Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis). 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 more than 100 constructed steps that can be difficult for some hikers. Flowering plants currently in bloom along the trail include Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis, shown above), Heart’s Ease (Viola ocellata), Canyon Nemophila (Nemophila heterophylla), Ground Rose (Rosa gymnocarpus), Common Buttercup (Ranunculus californica), California Manroot (Marah fabacea), Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus), Rigid Hedge Nettle (Stachys rigida), Pacific Starflower (Lysimachia latifolia), California Blackberry (Rubus ursinus), White Stemmed Raspberry (Rubus leucodermis), and Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii), Exotic Forget-Me-Nots (Myosotis latifolia) are also blooming along the lower part of the trail.
Purple Clarkia (Clarkia purpurea). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb.
Pony Gate Trail:
The Pony Gate Trail is in good condition, though there are multiple constructed steps in several places and a steep section of trail through Pony Gate Canyon. Flowering plants in bloom along the trail include Purple Clarkia (Clarkia purpurea, shown above), Canyon Delphinium (Delphinium nudicaule), Blue Dicks (Dipterostemon capitatus), Forked Tooth Ookow (Dichelostemma congestum), Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii), Annual Agoseris (Agoseris heterophylla, ver. heterophylla), Globe Lily (Calochortus amabilis), Cotton Tops (Micropus californicus), Pineapple Weed (Matricaria discoidea), Yarrow (Achillea millifolium), Goldenbanner (Thermopsis californica), Rigid Hedge Nettle (Stachys rigida), Orange Bush Monkeyflower (Diplacus aurantiaca), Harvest Brodiaea (Brodiaea elegans), California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica), Dolores Campion (Silene verecunda), and Common Tarweed (Centromadia pungens).
Blue Elderberry (Sambucus Mexicana). Photo courtesy of Jim Webb
Creekside Nature Trail:
The Creekside Nature Trail has two distinct sections: an ADA compliant trail that is wide, relatively flat and easy for all users and a second section that crosses Sonoma Creek on a narrow bridge and has a couple of somewhat steeper sections. The trail is in good condition. Flowering plants currently in bloom along the trail include Blue Elderberry (Sambucus Mexicana, shown above), Creek Trillium (Trillium albidem), Canyon Nemophila (Nemophila heterophylla), Fernald’s Iris (Iris fernaldii), Miniature Lupine (Lupinus bicolor), California Poppy (Eschscholtzia californica), California Manroot (Marah fabacea), Common Buttercup (Ranunculus californica), Star Solomon Seal (Prosartes stellata), Popcorn Flower (Plagiobothrys nothofulvus), Cow Parsnip (Heracleum maximum), California Sunflower (Helianthella californica), Smooth Mule’s Ears (Wyethia glabra), and Common Tarweed (Centromadia pungens).