Читать книгу 101 Hikes in Northern California. Exploring Mountains, Valleys, and Seashore онлайн

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Description From the trailhead in the upper parking lot (0.0/280'), the path immediately enters the redwood forest and passes along a wooden fence before dropping down to a picnic area by McWay Creek. The open forest here is much different from the temperate rain forest more commonly associated with redwoods farther north. Here, at the southern limit of their range, the trees are only able to find adequate moisture for growth along the small creeks and rivers that slice the Big Sur coast. The drier conditions prevent the redwoods from obtaining the colossal size of their northern counterparts and eliminate the dense understory and thick moss normally present. A few small patches of redwood sorrel, ferns, and seasonal wildflowers can be found among the litter of the forest floor, but generally the forest is remarkably open.

McWay Falls

Crossing the clear creek by a run-down barn, the trail begins climbing through an area good for bird-watching. American dippers can often be observed ducking in and out of the water as they look for aquatic insects and other snacks on the creek bottom. Small brown creepers are easily identified overhead by their ability to ascend trees vertically, spiraling around the trunk as they go. The junction for Canyon Trail is soon encountered (0.2/400'); it’s a quick and worthwhile 0.1-mile side trip leading to a delightful bench by a cascading ribbon of water.