Is transportation provided for your tours?

Transportation is not included in my tours. However, all my standard tour locations are accessible with any type of vehicle, and have cell service. If you need extra info on public or rideshare transit, send me an email and I'll help you find a way there.

Can I purchase a gift card?

You sure can! Give the gift of quality time spent in nature, all while supporting a small business. You can purchase gift cards in any amount, which can then be applied to any of my tours, both public, private, and custom.

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Thoughtfully Guided Nature Experiences in San Diego

Book a Tour Today

San Diego's Only 5-Star Nature Guide
(Thanks to all my wonderful guests!)

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Tours Happening Now
in San Diego

* Tour timing is flexible — just ask! *

* Tide pool tours are dependent on low tides *

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View Private Tour Calendar

Guided Fungi Foray: Discover San Diego’s Hidden World of Mushrooms

Join North Star Naturalist for a guided fungi foray to learn how to find, identify, and appreciate the remarkable role of fungi in our local ecosystems.

Book Now

Photos and Details

Explore La Jolla’s Tidepools: Wildlife Adventure with a Marine Biologist

Explore La Jolla’s rocky shoreline at the perfect low tide with an expert guide by your side.

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Photos and Details

See Stars and Sea Stars: Night Tidepooling (December dalendar now open!)

Join North Star Naturalist for a 90-minute guided night tidepool tour under the glow of flashlights, blacklights, and moonlight.

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Photos and Details

Guided Nature Hike: Discover California’s Most Iconic Landscape

Beneath the canopy of oaks and the calls of woodpeckers, discover the plants, wildlife, and ancient stories that make the chaparral California’s signature ecosystem.

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Photos and Details

Guided Nature Hike: California’s Rare Sage Scrub Wilderness

Traverse the sun-warmed hills near Poway and experience the fragrant, rare California Sage Scrub — one of the most endangered ecosystems in North America.

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Photos and Details

Los Peñasquitos Canyon Guided Hike: Hidden History & Natural Springs

Explore one of San Diego’s most scenic trails in our largest urban canyon with the history, ecology, and hidden details most people walk right past.

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Photos and Details

Pick Your Own Trail

Design your ideal day outdoors with a private naturalist guide dedicated entirely to your interests, pace, and curiosity.

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Photos and Details

Guided Night Hike Above San Diego's Glittering Skyline

Join an expert naturalist for a guided evening hike where the scents of sage fill the cool air and the city glows below.

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Photos and Details

Torrey Pines Guided Hike: Coastal Views, Rare Pines, and Hidden Geology

The Preserve is CLOSED to all visitors through February 2027 for construction and improvements. Tours will resume once the park reopens! Thanks! Experience San Diego’s most iconic coastal hike with the stories and science most visitors miss.

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Photos and Details

Returning Spring 2027! San Diego Wildflower Walk: Discover California’s Spring Blooms

Discover San Diego’s spectacular wildflower blooms — without the crowds, guesswork, or overrun hotspots.

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Photos and Details

Browse All of My Tours Here

Gift the Gift of Nature this Season

Presents come and go, but outdoor memories last a lifetime.

Shop Local, Shop Small!

Use code MISTLETOE for 20% off gift cards through Dec 18th!

Upcoming Community Events

Each season, I strive to plan a free or low-cost guided event that corresponds to local happenings in nature.

These events have limited space and a waitlist, so sign up and stay tuned for future happenings!

About
Me

Hello! I'm Cypress, founder of North Star Naturalist.

I guide fun, outdoor excursions in San Diego County for people

of all ages and skill levels.

Join me on a tour to learn about California's world-class wildlife, gain confidence exploring the outdoors, and change how you experience nature forever.

Gift Cards Available

Learn More

Looking for a unique gift for a friend, colleague, or loved one?

Support small business while giving the gift of nature

with a North Star Naturalist Gift Card.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pricing & Logistics

Exploring San Diego Nature

Choosing an Adventure with North Star Naturalist

Prices vary depending on tour type and the level of personalization you would like. Basic Level public tours start at $52 per adult.* Basic Level private tours start at $92 per adult. Basic Level Tidepooling tours cost $35/$52 per adult for public and private tours respectively. If you're looking for a more customized, private experience, such as my "Pick Your Own Trail" tour, those start at $240 per adult. All of my tours can be customized for you, your family and friends, your work team, or your class for a premium. Call, text, or email me to learn more about how I can make your experience in nature unforgettable! *In an effort to promote the education and exposure of children to nature and science, I offer 50% off to all people under 18 years of age on all tours. Children under 4 are free. No exceptions, no fine print! Children are the future stewards of our planet — this is my small way of making nature more accessible for them.

Stay Connected

Follow and tag @northstarnaturalist on Instagram

Just a "little" update 🫠

@san_diego_field_poet
@leosimonovis
@amphibian_jim
@sandiegoprintmakingsociety

Had an amazing time with a lovely group during last weekend's Wildflower Photography Workshop! 🌸 📸

We learned about the technical side of photography, how to make the most of phone cameras, small fixes that yield big impacts... and we just enjoyed some good old-fashioned time in nature! 🦋

Stay tuned for some of the gorgeous photos the group captured. Another successful workshop in the books! ✨️

#NorthStarnaturalist #SanDiegoWorkshops #WildflowerPhotography #SoCalWildflowers

Just here to appreciate the unbelievable biodiversity of this here corner of the country.

The largest pinecone in the world... Blue-eyed beetles that squeak... Technicolor flowers of every hue... Giant, frilly, and intelligent molluscs... Tiny creatures containing impossible detail... All shaped by this landscape. All shaped by each other. Context is beauty! How can we possibly compare? Or make it up to them? Or let them go?

Nature is my favorite thing in this universe.

-C

✨📸 Back by popular demand! 🌸✨
Join me Saturday, June 27, at 2PM for a hands-on wildflower and pollinator photography workshop! This 2-hour workshop combines nature interpretation, field photography, creative expression, and community into one memorable morning.

All experience levels are welcome. No camera? Bring your smartphone! 🤳
Tickets are just $15 (half price for anyone under 18 — as always!)
Space is limited for this workshop, so snag a spot soon!

I can't wait to see what this year's cohort captures! 🌼 📸 🏵️
Register at the link in bio.

#NorthStarNaturalist #SanDiegoEvents #SanDiegoPhotographer #SDSummerWorkshops #SoCalWildflowers

Had an incredible discovery on a recent early-morning tide pool tour. 🐙 And the best part? The first person to notice this teeny tiny blob crawling onto my hand was a 4-year-old little girl!

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#northstarnaturalist #sandiegonature #sandiegoevents #socaloctopus #guidedtidepooling

Happy Mother's Day y'all. 💕

Thank you thank you thank you to all the Mothers out there: human, more than human, intentional, accidental, adoptive, living, ancestral, and planetary. 🌎

(Chaenactis artemisiifolia)
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.
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#Northstarnaturalist #mothersday2026 #motherearth #loveyourmother

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It Takes a Village

Caring for nature is a priority for many San Diegans. North Star Naturalist is a proud member, supporter, or partner of several local organizations that prioritize nature, science, and education.

Notice More. Feel More. Remember More.
Thoughtfully Guided Nature Experiences in San Diego

San Diego's Only 5-Star Nature Guide
(Thanks to all my wonderful guests!)

Did You Enjoy a Tour Recently?

Tours Happening Now
in San Diego

Gift the Gift of Nature this Season

Presents come and go, but outdoor memories last a lifetime.

Use code MISTLETOE for 20% off gift cards through Dec 18th!

Upcoming Community Events

Each season, I strive to plan a free or low-cost guided event that corresponds to local happenings in nature.

These events have limited space and a waitlist, so sign up and stay tuned for future happenings!

No events at the moment

About
Me

Gift Cards Available

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do your tours cost?

Is transportation provided for your tours?

Can I purchase a gift card?

Stay Connected

Sign Up for My Monthly Newsletter!

Dive deeper into
nature with these
apps, guides,
and gadgets.

Questions?
Special Requests?
Get in Touch!

It Takes a Village

Caring for nature is a priority for many San Diegans. North Star Naturalist is a proud member, supporter, or partner of several local organizations that prioritize nature, science, and education.

Notice More. Feel More. Remember More. Thoughtfully Guided Nature Experiences in San Diego

San Diego's Only 5-Star Nature Guide (Thanks to all my wonderful guests!)

Did You Enjoy a Tour Recently?

Tours Happening Now in San Diego

Gift the Gift of Nature this Season

Presents come and go, but outdoor memories last a lifetime.

Use code MISTLETOE for 20% off gift cards through Dec 18th!

Upcoming Community Events

Each season, I strive to plan a free or low-cost guided event that corresponds to local happenings in nature. ​ These events have limited space and a waitlist, so sign up and stay tuned for future happenings!

No events at the moment

About Me

Gift Cards Available

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do your tours cost?

Is transportation provided for your tours?

Can I purchase a gift card?

Stay Connected

​

Sign Up for My Monthly Newsletter!

Dive deeper into nature with these apps, guides, and gadgets.

Questions? Special Requests? Get in Touch!

It Takes a Village

Caring for nature is a priority for many San Diegans. North Star Naturalist is a proud member, supporter, or partner of several local organizations that prioritize nature, science, and education.

Notice More. Feel More. Remember More.
Thoughtfully Guided Nature Experiences in San Diego

San Diego's Only 5-Star Nature Guide
(Thanks to all my wonderful guests!)

Tours Happening Now
in San Diego

Each season, I strive to plan a free or low-cost guided event that corresponds to local happenings in nature.

These events have limited space and a waitlist, so sign up and stay tuned for future happenings!

About
Me

Dive deeper into
nature with these
apps, guides,
and gadgets.

Questions?
Special Requests?
Get in Touch!