Wildhorse Ag Buffer

The ag buffer adjacent to the Wildhorse Golf Course consists of a narrow band of 38 acres of protected habitat that acts as a “buffer” between the agricultural fields and the developed neighborhoods. The property is owned and overseen by the City of Davis.

  • Easy to Locate? Yes
  • Pet Friendly? Yes. Pets MUST be on a leash
  • Easy to Walk? Yes. The gravel trail is well-maintained and flat throughout its length.
  • Is there a Fee? No
  • Are there Restrooms?  No
  • Is there Accessible Parking? Sort of. You’ll need to park on the street in the residential areas closest to the trail. Do not park in the golf course parking lot.
  • Other Notes: Do not enter the golf course or use their paved walkways to access the buffer.

See my FLICKR account for more albums of photos taken at this location.

  • American Robin, Turdus migratorius
  • Cooper’s Hawk, Acipiter cooperii, juvenile
  • Black Phoebe, Sayornis nigricans
  • Bladderpod, Peritoma arborea
  • Toyon, Heteromeles arbutifolia
  • Owl Box
  • Say’s Phoebe, Sayornis saya Snowy Egret, Egretta thula

The buffer provides important wildlife habitat for burrowing owls, rabbits, coyotes and other wildlife. It also offer recreational opportunities such as hiking, walking and wildlife viewing. A variety of songbirds and raptors inhabit the trees and bushes along the gravel trail that reaches out from the Wildhorse development neighborhoods (and Covell Road) and wrap around the golf course to Pole Line Road.

How to Get to the Buffer:

From Sacramento

  • Take Highway 50 West toward the City of Davis
  • Continue onto I-80 BUS West and I-80 West toward Davis
  • Take Exit 70 to merge onto Highway 113 North toward Woodland
  • Take Exit 29 for West Covell Blvd
  • Turn RIGHT onto West Covell Blvd
  • Turn LEFT on Pole Line Road
  • Turn RIGHT onto Moore Blvd
  • At the traffic circle take the 2nd exit onto Rockwell Drive

Once you get into the residential neighborhoods, you can park on the street and access the ag buffer trail from the end of Rockville Court (at the end of Rockwell Drive), Bellows Street, or Cavanaugh Drive. 

To take the trail loop turn LEFT from any of the above access points and follow the gravel trail around the golf course to Pole Line Road and back.

If you turn RIGHT, the ag buffer trail will connect with the bike path that will take you along a greenbelt to Mace Ranch Park.

Travels of a Certified California Naturalist

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