False Solomon Seal (Prosartes recemosa). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb

Headwaters and Vista Trail:

I walked the Headwaters Trail and the Vista Trail from the Headwaters Trail to the Meadow Trail. Both trail segments are in good condition, but both are very steep and have many constructed steps. Flowers currently in bloom along these two trail segments include False Solomon Seal (Prosartes recemosa, shown above), Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons), Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii), Fremont’s Death Camus (Toxicoscorion fremontii), Smooth Mules’ Ears (Wyethis glabra), Canyon Delphinium (Delphinium nudicaule), Canyon Nemophila (Nemophila heterophylla), Goldenbanner (Thermopsis californica), Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis), Orange Bush Monkyflower (Diplacus aurantiaca), Pacific Starflower (Lysimachia latifolia), California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus), Western Morning Glory (Calystegia occidentalis), Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), Purple Houses (Collinsia heterophylla), Purple Clarkia (Clarkia purpurea), Farewell to Spring (Clarkia amoena),Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrhinchum bellum), California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica), True Babystars (Leptosiphon bicolor), Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons), and Miniature Lupine (Lupinus bicolor).

Farewell to Spring (Clarkia amoena). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb.

Red Mountain Trail:

The Red Mountain Trail runs from the Bald Mountain Trail to the Gray Pine Trail below the summit ridge of the Mayacamas Mountains. I walked the segment of the trail from the junction with the Gray Pine Trail to the junction with the Headwaters Trail. The trail is a well-graded narrow trail in good condition. Species of flowers currently in bloom along the trail include Farewell to Spring (Clarkia amoena, shown above), Purple Clarkia (Clarkia purpurea), California Bee Plant (Scrophularia californica), Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii), Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis), Blue Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchum bellum), California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), Bush Poppy (Dendromecon rigida), Fremont’s Death Camus (Toxicoscorion fremontii), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Blue Witch Nightshade (Solanum umbellatum), Orange Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiaca), Blue Witch (Solanum umbellata), Deer Weed (Acmispon glaber), Rigid Hedge Nettle (Stachys rigida), Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus), and Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea).

American Bird’s Foot Trefoil (Acmispon americanus). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb.

Bald Mountain Trail:

The Bald Mountain Trail is a road/trail that runs from the Stern Trail to the summit of Bald Mountain. I walked the segment of the trail from the junction with the Lower Bald Mountain Trail to the summit of Bald Mountain. The trail is a well-graded formerly asphalt-paved road in good condition.  Species of flowers in bloom along the trail include American Bird’s Foot Trefoil (Acmispon americanus, shown above), Pipestem (Clematis lasiantha), Orange Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiacus), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii), Western Morning Glory (Calystegia occidntalis), Imbricate Phacelia (Phacelia imbricata), Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons), Miniature Lupine (Lupinus bicolor), Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus), Canyon Delphinium (Delphinium nudicaule), Canyon Nemophila (Nemophila heterophylla), White Head Mules’ Ears (Wyethia helenoides), Blue Field Gilia (Gilia capitata) and Chia Sage (Salvia colombariae).

Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb.

Gray Pine Trail:

I walked the segment of the Gray Pine Trail from Bald Mountain to the Red Mountain Trail.  Flowering plants currently in bloom along the trail include Foothill Penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus, shown above), Silver Lupine (Lupinus albifrons), Miniature Lupine (Lupinus bicolor), California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica), Orange Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiaca), Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon caputatus), Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii), Poison Oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum), Common Fiddleneck (Amsinckia intermedia), Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea), Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys fulvus), Deer Weed (Acmispon glaber), and Short Podded Lotus (Acmispon brachycarpus).