February 15, 2024
This morning I am with the BAS group joining five other hikers for the Stevens Trail in Colfax California.
The sky is overcast. It rained earlier this morning so we have water dripping from trees and a fairly muddy trail as we head downhill into the canyon. There’s a couple small streams that we cross that are flowing well from the rain.
The California Bay has very fragrant smelling leaves. However, this is not the type of a bay leaf you would want to cook with.
Shortly we came to another small stream with a little more of a crossing, but still very minor.
We crossed a little bit larger stream. This one had a couple of boards and logs crossing it which helped us to keep our feet dry.
After crossing the stream, we transition to a small, uphill climb in the background we could hear the squeaking of train wheels. At the top of the grade we were on, we could look uphill and see the train passing by high above us mid slope.
Manzanita is growing tall with beautiful red bark
We came to this pretty waterfall and took a quick side trail to an overlook rock of the valley below. From the overlook , we can see not only deep into the valley, but a great view of the waterfall, and a view of the train abutment high above us.
We continue downhill and pass a large steep scree field from the Rocky hills above us.
There’s a small gold, mine tunnel off to the side of the trail. It goes back about 100 feet before it gets low and narrow.
This a bright orange fungi named, Golden Ear, sits on one side of the trail, and a plant named Mountain Phacelia is growing out of a rock on the other.
We soon came to another nice view of the North Fork American River. This rock out cropping is a great place for a photo.
The Pacific Hounds Tongue has a broad green leaf and is sporting purple trumpet shaped flowers. I’ve seen this before, but the flowers were yellow in the previous one that I saw April of last year.
We reached a spot where we can look across the valley at the trail winding along above the river. We would soon be there at its shore.
The trail continues slightly downhill, heading closer and closer to the north Fork, American River.
The trail has finally wound down to the shores of the American river. We’re stopping here for a brief lunch; of course, It has started to sprinkle just as we arrived. There is a small tributary, feeding the river right next to where we are eating.
While the large waterfalls are impressive, the small streams and cascades are very tranquil to me.
As we got close to returning to our parking area, I noticed these trees that I did not take a picture of on the way down. They have these almost vine like branches. It’s pretty cool. There was also a log covered with more beautiful fungi.
This video is multiple parts of our hike.
Our total hiked Miles were 7.87 with an elevation gain of 1755 feet. The rain was never heavy enough to be more than just a slight annoyance, and it did help keep the temperature down. Thankfully the cloud cover raised enough to give us incredible views.
