| Rana Creek Preserve | |
| Iucn Category: | V |
| Map: | California |
| Relief: | 1 |
| Coords: | 36.44°N -121.6353°W |
| Location: | Monterey County, California |
| Nearest City: | Monterey, California |
| Area Acre: | 14142 |
| Created: | 2023 |
| Elevation Min: | 500feet |
| Elevation Max: | 3400feet |
| Operator: | The Wildlands Conservancy |
| Website: | Rana Creek Preserve |
Rana Creek Preserve is a nature preserve owned and managed by The Wildlands Conservancy, a nonprofit land conservancy. Covering 14142acres in Monterey County, California, the preserve lies within Carmel Valley. It is part of the organization's collection of protected natural lands, further detailed in the list of preserves.
Rana Creek Ranch will be opened to the public for recreational use, including activities such as hiking. The conservancy aims to develop facilities that meet a high standard to enhance the visitor experience.[1]
Rana Creek Ranch spans 14,100 acres along Carmel Valley Road, about 20 miles from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. The property includes varied landscapes, such as oak-filled valleys, native grasslands, flower-covered ridgelines, rolling hills, lush forests, and multiple water sources, including vernal ponds created by fault lines over millennia. These ponds support a range of amphibians, such as western toads and chorus frogs. Elevations range from 900 to 3,400 feet, providing habitats that support a range of wildlife, including the federally protected California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander. The property also serves as a crucial wildlife corridor, connecting the Salinas Valley to the Los Padres National Forest.[2] [3]
Originally inhabited by the Esselen Tribe, the area later became a working cattle ranch for over 200 years. In the early 1980s, Apple co-founder Mike Markkula purchased it as a private retreat. In 2023, he sold Rana Creek Ranch to The Wildlands Conservancy, which aims to preserve its natural and cultural heritage and provide public access as a nature preserve. The conservancy is exploring plans to repurpose the existing conference complex as a land-stewardship institute. Initial management will involve environmental assessments and collaboration with the Esselen Tribe to document the property's biodiversity, which will guide long-term stewardship and access decisions.[4] [5]