Slide Ranch is free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset. No fees are required, though donations to support our mission are always welcome.

No! We appreciate the sentiment, but our animals are on a carefully balanced nutrition plan and food from the public can be harmful to them. Feeding wild animals is equally hazardous to both the health and welfare of the wild animal and to the safety to other visitors if wild animals begin to equate people with food sources. Please review our Visitor Guidelines for more information.

Dogs and all pets are strictly prohibited at Slide Ranch. Please leave yours at home for their safety and the safety of our domestic and wild animals.

Service animals are permitted as directed by law but must remain on leash.

It depends! If you and your family are coming to roam about and are simply interested in bringing a picnic lunch to share with each other during your visit, that is absolutely allowed and no reservations or bookings are required. PLEASE remember to pack out ALL trash, recyclables, food waste. If you are interested in access to any buildings (including our Yurt) then you must rent that facility. Please note there are no buildings at Slide Ranch that are generally open to the public.

Please review our Visitor Guidelines before your visit. Visit our events/rentals page for information or renting spaces at Slide Ranch.

Please be advised that several roads that lead to Slide Ranch have vehicle restrictions due to the narrow and winding nature of Shoreline Highway (HWY 1) and Panoramic Highway.

Vehicles over 30’ are prohibited from Panoramic Highway. Vehicles in excess of 40’ are prohibited along Highway 1. These are bumper to bumper measures. District map.

We have had busses up to 40’ bring programs to our site. Please be advised that busses of this side do have difficulty turning into our parking area and generally must travel very slowly along Hwy1 due to the winding road conditions.

There are many ways to be involved at Slide Ranch! You can join one of our volunteer days, become a docent, bring your company for an off-site workday, donate to support our mission, and much more! Visit our get involved page for more information or contact us if you have more questions.

The weather along the coast can be ever changing! This is part of what makes our coast a wonderfully diverse ecosystem, but can also pose a challenge for visitors and school groups.

We always recommend dressing in layers so you can be prepared if the fog rolls in/out or the wind picks up.

On rainy days wear a raincoat over those warm layers, rain pants (if you have them), and rain boots. Avoid cotton clothing - it takes a long time to dry and loses its ability to insulate when wet. Wool is an excellent option!

Field Trip programs run fog, rain, or shine. Weather on the coast is highly localized, can change quickly, and often varies throughout the Bay Area. On very rare occasions, on the morning of a program or just prior depending on forecasts, our staff may determine that extremely inclement weather requires canceling. If this happens, we will reach out to the program as early as possible. If there is any question the morning of a program, it is best to reach out to our Director of Programs or Program Coordinator directly.

If our staff cancels the program, you are eligible for rescheduling or a full refund.

Cancellations made when we believe it is safe to deliver programs are not eligible for a refund. If we are able to reschedule within the same season, we will do our best to do so. More details can be found here.

We have one ADA parking spot within the main ranch, across from our Farm to Table Teaching Center. We have an ADA accessible restroom and porta potty available onsite. We advise calling ahead so we know to expect you since general visitor parking is before the main ranch. 

Slide Ranch is an unpaved ranch environment. Our trails, garden paths, and animal enclosures all consist of uneven, sloping terrain, often muddy or soft ground during the winter season, and may be challenging to access for visitors with significant mobility restrictions. If you have specific concerns regarding accessibility at Slide Ranch, please contact us at 415.381.6155.

Slide Ranch is a Park Partner and NPS may be able to loan beach wheelchairs. Visitors interested in this accommodation would need to reach out directly to NPS at Stinson Beach and arrange for pick-up/drop-off.

Like much of the surrounding Mt. Tam Watershed, there are many ticks at Slide Ranch. Not all ticks carry diseases that concern humans, but some do. If you would like to learn more about prevention, detection, or what to do if you find a tick, click here.

Poison oak is present along our trails and walkways. Poison hemlock is present throughout the ranch. Avoid handling any plants you cannot positively identify as safe.

Yellow jackets may be present, especially near the ground or food areas. Do not disturb nests and notify ranch staff if you suspect a nest.

Loose gravel and uneven footing on our driveway and trails may present a hazard to some visitors. Encourage walking feet for program participants. Sturdy footwear is advised.

Be aware of your surroundings and report any hazards to ranch staff if you notice them.

All of us here at Slide Ranch are aware of and monitoring the spread of Bird Flu in California. Our staff has been educated on the signs of illness to look out for in all of our animals and we have a plan in place to isolate, monitor, or put down (if necessary) any animals we become concerned about. We have protocols in place to keep our animals, visitors, and staff as safe as possible. 

The best practice for all visitors coming into contact with any of our animals at Slide Ranch is to thoroughly wash hands before and after spending time in our barn or coops areas. Throughout our school field trips students can expect to be washing their hands often! So far the number of cases of bird flu in small flocks in California has been minimal and while the risk at Slide Ranch is low, we are remaining vigilant to ensure we can keep our flocks and our visitors and staff safe.