Wednesday, September 24th, 2008...8:15 pm
Fern Canyons and Pygmy Forests
Jump to Comments
The Mendocino Coast of Northern California has some of the rarest hikes anywhere. At Jug Handle State Reserve, a California State Parks property, you can walk about 2.5 miles from the ocean, through giant redwoods to a pygmy forest, one of only three (from what I understand) in the U.S. The out and back is a mere 1.5-hour hike that is amazing in that it takes you through about 300,000 years of geological history in such a short distance. Bishop pines that grow over a 100-feet tall in normal soil, only grow about 5 feet in this thin, highly acidic soil of the pygmy forest. One of nature’s wonders.
Be light. Be safe. Be one with the pack.
Leave a Reply