CHICO — The Chico Seed Orchard’s extended seasonal hours returned Monday in accordance with daylight saving time.
Walking access at the pedestrian gate is now open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, an extension of two hours to accommodate extra daylight from the time change, according to Mendocino National Forest Public Information Officer Laura Leidner.
Around November, when daylight saving time ends, hours will be changed back to 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Drive-through access in the park remains the same year-round open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Chico Seed Orchard is a production orchard that provides seed cones to 10 national forests in California, Leidner said. From 2006 to 2017, an estimated 20 million Douglas fir seedlings and 14 million Ponderosa pine seedings were reported collected.
A self guided one-mile paved walking trail is open to the public and shows identification for plant species on signs. Leashes are required for pets.
The Chico Seed Orchard was founded in 1904 and is located at 2471 Cramer Lane. It is operated by Mendocino National Forest.
