Welcome to Ariadne's Forest

Autumn (September 2001) California Redwoods and Waterfalls: The Berry Creek Falls Loop in the Forest of Big Basin State Park.
by Joan Zimmerman, Ph.D.

What can you see and hear by walking a particular trail every month? The 11-mile Berry Creek Falls Trail is a loop through redwood forests, riparian habitats, and chaparral. Here are the sights and sounds for September on this Trail.

Other monthly reports.

• Autumn ( September, October, November).
• Winter ( December, January, February).
• Spring ( March, April, May).
• Summer ( June, July, August).

September 2001

Highlights:

• New green redwood cones in the trees and a few on the ground.
• Soft green live-oak cups on the ground, all empty.
• New knob cone pines on branches; a few old ones on the ground.
• Lots of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), cones with their little three-tailed seeds.
• At noon, a spray bow in Berry Creek Falls.
• 1 (one) banana slug.

The 11-mile Berry Creek Falls Trail is a loop in Big Basin State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Boulder Creek. A gloriously beautiful hike of moderate difficulty. Allow 6 hours or more, though it can be walked in under 4 hours if serious cardiovascular exercise is appropriate. You decide.

Respect the trail restrictions, in courtesy for the Forest and other users. Hikers only. No dogs. No horses. No mountain bikes.

See also these pages

• Articles - Our Index
• Some more hiking suggestions from George Wuerthner.
• Coast Redwood : A Natural and Cultural History. Editors Michael G. Barbour, John Evarts, Marjorie Popper.
• South Bay Trails: Outdoor Adventures in & Around Santa Clara Valley: From the Diablo Range to the Pacific Ocean by Jean Rusmore, Frances Spangle, Betsy Crowder. 568 miles of the best trails around the South San Francisco Bay.
• Peninsula Trails: Outdoor Adventures on the San Francisco Peninsula by Jean Rusmore, Frances Spangle, Betsy Crowder.
• Foghorn Outdoors: 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area by Ann Marie Brown. Lovely and usually easy trails.

Forest and Tree Home, Glossary pages: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z.

[Thanks for visiting.]

Copyright © 2001-2007 by Joan Zimmerman.