Trail Talk – April 2019

Spring is fully upon us and the wildflowers sing out to their admirers. After a long, cool winter, where the warm days seemed hesitant to ever re-appear, we are now in full stride toward a beautiful spring. The trails beckon.

Ample moisture this past winter should produce an abundance of plant growth and a spectacular display of blooms in our wild areas. The shooting stars and fritallaria of the oak savannas of Britt Ridge, the fawn lilies of the madrone woodlands, and the trilliums and dogwoods of the creek bottoms add delight to our rambling journeys. The heady aromas of ocean spray, soapbrush ceanothus, buck brush, and mock orange tease the nose, producing an olfactory euphoria so contrary to the musky earth smells of just a few weeks ago. Soon, the hillsides above Rail Trail in Forest Park will turn pink with sea blush, heralding drier times and the promise of blooms into the summer months.

Along the creeks, one encounters rushing streams, heady with snowmelt from the upland areas. Waterfalls we missed during last year’s dry times are again abundant. Treat yourself to a hike on the Sarah Zigler Trail in the Woodlands, then cross over into Forest Park and explore the Jackson Creek Wetlands, and along Norling Tr, Cantrall Creek Tr, Jackson Creek Nature Tr, Canyon Falls Tr, and Shade Creek Tr to appreciate the extensive opportunity to visit Jacksonville’s namesake creek and its headwaters.

Spring is also a great time to explore some new areas. Forest Park at almost 1500 acres can seem daunting. However, the updated map is now available at many locations in town as well as at kiosks at parking areas P1 and P2. It’s also available as a free download to mobile devices through the city website, and this download features GPS capabilities to show your location within the park. Loop cards are also available at kiosks throughout the park that guide folks along measured routes featuring different trails.

A suggested hike starts at parking area P5 on Norling Road. Heading up Jackson Ridge Trail through gentle switchbacks, one arrives at Blazer Junction. Here one can choose to follow Sofie’s Tr to the headwaters of Jackson Creek to return along Jackson Creek Nature Tr and Canyon Vista Tr. These northerly slopes boast mainly conifer forests and remain cool, even on hot days. One can also opt to turn uphill on this hike along Legburner Tr or the far end of Jackson Ridge Tr to climb towards the park’s high point.

Or, continuing from Blazer Junction along Jackson Ridge Tr, passing a viewpoint and Claimjumper Tr, one winds up to a spur that heads over to Jackson Ridge Shelter, our remotest shelter, and a quiet place for a trail lunch. Heading on up the ridge, and crossing Legburner Tr, we come to Atsahu Tr, which will take us over and down to Shade Creek Tr, where a walk through the creekside ferns brings us eventually back to P5.

This area of the park sees fewer visitors because of its remote character and is certainly worth a look-see.

Happy Trails!