Iris fernaldii. Photo courtesy of Dana Glei, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Volunteer
Bird’s Eye Gilia (Gilia tricolor), Needle Goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb
Pony Gate Trail:
The Pony Gate Trail is a complex of three trails starting at the entrance kiosk to the park. The main trail runs from the entrance kiosk to Adobe Canyon Road to link with the lower end of the Canyon Trail. A second leg runs from the main trail to Adobe Canyon Road to link with the upper end of the Canyon Trail. The third leg connects the main trail to the Stern Trail. All three trails are in good condition, though there is a small tree across the trail currently. Flowering plants in bloom along the trail include Bird’s Eye Gilia (Gilia tricolor, the purple tinged flower in the photo above), Needle Goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis, the yellow flowers in the photograph), Canyon Delphinium (Delphinium nudicaule), Warrior’s Plume (Pedicularis densiflora), Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus), Canyon Nemophila (Nemophila heterophylla), Ground Iris (Iris macrosiphon), Fernald’s Iris (ris fernaldii), Annual Agoseris (Agoseris heterophylla, ver. heterophylla), Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis), Needle Leaf Owl’s Clover (Castilleja attenuata), Cotton Tops (Micropus californicus), Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Variegated Clover (Trifolium variegata), Ground Iris (Iris macrosiphon), Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons), and Common Tarweed (Centromadia pungens).
Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb.
Stern Trail:
The Stern Trail is an administrative access road that connects to the Bald Mountain Trail as well as to property owned by the Trust for Public Lands. It is well graded gravel and easy to follow. Some of the most interesting wildflowers are past the Bald Mountain Trail junction. Wildflowers currently blooming include Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis, shown above), Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons), Orange Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus), Cotton Tops (Micropus califonricus), Common Buttercup (Ranunculus californicus), Pacific Sanicle (Sanicula crassicaulis), Variegated Clover (Trifolium variegatum), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Miniature Lupine (Lupinus bicolor), Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), Yarrow (Achillea millifolium), Bird’s Eye Gilia (Gilia tricolor), Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrhinchum bellum), and Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus).
Heart’s Ease (Viola ocellata). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb.
Canyon Trail:
The Canyon Trail is a steep trail running down into the canyon of Sonoma Creek, providing access to the most dramatic waterfall in the park. The trail is in good condition, though the trail has 163 constructed steps that can be difficult for some hikers. Flowering plants currently in bloom along the trail include Heart’s Ease (Viola ocellata, shown above, previously identified as Macloskey’s Violet (V. macloskeyi)), Madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Dwarf Rose (Rosa gymnocarpus), Pacific Star Flower (Lysimachia latifolia), Canyon Delphinium (Delphinium nudicaule), Canyon Nemophila (Nemophila heterophylla), California Bee Plant (Scrophularia californica), Ground Iris (Iris macrosiphon), and Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii).