Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, California December 3, 2019

Woo hoo. 60 degrees and sunny.

We went up to Prairie Creek Redwoods to hike Brown's creek in the old growth redwoods only to find out that the scenic drive the trail head is on was closed. The winds from the bomb cyclone that went through last week blew down lots of branches on the road and it is not cleared yet. We had to find another hike. There is a large herd of Roosevelt Elk in the park. They have signs all over telling you not to approach the wild elk.  Having spent most of my life around wildlife it seems silly to me that people don't know. But I guess they don't.

To get to Fern Canyon you drive down a very steep and narrow dirt road, then cross a couple of creeks. Fern Canyon is a narrow canyon with sheer 50 foot walls covered with moss and ferns and a creek running through it. It is spectacular. John is in the middle of the canyon here so you can see how big it really is.  

Seeping water supply year round dampness for the dense foliage in Fern Canyon. Several periannel waterfalls cascade from the canyon rim. adding to the cool moist microclimate  John photographing a waterfall and a close up of it.  

Fern Canyon is shrouded with lush 5 fingered ferns, dark green sword ferns and delicate lady ferns.

Scouring winter floods periodically rush through the canyon sweeping debris onto fern canyons floor.  

Fern canyon is right off the beach. John with a large wave break and another one coming in.  

Many beaches on the coast you are allowed to drive on. Mushrooms, red sorrel leaves, lettuce fungus that grows on the trees and a wave ravaged pine cone on the beach.  

There is this beautiful campground on the beach. Of course we can't bring the bus down the road, but it would fit in these campsites. After fern canyon we did a short hike into the redwoods.  

John walking by a huge redwood. The trail goes between these two cut ends of this huge redwood. 
About everything is covered with moss. 

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