Arcata Ridge Trail

Arcata Community Forest

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I thought I could at least get a little hike together to ring in the new season. Winter is scheduled to start off with rain, though, and I got choices. I chose to actually do the little hike on the one day in the coming week that might have sun. It had changed to "fog", but the predicted weather seems very volatile at the moment. So on the one day not expected to rain (for the moment), I headed off for a through hike of the Arcata Ridge Trail.

A looping trail now descends to the road so climbing narrow, steep steps is no longer required!

A view out on the weather and there is some fog.

It's not exactly the best time to meander through the forest. It's one of the few times one might manage not to find any flowers blooming in the undergrowth. The mushrooms have been coming and going.

The patch of clintonia offers some interesting patterns as the leaves die off.

There are some extraordinarily red waxy caps, some even deeper than this, right now.

So up I climbed along the winding trail that often crosses the service road with a bit more direct a route, but also muddier stretches. The trail is highly recommended.

Follow the marker up. The trail offers better footing once the wet sets in.

Soon there will be flowers hiding under these leaves.

Water can be heard among the thick trees of a steep canyon where a future trail will wind.

A restful flat travels over to more and steeper winding to the high point near the Fickle Hill Road crossing. Take a bit of care since there's a few speeders.

Somewhere in all that green, a bit of water can be heard flowing swiftly to the ocean. It won't take long.

More forest and crest signed trail on the far side of Fickle Hill Road.

Once across the road, one drops down to cross another creek into the older part of the community forest. There are some changes.

One of the big stumps becomes a planter for the huckleberries.

On down to the bridge and then wider trail for a while.

Now water can be seen and heard!

There's an overall downhill nature to the rest of the trail, but it rolls upwards some too.

Another look at the weather vaguely visible through the trees.

Passing the odd pretty big tree along the wide trail.

Even bigger stumps with fancy configurations of growth.

The roots of fallen trees become the support for ferns and others.

Still a bit of falling left to do among the leaves.

There's an easement area at the top of the last, long downhill.

Briefly out of the Forest, but still among trees.

I took the little trail alternate.

Which doesn't last long.

The creek beside gets downhill much faster.

The sun had long vanished by the time I got to the swampy areas below. It is not far above sea level as the trail finishes.

Trees in the swampy places. They are only sleeping and will leaf out in summer.

There's a few gorgeous ferns.

Closer, there's these wonderful pelt lichens.

A thin waterfall trickles down. Perhaps it becomes a torrent in the rain?

With mill works and other industrial activities, it can be noisy during the week at the far end of the trail. I tagged West End Road and headed back. Hoping for a bit more sun didn't bring it.

Ready to climb again from the low swamp.

This old tractor is visible near the trail in the easement.

Some bigger trees dwarfed by the largest stumps along the way.

So dark there's color in the sky with 40 minutes to sunset.

Of course, the high probability of a little rain throughout the day actually yielded a nicer bit of weather on the actual first day of winter. So it goes. I got in "a lap" around Beith Creek, so got out in it too.

*photo album*




©2024 Valerie Norton
Written 21 Dec 2024