Redlands Conservancy’s Trails at 10 Fall Series of Trail Excursions opens Saturday, October 9 at 10am with an outing on The Bluffs Trail, Redlands Heritage Trail #7.  Part of the future Santa Ana River Trail, The Bluffs Trail follows the Santa Ana River wash along Riverview Drive and features outstanding views of the San Bernardino Mountains.

“We have a full schedule of activities for this first event,” said Redlands Conservancy Executive Director Sherli Leonard.  “The main feature is Redlands’ participation in the Inner-Coastal & Watershed Clean-Up Day which helps us understand where our trash goes.”

This will be the third time the Conservancy has joined with Trails 4 All to clean up the watershed that feeds into the ocean.  Leonard said the Conservancy’s Youth Corps and the Between the Tides Club at Redlands High School will present a brief program to help participants understand the impact trash has on the integrity of the ocean and on the ocean’s birds and fish.

For the clean up, participants will organize into teams of 4 or 5 and will receive trash collection bags, gloves, and record-keeping cards to keep track of how much and what kind of trash they collect.  The City of Redlands will provide a roll-off to collect the trash to take to the landfill.

The North Redlands Visioning Committee, which volunteers to maintain The Bluffs Trail, will participate in the event with volunteers and an information booth.  Also on hand will be REI Rancho Cucamonga, providing a crew of clean-up volunteers and information about their store and products.

As usual, the Redlands Conservancy will provide a free lunch to the first 50 participants who register before or at the event.

“This time, we have Chef Lee Burton preparing his own creations just for this event,” said Leonard.  “He is working with Washington Produce and The Little Fisherman, both stores in Redlands, to provide sandwiches and salads that you won’t be able to get anywhere else.  It will truly be a remarkable ending to the event.”

The Conservancy will provide jugs of water for participants to fill their own water bottles, and participants are encouraged to wear good shoes and hats.  Children are welcomed and encouraged, and well-behaved leashed dogs are also welcomed.

To make reservations and get more information, call (909) 792-1800.