On this fall hike up the Duckabush River, we'll enjoy the fall colors and learn many of the native plant species found along this trail, including 8 species of evergreen trees, 6 species of evergreen shrubs, 25 deciduous trees & shrubs, and numerous herbaceous perennials—some still blooming, and 8 species of ferns!
We’ll meander through a well-maintained trail, with some switchbacks, but plenty of opportunities for rest on the way up as we observe the plants on the side of the trail! Our destination is the “bald” at Big Hump, where even in fall we can see special plants that thrive on these rock faces.
Along the way, we’ll travel through various micro-ecosystems, including many sections of mature forest and even some old-growth, never-logged forests still intact. A 2011 fire sadly killed many mature trees, but the subsequent regeneration of the forest has also resulted in opportunities for specific plants to flourish, while the unburned areas still retain the abundance of species that makes this such a special hike any time of year.
In addition to many plants you might see at sea level, we’ll enjoy harder-to-find beauties such as Paxistima (Pachistima) myrsinites (Mountain box), Arctostaphylos media (Manzanita), native Rhododendron macrophyllum (Western rhododendron), Ceanothus sanguineus (Redstem ceanothus), Acer glabrum (Douglas maple), Orthilia (Pyrola) secunda (One-sided wintergreen), Chimaphila umbellata (Pipsissewa), and Sedum spathulifolium (Broadleaved stonecrop).
What to expect/how to prepare:
The round-trip hike is ~6 miles and over 1,000 ft. of elevation gain. Some steep areas are interspersed with gentle ups and downs (we may move slowly through some steep areas for botanizing). Consider packing hiking poles to ease your knees on the return hike down hills. We’ll enjoy lunch and sweeping views on a bald, so you’ll need to pack all your food & water for the day. It’s a wonderful spot rain or shine, but pack layers (and maybe an umbrella) in case of rain. A Northwest Forest or Federal Lands Pass is required for parking. More details & assistance will be shared with everyone registered.