I enjoy hiking in the Coastal Mountains. It is verdant and beautiful country.
In mid-November I drove almost to the crest of the Coastal Range, parking at the Gales Creek Forest Camp.
There are two interesting hikes available from the parking area. One hike does a loop over the Storey Burn area. It’s a pleasant seven-mile outing with much variety.
I took the longer 14-mile out-and-back hike to Bell Camp Road (still used by loggers and hunters). The trail mostly follows the deep Gales Creek Canyon.
Because of the immense amount of rainfall this autumn, there were many streams to ford. At several of the locations there were eye-catching waterfalls to see.
After taking a break at Bell Camp Road, it was time to return to the Trailhead.
A superb way to spend a day.
Autumn mushrooms
One of several waterfalls along the trail
Springboard slot in a long-since harvested Douglas Fir (now a nursery stump)
Mushroom gills and an autumn-colored Creeping Raspberry leaf
Trail leading through Sword Ferns and leafless Alders
Waterfall along the trail
A century-old stump with two springboard slots
Waterfall and lots of Sword Ferns along the trail
Rain Forest at it’s best
Near the beginning of the trail
Beautiful pictures! I can almost smell the forest air
Thanks for the kind comments. I can’t help but think about the Stamper family, from Sometimes a Great Notion, while hiking in the Coastal Mountains. It’s a beautiful but a very tough environment.
Indeed! I sure admire the people who braved it!