Photo gallery image (click to enlarge)

Spring Lake Regional Park

Date: (Sun.) May. 15, 2011
Location: Santa Rosa, CA
Event Director: Judy Koehler - 707.778.1604
Course Setters: Brett Carver, Erik Carver, Scott Aster
Type: C; A "Come and Try It" event. Spring time at Spring Lake -- be there!

Related Event Information

Course Setter's Notes Last Year's Event Event Results

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


Learn to orienteer amid spring wild flowers and colorful sails. This year's event has been moved to the spring, and BAOC will be sharing the park with a sailboat regatta on the lake.

This orienteering event is 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 (White) course suitable for true novices and those with small children. A longer, slightly more difficult (Yellow) 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 really looking for a challenge, take in both courses (but be sure to plan ample time)!

There will also be a two-loop Motala course that will test high-speed decision making (if you choose to go fast) and precise map reading. At the end of the first loop you decide whether or not to go on.

Course details are below and in the Course Setter's Notes.

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 the directions below — note that there are two park entrances on opposite sides of the park. You can use either entrance, but you'll have to walk farther to registration if you use the "wrong" one.) Standard costs starting at $6 will apply. For a complete breakdown on costs, see our FAQ. 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 by 2:00 PM even if you have not completed your course. 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 course statistics are: 

   Course      Length    Climb    Technical/Physical

   White       2.2 km     35 m    First timers/Easy
   Yellow      4.0 km    115 m    Advanced beginner/Easy
   Motala 1    1.6 km     70 m    Intermediate/Moderate
   Motala 2    2.0 km     45 m    Intermediate/Moderate

Be sure to read the Course Setter's Notes for more information about the courses.

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 County 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) (Main Menu > Schedules and Route Maps). The Trip Planning Assistance phone number is (707) 543-3925.