuit.
 Read  the February 15, 2009 Appeal Democrat newspaper article about whether or not the road going in is considered a public road.
 Read  the lawsuit filed in Sutter County Superior Court.