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Passport to California: Randall Preserve

Join TNC California for a cozy autumn weekend in the Tehachapi Mountains and stay at a unique family-run ranch next to TNC’s Randall Preserve.

Scenic views of the rolling green hills and oak trees of the Tollhouse Ranch located in the heart of the Tehachapi corridor, California.
Tehachapi Corridor Scenic views of the rolling green hills and oak trees of the Tollhouse Ranch located in the heart of the Tehachapi corridor, California. Over the last four years, a consortium of landowners and conservation groups has worked to protect a vital 50-mile wildlife corridor through the Tehachapi range. And last year, when the Conservancy purchased the 15,000-acre Tollhouse Ranch, the deal secured the final link in a 270,000-acre ecological corridor that joins the vast ecosystems to the east, west, north and south. © Ian Shive

The Frank and Joan Randall Preserve 

Four-Day, Three-Night Tour

October 13th 2023 - October 16th 2023

Event Overview

Join TNC California for a cozy autumn weekend in the Tehachapi Mountains and stay at a unique family-run ranch next to TNC’s Randall Preserve. Our four-day, three-night tour includes hiking, horseback riding, a driving tour, and educational talks with TNC preserve staff Zach Principe and Rachel Mason. The Randall Preserve is a critical lifeline for hundreds of species, including some of our state’s most iconic, like the black bear, mountain lion, bobcat and endangered California condor. Experience it firsthand and understand why this region will become more important than ever in the face of climate change.

aerial view of fog on the Randall Preserve.
Randall Preserve Clouds pour over the snow-covered Bear Mountain as the sun rises in Tehachapi, California. © Tyler Schiffman

Experience The Frank & Joan Randall Preserve

The Tehachapi foothills have long been a lifeline for nature and people on the move. Just one hundred miles north of Los Angeles, this vast stretch of land is a critical link in a wildlife corridor that spans from Mexico to Alaska. The preserve property is also home to one of the seven railroad wonders of the world, the Tehachapi Loop, which allows trains to climb the terrain's steep grade. This elevational gradient is one of the things that makes this geography so important for climate resilience. 

At over 70,000 acres, the Randall Preserve is TNC’s largest preserve in California and it positions our organization to realize some of our most ambitious goals in connecting ecosystems across the state. 

Stay at Rankin Ranch

For the last five decades, the Rankin’s have opened the ranch to nature lovers from around the world.

Rankin Ranch Rec Room.
Horseback riders on Rankin Ranch.
Cattle on Rankin Ranch with mountain in the background.
Hay tractor on Rankin Ranch.

Rankin Ranch is the perfect location in a peaceful mountain valley. Fall foliage with the changing of colors creates a special time of the year to visit the ranch. With daytime temperatures ranging in the mid-70s and cool nights, it is a beautiful time of year to horseback ride in the meadows and experience the oak-covered hills. 

Meet TNC Staff

Headshot of Zach Principe.
Zachary Principe The Nature Conservancy employee Zachary Principe on Tollhouse Ranch in Caliente, CA. Tollhouse Ranch is protected by The Nature Conservancy. © JENNA SCHOENEFELD.

Zach Principe

Zachary has spent his entire career focused on the conservation and management of California’s diverse and inspiring natural resources. He started as an intern working for TNC at the Santa Rosa Plateau in 1995 after receiving a B.S. in Ecology from the University of Arizona. After completing his M.S. in Biology at San Diego State University, he worked as an ecologist for TNC, focused on conservation planning to support the protection and management of lands in southern California. Currently, Zachary works as a Stewardship Project Manager focused on managing and expanding TNC’s portfolio of conservation lands in southern California, with most of his time spent establishing the new Tehachapi Preserve.

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Headshot of Rachel Mason.
Rachel Mason Rachel is the Tehachapi Preserve Associate for The Nature Conservancy in the Tehachapi Mountains area of California. © Deeksha Prakash Photography

Rachel Mason

Rachel Mason is the Tehachapi Preserve Associate for The Nature Conservancy in the Tehachapi Mountains area of California. In April, she moved from Minnesota where she previously managed reforestation for TNC after beginning her career as a forester in Washington protecting streams, soils and endangered birds. Rachel is excited to play a part in creating a world more resilient to climate change through protection and restoration. She is currently focused on building relationships with TNC’s partners and improving the security and ecological function of our properties. 

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Browse 4 Day, 3 Night Itinerary 

Friday

3:00 PM - Check in at Rankin Ranch. Explore the grounds and get settled.

5:30 PM -   Official welcome! Haywagon Ride and Meadow BBQ Dinner. 

Saturday

9:00 AM - Begin your day horseback riding!

12:00 PM - Group lunch on the terrace at Rankin Ranch.

1:30 PM - Spend your afternoon on a scenic driving tour around the Randall Preserve.

5:00 PM Evening patio party!

6:00 PM - Dinner and fireside chat with Zach Principe, Director of The Randall Preserve and Rachel Mason, Preserve Associate. 

Sunday

9:00 AM - Group excursion day! 

  • We will head off in 4WD vehicles to explore more of The Randall Preserve. This day includes a combination of hiking, a driving tour, and a picnic lunch on the Preserve.

6:00 PM - Final dinner with the group and TNC staff. 

Monday

10:00 AM After breakfast, we will pack up and check out.

11:00 AM Optional stop to see the Historic Train Loop on your way out of town.

Reserve Your Spot Now!

Register Here!
The Frank and Joan Randall Preserve (3:21) Welcome to the Frank and Joan Randall Preserve at the Tehachapi Mountains. At over 70,000 acres, the preserve is TNC’s largest preserve in California. Just one hundred miles north of downtown Los Angeles, this vast stretch of land is a critical link in a wildlife corridor.