St. Helena, Pine Flat Road

McCORD RANCH MAYACAMAS MOUNTAIN SANCTUARY Pine Flat Road, Sonoma County, California

The 3,053 acre McCord Ranch was protected by a conservation easement in 1992 by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District in cooperation with the Sonoma Land Trust.  The spectacular ridgeline ranch runs from the Headwaters of Little Sulphar Creek at Red Hill on Pine Flat Road to Hwy 128 at the North end of Knights Valley.  Title to the upper 1,300 acre portion of this former cattle and sheep ranch passed to the National Audobon Society in 1994 and is now managed as the Mayacamas Sanctuary.  In the mid 1800s, Richard Henry Dana, the distinguished American novelist, extolled the spectacular landscape of the ranch, including the large ‘weeping valley oaks’ in an article about an overland trip to the Geysers from Calistoga.  Expansive views of the Alexander and Knights Valleys and Mt. St. Helena abound from the property.

The Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District was formed in 1990 by a vote of the people of Sonoma County to help halt the growing loss of farmland and natural scenic landscapes in the County.  By the end of 1998 the District had protected over 11 properties totaling 28,000 acres.  For more information contact the District at (707) 524-7360