Back to nature: Canoes head down Putah Creek

A new guided canoe program debuts Saturday, March 30, at Lake Solano Park west of Winters. Volunteers Cathi Christo and Barbara Cooper will lead the tour from 8:45 a.m. to noon.

Visitors are invited to discover the wonders of Putah Creek on this adventure, which offers an opportunity to relax, explore, learn and enjoy the arrival of spring.

“Nature reveals something new and magical with every bend in the river,” Cooper said in a news release. “With each paddle stroke, your daily worries drift away. The play of light and the ripples of river breezes dancing across the surface of the water are a relaxing and peaceful experience and shouldn’t be missed.”

To ensure a friendly, personal experience, the trip is limited to just 10 guests in five park-owned canoes (two people per canoe). Children ages 8 and older are welcome if accompanied by an adult.

Volunteers will provide basic safety and paddling instructions before the tour, then guests will spend the next few hours learning about life along the river and the special riparian forest that grows along its banks. Visitors may observe great blue herons, egrets, cormorants, ducks, geese and perhaps a shy muskrat or river otter.

Participants may want to bring water, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and paddling gloves. They probably will get wet, so a change of clothes is recommended. For those who want to take pictures, a dry bag (double ziplock bags work well) or water-tight container is suggested to keep cameras dry.

Reservations are required. Reserve your spot online at tinyurl.com/canoelakesolano. Lake Solano Park is at 8685 Pleasants Valley Road, near Winters. Guests should arrive by 8:45 a.m. to pay the fees of $5 per vehicle (payable on the east/day-use side of the park) and the special rate of $10 per rental canoe for the three-hour trip (payable at the Nature Center office on the west/camping side of the park). Paddles and life jackets are included with the rental.

For questions in advance, contact Cooper at supper_ace@sbcglobal.net or 530-867-0435. For same-day information, call the Nature Center office at 530-795-2990.

Guests are welcome to bring a lunch and stay for a picnic after the program, and they can camp at Lake Solano Park as well. Tent and RV campsites are rented on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information on Solano County Parks and the fun, educational opportunities they offer, visit www.solanocounty.com/parks.