| Austin Creek State Recreation Area | |
|---|---|
 Austin Creek State Recreation Area | |
   | |
| Location | Sonoma County, California, United States |
| Nearest city | Guerneville, California |
| Coordinates | 38°34′1″N123°3′11″W / 38.56694°N 123.05306°W /38.56694; -123.05306 |
| Area | 5,927 acres (23.99 km2) |
| Established | 1964 |
| Governing body | California Department of Parks and Recreation |
Austin Creek State Recreation Area is astate park unit ofCalifornia, United States, encompassing an isolated wilderness area. It is located inSonoma County, California, adjacent toArmstrong Redwoods State Natural Reserve, with which it shares a common entrance. Its rugged topography includes ravines, grassy hillsides,oak-capped knolls, and rocky summits offering glimpses of thePacific Ocean. There are 20 miles (30 km) of trails, panoramic wilderness views, and camping (both back-country and vehicle-accessible). The remains ofPond Farm artists' colony (dating from the 1940s) are also included in the Austin Creek SRA.
Elevations in Austin Creek SRA range from 150 to 1,500 feet (46 to 457 m), giving rise to a variety of habitats, includingriparian area,chaparral, and woodlands ofconifers and oaks. The area's 5,927 acres (2,399 ha)include open woodlands, rolling hills, and meadows which contrast sharply with denseredwood forests below.
Wildflowers of the area includeDouglas irises,Indian paintbrushes,buttercups,lupins,cluster-lilies,California poppies andshooting stars.Trout,salmon,newts andsalamanders inhabit the area's streams, and Bullfrog Pond hostssunfish,black bass, andbullfrogs. Birds such aswild turkeys,wood ducks,spotted owls,great blue herons,ravens,white-tailed kites,California quail,woodpeckers,hawks, andtyrant-flycatchers are seen there. Native mammals includesquirrels,deer,raccoons,foxes,coyotes,skunks,bobcats,black bears, andmountain lions. Feralpigs have also been reported.
Austin Creek State Recreation Area was one of 48 state parks threatened with closure in 2008 by GovernorArnold Schwarzenegger[1] It was one of 70 California state parks proposed for closure in July 2012 as part of a deficit reduction program.[2]
In September 2012, California State Parks gave Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods, a non-profit, permission to run the recreation area.[3][4]
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