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Spring Lake Regional Park

Date: (Sun.) Sep. 19, 2010
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Event Director: Judy Koehler - 707.778.1604
Course Setters: Scott Aster, Brett Carver, Erik Carver
Type: C; White, Yellow, Sprint, and Motola courses -- this is one of our National Orienteering Day (NOD) "Come and Try It" events. This is a great North Bay setting to introduce a friend to orienteering -- so bring someone with you to join in the fun!

Related Event Information

Course Setters' Notes Last Year's Event

Please note that fees and time limits apply, unless otherwise mentioned below. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


Come out to scenic Spring Lake Regional Park in Santa Rosa for an orienteering event especially for those new to the sport of orienteering. The terrain is gently rolling, with some forest cover, a beautiful lake, and many bike paths and trails to help you find your way. The area is relatively flat, so it is suitable for children.

There will be a short course suitable for true novices and those with small children. A longer, slightly more difficult course will challenge those who have orienteered before or are familiar with reading a map. This course will require some off-trail orienteering. For those looking for more challenge, take in both courses (but be sure to plan ample time)!

There will also be a Sprint course, which will test high-speed decision making and precise map reading (you don't need "sprint" speed to try this course). The fourth course will be a Motala, which consists of multiple short loops. At the end of each loop you decide whether or not to go on. Lengths for all four courses will be added here closer to the event.

Free Beginner Clinics will start at 9:30 AM and continue through the morning at 20-minute intervals as needed. These will provide you with the basics of orienteering and map reading — enough information to complete your first course.

No pre-registration is necessary. Registration and clinics will be held at the Oak Knolls Picnic Area (see directions below — note that there are 2 park entrances on opposite sides of the park). Standard costs, starting at $6, will apply. A complete breakdown of costs is available here. In addition, the park charges a $6 entrance fee per vehicle.

Registration will begin at 9:00 AM and close at 12:00 noon. The courses will be open for starts from 10:00 AM until 12:30 PM, and all participants must check in at the Finish by 2:00 PM. Please honor the course closing time by coming to the Finish even if you have not completed your course by 2 PM. Most people take between one and two hours to take in a clinic and complete a course.

If you are bringing a group of 8 or more people, please call in advance if possible, so that we can be sure to have enough maps for everyone. A compass is not necessary to complete these courses — if you want to use one, you can rent one at registration for a nominal fee. Wear clothing and shoes suitable for a walk in the woods.

Picnic tables, piped water, and flush toilets are available, so please feel free to bring along a picnic lunch to enjoy after you finish your course(s).

Courses

The courses available are as follows: 

   Course     Length   Climb   Controls   Technical

   White      2.1 km    25 m       8      Beginner
   Yellow     2.9 km    55 m      12      Advanced Beginner
   Sprint     3.3 km    55 m      14      Advanced Beginner
   Motala 2   1.8 km    45 m       8      Advanced Beginner
   Motala 3   1.6 km    45 m       7      Advanced Beginner

While you are welcome to try more than one course, please note that all the courses close at 2 PM. If you are still out on a course as that time approaches, stop looking for controls, and check in at the Finish line. We begin control pickup at 2 PM!

Be sure to read the Course Setters' Notes for more information.

Driving Directions

Take Highway 101 north toward Santa Rosa. Once in Santa Rosa, exit onto Highway 12 going east. Follow Highway 12 for 1.5 miles to where Highway 12 makes a left turn at Farmer's Lane. Do not take this turn, but instead, continue onto Hoen Avenue. Go 1.5 miles to the traffic light at Hoen and Summerfield. Continue straight on Hoen, then take an immediate left onto Newanga Avenue. Newanga leads into Spring Lake Regional Park. At the ranger's kiosk, make a right and go up the hill to the Oak Knolls picnic area.

There's a map here that shows the location of the event.

(Note that there are two entrances to the park, and they are not connected inside the park. If you go in the "wrong" entrance, you'll have to walk farther to the registration area.)

Public Transit

The closest bus route to this entrance of Spring Lake Park is Santa Rosa City Bus #2, which has a stop at the intersection of Summerfield and Hoen. Please check Transit.511.org (http://transit.511.org/schedules/index.aspx#m1=S&m2=bus&cid=SR) for details. The Trip Planning Assistance phone number is (707) 543-3925.