Field Trip at Daly City Dunes | Daly City

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Leader: Doug Allshouse

Who could imagine a 300-foot deep sand dune system that dates back about 125,000 years 2 miles from the ocean? Located at the mouth of lower Colma Canyon are the Daly City Dunes, a remnant of the Ancient Colma Dune Formation that once stretched from Colma to the Presidio, but now is fragmented by development in western San Francisco and Daly City. A piece of this site is relatively intact and supports a specific ecosystem not usually found at such a distance from the coast. Of great interest is the presence of San Francisco lessingia (Lessingia germanorum) an endangered dune plant now found only in the Presidio and the Dunes, its only known population in San Mateo County. Also present at the dunes is San Francisco spineflower (Chorizanthe cuspidata), dune suncup (Camissonia strigulosa), miniature suncup (Camissoniopsis micrantha), California suncup (Camissoniopsis bistorta), and blue beach lupine (Lupinus chamissonis). There is a population of California pipe vine nearby (Aristolochia californica) which means the sighting of beautiful Pipe Vine Swallowtails (Batus philenor) and their larvae is a distinct possibility. Wear sturdy shoes suitable for sand.

Thiers Street intersects Hillside Blvd between the Mission Street/John Daly Blvd intersection and the East Market Street intersection. Meet at the Hilldale School at the junction of Thiers and Florence Streets. Contact Doug at dougsr228@comcast.net, text or call 415-269-9967 if you have questions or need directions.

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