Name: Kayak Tour #1
Trip Leaders: PAS Wildlife Field Technician Grace Henke and
Bobby Smith of Higher Elevation Kayak Rentals
Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
Time: 7:30 am – 10:30 am
Location: North Shore of Lake Almanor (subject to change)
Price: $65 with boat rental, or $20 BYO kayak or canoe
Cap: 30
Activity Level: 4
Description: Paddle across the upper north lobe of Lake Almanor with views of Mt. Lassen before traveling down the western shoreline towards the mouth of the Feather River and then returning to the causeway. The most diverse assemblage of wildlife on Lake Almanor can be found in the shallow waters of our trip. That being said, the location of the kayak trip is subject to change based on grebe behavior and migration throughout the lake. Grebes often nest in different locations based on water levels. We will keep all registrants apprised of any changes. Accessing this area on kayaks will allow us to get much closer to wildlife than we would be able to on foot. While keeping our distance, participants will have the chance to view Western and Clark’s Grebes on nests and observe the frenetic behavior of an active nesting colony. August is prime time for viewing many other water birds on this part of the lake, including: American White Pelicans, White-faced Ibis, Double-crested Cormorants, shorebirds, terns, gulls, seven species of waterfowl, and often eagles and falcons.
Name: Kayak Tour #2
Trip Leader: Lauren James, PAS Field Operations Manager
Date: Sunday, August 10, 2025
Time: 7:30 am – 10:30 am
Location: North Shore of Lake Almanor (subject to change)
Price: $20 BYO kayak or canoe
Cap: 30
Activity Level: 4
Description: This trip requires you to bring your own kayak or canoe. If you do not have your own, please sign up for Kayak Tour #1 on Saturday.
Paddle across the upper north lobe of Lake Almanor with views of Mt. Lassen before traveling down the western shoreline towards the mouth of the Feather River and then returning to the causeway. The most diverse assemblage of wildlife on Lake Almanor can be found in the shallow waters of our trip. That being said, the location of the kayak trip is subject to change based on grebe behavior and migration throughout the lake. Grebes often nest in different locations based on water levels. We will keep all registrants apprised of any changes. Accessing this area on kayaks will allow us to get much closer to wildlife than we would be able to on foot. While keeping our distance, participants will have the chance to view Western and Clark’s Grebes on nests and observe the frenetic behavior of an active nesting colony. August is prime time for viewing many other water birds on this part of the lake, including: American White Pelicans, White-faced Ibis, Double-crested Cormorants, shorebirds, terns, gulls, seven species of waterfowl, and often eagles and falcons.
Trip Leaders
Grace Henke, PAS Wildlife Field Technician
Grace joined the PAS team in May of 2025. Though originally from Indiana, working as a seasonal wildlife technician has provided Grace the opportunity to travel and experience new places. Before moving to Plumas County in 2023, she worked on an osprey hacking project in Illinois and as an invasive reptile technician in the Everglades. A job with the Forest Service brought her to the area and she never looked back. She is thrilled to be on the Plumas Audubon team and is looking forward to the upcoming field season (especially the frog surveys!). In her free time, Grace enjoys hiking with her dog, horseback riding, sailing, and exploring new places.
Lauren James, PAS Field Operations Manager & Development Assistant
While finishing her degree in Wildlife Conservation, Lauren “LJ” moved from Vermont to Arizona and was enamored with the wild landscapes she found in the west. After a season of fuels reduction in the national forests of Colorado, she came to Plumas county to pursue her primary passion of wildlife conservation and found it with Plumas Audubon Society! She spends her free time on the trails with her dogs, foraging & wildcrafting, and reading.