South Yolla Bolly: Cedar Basin

Mendocino National Forest

Work DAY 1-2 | Move/Rest/Play DAY 3 | Work DAY 4-5 | Work DAY 6-7

static map — Greens for day 4, blues for day 5: interactive map link

I was comfortable and warm in my hammock overnight. I did wake up with the mat pushed up a third or so, but it was still doing its job. I don't have the double layer hammock style that is needed to lock a mat in place. It felt like my muscles never really relaxed while I was sleeping. That's a problem, so I popped everything into the tent for the day and the rest of the time. Play day was over, time to work again.

Tuesday: 17 Jun 2025

We headed down the steep connector once more, grabbing up our tools and protective gear on the way to the work at the bottom. The goal was Cedar Basin, a spot on the map beside the trail and rumored to be a memorable one. Not like the Cedar Basin we visited at the north end of this Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness.

133: big leaves and yellow flowers — Part of a patch of grey mule ears just before Burnt Camp.

134: lots of green — The meadow on the far side of the creek from Burnt Camp.

We started work almost immediately. We were still leaving that log in the creek that would block stock but help us cross. Plenty of other logs were helping to make the trail hard to see, but it was sure clear when we got done with it.

135: small purple flower — Diamond Clarkia, a tiny bloom that was mostly in bud still.

136: yellow trumpets — Some healty looking galium broomrape among some other leaves.

137: trail and charred forest — Our trail, prior to any tread work, through the recovering burn of the 2020 August Complex.

139: roses and bee — The local roses were hosting quite a few bumble bees and some impressive prickles.

As the trail curved to the right and then again to the left, we resorted to blazes and then a bit of walking to where the trail could be seen for certain again. It was starting to vanish in the places where it passes over flatter land. A big log and Ceanothus had helped obscure the path. It was one of a few spots where we basically dug the trail out from under a Ceanothus that had stretched across the full width.

142: thin spot in the undergrowth shows the trail — As the trail returns to visibility.

144: blaze on a tree showing rings from when it grew back in — The blazes are long since grown over, but still distinctive once found.

145: north Yolla Bolly — The view is a little more obstructed along the lower trail.

146: trees and growth — It takes a little searching, sometimes from the far end, but there's a trail there to be improved.

We made it within half a mile of Cedar Basin when the day was called. So close! The tools were stashed and we returned.

148: big tree and small trail — Back past a big tree with a big blaze along a small trail.

149: bird lifting chin and singing — Serenaded by a fox sparrow.

151: white flowers that seem a little closed up — California skullcaps just getting a few blooms out there.

I took my time climbing back up the hill which allowed me to enjoy the butterflies.

153: white butterfly — There's a few clodius parnassians out.

155: butterfly and orange flower — They look especially striking with a bright flower showing through their wings.

156: yellow bird — Wilson's warbler feels shy.

157: edge of a butterfly — A pale swallowtail nearly edge on.

158: purple-blue flowers — Coastal larkspurs live in dry spots on the hill.

Wednesday, 15 Jun 2025

We were feeling really good about being able to reach Cedar Basin as we managed not to slip on one more descent down that steep hill.

159: flower like a bonnet — Columbian monkshood at the Slides Creek crossing once more, our crossing log behind it.

160: puff of white — Fewflower meadowrue.

161: bumble bee snuggling tight into a flower — The yellow-faced bumble bees were at the roses again.

162: bee taking off from flower backwards — Liftoff!

165: bright yellow bird with a red head — A pair of western tanagers came by. This is the male.

Eventually we arrived at the set of three logs we'd left the day before. They were big logs. Trail seemed scruffy. Now it would become trail again.

166: big log and big saw — Work on a big log with a big saw begins.

With a bit of effort clearing large and/or many branched trees from the tread, we arrived at Cedar Basin.

168: incense cedar with a sign — Cedar Basin Camp, says the sign.

And although there was a sign for the camp, there didn't seem to be anything like a built trail to get there. It's actually a little way off the trail. However, push through a few trees and then there's large meadow making it easy to get to. Also, cedars.

169: big trees well spaced away from all the others — A small overview of some of Cedar Basin and it's stout incense cedars.

Many did take a little time to romp around the meadow.

172: big incense cedars — A little more of the basin.

174: comfortable bird — A western wood pewee looks us over.

175: bird and meadow — And away it goes, across the flower strewn meadow. A stout stream ran in the crease at the right.

176: yellow and purple flowers — The yellow is mostly this cut-leaved paintbrush.

177: yellow and black bug on white flower — Common yarrow is everywhere, but there's only a few with ornate checkered beetles.

179: dangling red flowers — Western columbines beside the water.

But we still had the afternoon for work and couldn't stay in the meadow all day. Trail quickly deteriorated after Cedar Basin, but it didn't vanish. Well, for a few short stretches it was fully eaten by Ceanothus. I was feeling a little like we might be making it up as we got to the end of the day, then turned around and was looking right at an old blaze on a tree, so we were right where we should be. Probably.

180: open space with stout trees — Now passing above Cedar Basin for a look down on its stout trees.

182: trail out from the brush — The Ceanothus ate the trail and was pushing people well up the hill so they squeezed past the right side tree, so the trail got dug out.

184: water crossing — Things are really starting to feel iffy where the trail crosses a tributary to Harvey Creek.

185: flowers by the water — A nice mixture of monkshood and columbines near the stream.

186: tree and trail — Turn around and there's a blazed tree. It is hard to see, but the light spot is the big, lower segment.

As we headed back, there was one last bit of work to do. That tree we were crossing on needed cut so that stock would be capable of passing. Should they try. Currently, the steep connector trail is the only way clear enough for them to get there and they may not be keen to take it.

189: cut log beside creek — One last cut. Actually, it is still a crossing log, at least for now. Less when the water level rises.

Then we had to go up that steep hill again, this time with tools. We would be working a different area of trail on the last work day.

190: onlooking lizard — A common sagebrush lizard watched our progress.

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