Steven's Creek Trail Hike

We took this hike on Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. There were other hikers, but I wouldn't call the trail crowded by any means. The hike was spectacular! The wildflowers were at peak, thanks to our cool, rainy spring.
The trail crosses through several different vegetation types. Initially we were in a forest that was primarily canyon live oak and doug fir, but foothill pine, California bay, and ponderosa pine were also present. Then we crossed into an area that had burned. This area was full of wildflowers of all types.
The trail itself is spectacular too; for much of the hike it is cut into the side of the steep slope of the American River canyon. It slowly descends to the American River, but the descent is so gradual that although long (8 mile round trip), the hiking is easy. I love these bicolored lupins. And I saw banana slugs! What are they doing in the Sierra Nevada?


Before the hike we watched the NCAA women's crew championship races at Lake Notomas. Pam's niece rows for Mercyhurst. With only a small student body they only managed to scrape together a single team of eight women, but they won the national championship for their division! That was a fun race to watch.