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

Event Date
November 23, 2025

Hopland Hikes - Walk in the Oaks

A short ramble through the oak woodlands. Observe acorns, leaf shapes and bark to figure out which trees share our community, and how oaks support so many other species.Your guides will be HREC…
A beautiful seasonal wreath made at the UC Hopland REC Wreath Workshop
Event Date
December 6, 2025

Seasonal Greetings Wreaths

Enjoy the red berries of the madrones, and clumps of mistletoe as you make your own seasonal wreath, made from locally sourced foliage. You may even get the chance to meet our newborns as the first…
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.$0-$10. Register here.
Lambing School at the UC Hopland REC January 16-18 2026
Event Date
January 16, 2026 - January 18, 2026

Lambing School

When: January 16-18, 2026 Hours: Friday, January 16: 12pm-4pm, Saturday, January 17: 8am-4pm, Sunday, January 18: 8am-12pm Where: UC Hopland Research and Extension Center. 4070 University Road,…

Office Locations

UC Hopland Research & Extension Center

4070 UNIVERSITY ROAD
HOPLAND, CA 95449-9717
United States

Community Education Specialist - Hannah Bird