Saturday, Sept 23 - San Jacinto Mountain - Tram to Round Valley
When: Saturday, Sept 23, 7am to ?
Where: One Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA. 92262
Meeting Location: The Tram at Palm Springs
Cost: Parking $15 car, Tram $30.95
What to Bring: Camera and lenses for wildlife and nature photography, water, snacks, pack a lunch, sun protection.
Leader: Peter Dascalos
We will ride the Tram up to Round Valley on San Jacinto Peak. We will hike about 3 miles.
Details about the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway can be found here.
Check the weather at the upper tram station here.
If you plan to attend, please add yourself to this list.
Sept 3 - Harveston
When: Sunday, Sept 3 at 6:00pm
Where: Harveston Lake, Temecula
Location: Google Map
Cost: 0
What to Bring: Camera, lenses and gear for general photography
Leader: Dan Collins
We will be shooting in and around Harveston Lake
If you plan to attend, please add yourself to this list.
August 11th - Oceanside Pier Sunset Shoot
When: Friday, August 11th 2023, 6:30/7pm
Where: Oceanside Pier
Leader: Meetup
Contact Carol Meena for more details if needed. She will be leaving Murrieta around 5pm, contact if interested in car pooling.
August 12/13 - Perseids Meteor Shower
When: Evening of the Aug 12, morning of Aug 13
Where: Culp Valley Campground, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Location: Google Map
Cost: 0
What to Bring: Camera, lenses and gear for astro and landscape, camping gear, food, etc.
Leader: Peter Dascalos
We will be shooting the Perseids Meteor Shower and Milky Way the evening of Saturday, Aug 12, morning of Sunday, Aug 13. The meteor peak will be around 3:24am Sunday morning. I will be heading out Saturday morning to Culp Valley Campground to get a spot for this event. Join me if you can!!
If you plan to attend, please add yourself to this list.
August 5th - Ramble On at the Ranch Classic Car Show
When: Saturday, August 5th 2023 5pm to 9pm
Where: Vail Headquarters. 32115 Temecula Parkway, Temecula, CA 92592
Leader: Meetup
More details can be found on their Instagram.
Saturday, July 29 - Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
When: Saturday, July 29 at 6:30am to 12pm
Where: 18000 CA-1, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
Meeting Location: The south lot is on Pacific Coast Hwy across from the State Beach.
Cost: Free
What to Bring: Sunscreen, Hat, good walking shoes, Camera with a long lens. You can get some good shots with 200 mm but longer is better, I use 200 to 500 mm.
Leader: Tom O'Keefe
Details: The parking lot is very small and fills up quickly, so carpooling is helpful. It’s a long walk from the other parking lots at the PCH and Warner Road or the state beach. Probable birds to photograph: Pelicans, Egrets, Terns, Ibis, Herons, Hummingbirds and if we are lucky an Osprey.
Nicole Koeltzow, a field ornithologist with the San Diego Museum of Natural History, is planning on joining us.
If you plan to attend, please add yourself here as attending.
Saturday, July 22 - The Safari Park
When: Saturday, July 22, 2023 at 9am
Where: San Diego Zoo Safari Park 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, California 92027-7017
Meeting Location: We will meet at the entrance to the park at 9am.
Cost: $69 for a 1 day pass at the entrance or Online or get in with your Annual Pass
What to Bring: Telephoto lens, comfortable walking shoes, water, snacks, sunscreen, hat.
Leader: John Moya
If you plan to attend, please add yourself here as attending.
Saturday, June 24 - Santa Rosa Plateau
When: Saturday, June 24 at 7am
Where: Santa Rosa Plateau, East on Clinton Kieth off the 15.
Meeting Location: Vernal Pool Parking lot - Google Map Location
Cost: $4 or Annual Pass
What to Bring: Camera and lenses for wildlife and nature photography, water, snacks, sun protection.
Leader: Peter Dascalos
We will be hiking out to the historical Adobes and back, roughly 4+ miles on dirt trails. We will hike out by the Vernal Pool trail and return on the Trans Preserve Trail.
Here is map of the SRP.
If you plan to attend, please add yourself here as attending.
Saturday, June 10 - San Diego Zoo
When: Saturday June 10 at 9am
Where: San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101
Meeting Location: We will meet at 7:30am at The City of Temecula Park & Ride
30100 Temecula Pkwy, Temecula, CA 92592 From Temecula Pkwy The Entrance to the Park & Ride Parking Lot is on Wabash Ln/Temecula Pkwy.
Cost: $69 for a 1 day pass at the entrance or Online or get in with your Annual Pass
What to Bring: Telephoto lens, good watching shoes, water, snacks, sunscreen,Hat.
Leader: John Moya
If you plan to attend, please add yourself here as attending.
Saturday, May 13 - Mission at San Juan Capistrano
When: Saturday, May 13 at 8:30am
Where: 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Meeting Location: At the Entrance
Parking Info: Public parking is available in the surrounding streets near the Mission. The most visible parking lot is on the south side of Ortega Highway and El Camino Real.
Cost: $18, Seniors $15 Hours: 9am to 5pm
What to Bring: Camera and lenses!
Leader: Kathleen Messmer
A great place to photograph this Historic Landmark, Chapel, Museum and Gardens - Link to Mission Website
If you plan to attend, please add yourself here as attending.
Saturday, April 29 - Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
When: Saturday, April 29 at 8 AM
Where: Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, 11055 East Dr. Morongo Valley CA 92256
What to Bring: Binoculars, Jacket or other layered clothing, Water, Snack, Sturdy shoes, Telephoto Lens, Tripod with Gimbal
Leader: Nancy Main
A great place to photograph several varieties of birds. We will explore Covington park and the preserve. This involves walking on well laid out and level trails.
If you plan to attend, please add yourself here as attending.
April 22 & 23 - Southern California Air Show at March Air Museum
When: Friday, April 14 to Tuesday, April 18
Where: Death Valley National Park
What to Bring: See details on Websites
Leader: No Leader - Contact other club members on the Snap Outing Forum
Here are two different links to the event:
Museum Entrance- $40 a carload - West side of Air Field - Click here
Air Base Entrances - Free! - East side of Air Field - Click here
Death Valley National Park
April 14 - 18, 2023
When: Friday, April 14 to Tuesday, April 18
Where: Death Valley National Park
What to Bring: Good hiking shoes, food, snack, water, clothing layers, car camping items, etc.
Leader: Peter Dascalos
Details are still being decided and weather will play a part in the final trip plans, but here is a rough outline of the outing:
Friday: Meet in Lone Pine, afternoon and evening explore the Alabama Hills. Lodge in Lone Pine.
Saturday: Proceed to DVNP. Stops along the way: Father Crowley Overlook, Cottonwood Canyon, Ubehebe Crater. Be at Racetrack Playa by mid-afternoon. Car camping at the Racetrack.
Sunday: Continue exploring the Racetrack. Proceed to Eureka Dunes. Car Camp at Eureka Dunes.
Monday: Continue exploring the Eureka Dunes. Proceed back to Lone Pine for Lodging.
Tuesday: Return Home
This trip will be limited to eight participants. If you sign up please make sure you have cleared you calendar for this event.
I have booked rooms in Lone Pine for the evening of the 14th and the 17th. There are two rooms with two queen beds. Let me know if you are interested in making your own arraingments.
Sign up has closed for this Outing.
Box Canyon - Anza Borrego Desert SP
Saturday, March 18
When: Saturday, March 18, 2023 6:30AM(Civil Twilight) - Hike will start at 7:00AM(Sunrise)
Where: 33.01786, -116.42765, This is a parking pull off on S2 just south of Blair Valley in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Google Map Directions
What to Bring: Good hiking shoes, snack, water, clothing layers, lightweight pack for extra lenses and travel tripod!
Leader: Peter Dascalos
We will be meeting at the top of Box Canyon and setup a shuttle hike. It will be a one way hike down Box Canyon, it is 1.5 mile mostly down hill through the wash. Expect some scrambling and avoiding cactuses!
I will be making an camping trip out of this outing. I will be camping in Blair Valley Friday night, Saturday nights camping location will be determined in the field. On Saturday after exploring Box Canyon, those that wish to continue we will be exploring other areas that may have spring blooms!
If there is interest, we can stop by the massive metal sculptures, and stop by Fonts Point to view the Borrego Badlands. There will be possible opportunity for astrophotography on Friday and Saturday night, so bring the Astro gear!
Contact me directly if you are interesting in camping to discuss logistics. Thanks, Peter
If you plan to attend, please add yourself to the sign up sheet. Link here -> Sign Up Sheet
San Jacinto Wildlife Area
Saturday, March 4
Lets Go Birding!
When: Saturday, March 4, 2023 6:30AM
What: Birds, Drive around and photograph Birds from Car.
Where:17050 Davis St, Lakeview, CA 92567 No Carpool, See you There! Meet by Entrance. Park on Left side past the entrance gate on inside of reserve.
What to Bring: Binoculars, Jacket or other layered clothing, Water, Snack, Sturdy shoes Telephoto Lens, Tripod with Gimbal
Leader: John Moya
Price: Day Pass $5.40
***Please make sure you have a yearly land pass or buy a day pass for this day from this website (Land Pass not required with a valid hunting or fishing license)***
If you plan to attend, please add yourself to the sign up sheet. Link here -> Sign Up Sheet
Hawk Watch with the Wildlife Research Institute
Saturday, February 25
When: Saturday, February 25, 2023 10AM (Suggested arrival 9:30AM)
Where: Begent Ranch, 18528 Highland Valley Rd, Ramona, CA 92065
No Carpool Meetup: Unless you make arrangements with other members.
What to Bring: Binoculars, Jacket or other layered clothing, Sturdy shoes for uneven terrain, Folding chair (if you have one) Telephoto Lens, Tripod with Gimbal
Leader: John Moya
What to Expect at Hawk Watch!
Hawk Watch is an informative educational Biologists Talk and Q&A with falconry or ambassador raptors for you to see up close and personal! The seated program lasts approximately 1.5 to 2 hours (restrooms available) and is followed by an option for additional roadside observations of wild raptors and other wildlife including a Bald Eagle nest where you'll drive your own car less than 2 miles on paved roads and come and go at your leisure. Biologists and local expert volunteer observers will help you spot and identify birds and show them to you through our high-powered professional telescopes. In the event of rain, we will still have the educational program inside the barn but the usual falconry flight displays will not occur in the barn. There is no hiking portion of Hawk Watch, but we recommend wearing sturdy shoes for uneven terrain and going on your own to the nearby Ramona Grassland Preserve hiking trail after the program. Hawk Watch is wheelchair accessible and we recommend using one if walking on uneven terrain could be a safety hazard for you. We hope you can make it! More details can be found here.
If you plan to attend, please add yourself to the sign up sheet. Link here -> Sign Up Sheet