Hopland Research and Extension Center

Lambs first day on pasture 3

Welcome to Hopland REC, a multi-disciplinary research and education facility in California’s north coast region. We are stewards of more than 5,300 acres of oak woodland, grassland, chaparral, and riparian environments. Studies conducted here since 1951 have led to over 2,000 scientific publications focusing on natural resources and agriculture.

The Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC) is the University of California's principal field research facility for agriculture and natural resources in the North Coast region. A diversity of soils, plant and animal communities, and elevations makes HREC representative of many parts of the Coast Range in northwestern California.

Join our public programs for youth and adults including: school field trips, summer camps, Mendocino California Naturalist classes, sheep shearing and care workshops, public hikes, and more! Keep an eye on our calendar of events below to find out what is coming up and sign up to our e-mail newsletter to keep up to date. 

 

Our Mission and Values

Our mission is to maintain and enhance ecosystem integrity through applied research, adaptive management, and educational activities, while also supporting working landscapes.

Land Acknowledgement

We at the Hopland Research and Extension Center, first and foremost acknowledge with honor the Shóqowa and Hopland People on whose traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands we work, educate and learn, and whose historical and spiritual relationship with these lands continues to this day and beyond.

For more information on the Indigenous and colonial history of this land please see this Land History Story Map.

 

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Upcoming Events

Two lambs sleeping in barn.
Event Date
January 10, 2026

Hopland Hikes - Lambing Time

A family friendly short hike to visit the lambs and learn about the many jobs that our flock take care of at Hopland REC. We'll seek clues in the form of "lost sheep" along the walk to the lamb…
Lambing School at the UC Hopland REC January 16-18 2026
Event Date
January 16, 2026 - January 18, 2026

Lambing School

This class is now FULL and registration has closed. When: January 16-18, 2026 Hours: Friday, January 16: 12pm-4pm, Saturday, January 17: 8am-4pm, Sunday, January 18: 8am-12pm Where: UC Hopland…
A person's hands writing in a nature journal
Event Date
February 21, 2026 - May 2, 2026

California Naturalist Class

This spring, join HREC for an exploration of California's ecology, from the rocks to the habitats that thrive in our richly biodiverse state.  We'll focus on the ecology of the Coast Ranges…

Office Locations

UC Hopland Research & Extension Center

4070 UNIVERSITY ROAD
HOPLAND, CA 95449-9717
United States

Community Education Specialist - Hannah Bird