April 29, 2017
Wildflowers galore! This is a beautiful pastoral hike with wildflowers,
streams and waterfalls everywhere. Beautiful landscape and terrains are
easy to navigate so that kids and families can enjoy.
This is an elevated basalt mesa, relatively flat and broad, with canyons dropping straight in sheer cliffs. The ancient lava flows have created a harsh environment that many different wildflowers take advantage of. Vernal pools form because the rain can’t easily penetrate the hard surface. Cattle graze on the Reserve, which helps the native plants by keeping out invasive grasses and nurtures soils. This is where the land and nature are ecologically balanced....and then there are those cattle.
Follow the trails and wander off, enjoying flowers and streams. There's a large oak tree by the parking lot. It's the landmark for your return. You find Ravine Falls and Phantom Falls by hiking towards the northwest from the parking lot in about 1.5 - 2 miles. There are other waterfalls you come across as you wander.
This is an elevated basalt mesa, relatively flat and broad, with canyons dropping straight in sheer cliffs. The ancient lava flows have created a harsh environment that many different wildflowers take advantage of. Vernal pools form because the rain can’t easily penetrate the hard surface. Cattle graze on the Reserve, which helps the native plants by keeping out invasive grasses and nurtures soils. This is where the land and nature are ecologically balanced....and then there are those cattle.
Follow the trails and wander off, enjoying flowers and streams. There's a large oak tree by the parking lot. It's the landmark for your return. You find Ravine Falls and Phantom Falls by hiking towards the northwest from the parking lot in about 1.5 - 2 miles. There are other waterfalls you come across as you wander.
Video by Lifeisamt
