POINT REYES
OLD PINE LOOP
August 27,
2007
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Trail Description:
The Old Pine Trail has to be one of the most amazing primeval forest
walks we have made in years. It starts from the already verdant Bear trail
and slowly ascends into a lush near rain forest environment along a
narrow trail that winds through ancient imposing pines. Even on this dry
August day, the trail was soaked in several places and we had to forge
through stands of dripping ferns and moss. The trail gains almost 900'
in the first mile, but anyone in reasonable health will be more distracted
by the enchanting scenery than the huffing and puffing. This is a 10 mile
hike round trip.
Trail Location:
From the Bear Valley visitors center,
Bear trail goes south from the parking lot. At about 1.5 miles,
Old Pine is off to your right. It's well marked, as the intersection with
Sky trail.
Blooming
Plants Not Photographed:
NN= Non Native
Bird’s Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) NN
Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare) NN
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Candy Flower (Claytonia sibirica)
Coast Hedge Nettle (Stachys chamissonis)
Coast Morning Glory (Calystegia purpurata)
Coyote Bush (Baccharis pilularis)
English Daisy (Bellis perennis) NN
Forget Me Not (Myosotis latifolia) NN
Hedge Nettle (Stachys ajugoides var. rigida)
Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus discolor)–Berry only NN
Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum)–Berry only
Narrow leaved Flax ( Linum bienne) NN
Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea)
Pickle Fruited Ranunculus (Ranunculus muricatus)
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum) NN
Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)
Sticky Monkey Flower (Mimulus aurantiacus)
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius) NN
Thimbleberry (Rubus parviflorus)–Berry only
Wood Strawberry (Fragaria vesca)–Berry only
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Ferns and Fern Relatives Not Photographed:
Bracken Fern ( Pteridium aquilinum)
California Polypody (Polypodium californicum)
Common Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)
Sword Fern (Polystichum munitum)
Wood Fern (Dryopteris arguta)
.jpg "Stands of old pines and doug fir dwarf hikers...especially the shorter ones.")
.jpg "Elk Clover (Aralia californica): Partial flower and beginning of seed.")
.jpg "Elk Clover (Aralia californica): Starting to go to seed.")
.jpg "Elk Clover (Aralia californica): In berry.")
.jpg "Musk Monkey Flower (Mimulus moschatus): There are 63 native Mimulus species in California.")
.jpg "Montbretia (Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora): Non native. Quite abundant at Pt. Reyes")
.jpg "Canyon Gooseberry (Ribes menziesii): Gooseberries have spines on the stems, Currants do not.")
.jpg "Typical trail during the climb")
.jpg "View through the trees near the top of Old Pine Trail.")
.jpg "Five Finger Fern (Adiantum aleuticum): Close up. Often have more than 5 “Fingers”.")
.jpg "Lichen: Lichens take the external shape of the fungal partner.")
.jpg "Fog often rolls through the trees, even in summer.")
.jpg "Bryophyte Moss: Lacks vascular tissue to circulate liquids.")
.jpg "False Dandelion (Hypochaeris radicata): An important plant for honey production. Non native.")
.jpg "Heading down along Sky trail and leaving the fog behind.")
.jpg "Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus): Flower with pea pods.")
.jpg "Cow Parsnip (Heracleum lanatum): Close up of seed pods.")
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.jpg "Stands of old pines and doug fir dwarf hikers...especially the shorter ones.")
Stands of old pines and doug fir dwarf hikers...especially the shorter ones.