Spring is bustin’ out all over, and the magnificent bush poppies on Bailey Cove Trail are in their prime! So are the irises and the deerbrush blooms.
This trail is mostly flat and begins near the picnic tables above the boat trailer parking lot. My good friend Bob Madison, dog Baxster, and I walked the three-mile loop in a counterclockwise direction (observing proper social distancing, of course), which has the advantage of beginning on a sunny southern exposure and finishing on a shady northern exposure.
Situated on the McCloud Arm of Shasta Lake, the first half of our hike took us through terrain largely made up of oaks and manzanitas. The second half of the hike gradually transitions to a northern exposure, under a canopy of Douglas-firs and ponderosa pines.
In addition to the aforementioned flowering plants, we also saw in bloom chaparral clematis, balsam bird’s-foot trefoil, chaparral bird’s-foot trefoil, western waterleaf, chaparral nightshade, Sonoma sage, both sky and silver lupine, California snowdrop bush, crimson columbine, Siskiyou Mountain woodland-star, campanulate catchfly, small baby blue-eyes, Tolmie’s star-tulip, Hartweg’s wild ginger, western starflower, bastard toadflax, and slender goldenbanner.
To get to Bailey Cove, drive about 15 miles north from Redding on Interstate 5. Turn right at Exit 695 and follow Shasta Caverns Road for approximately 0.5 miles before turning right onto Bailey Cove Road. One mile ahead you will arrive. The picnic parking lot is closed because of the Covid-19 virus so you’ll need to park in the boat trailer parking lot. The cost is $7.50 if you have a Whiskeytown/National Parks pass. Otherwise, the cost is $15. Ouch! If you are willing to do a little extra hiking to avoid the parking fee, I’ve seen cars parked up the road before the entrance to the Bailey Cove area.
Be prepared to battle gnats, as well as a few mosquitoes. Poison oak is abundant, and Baxster managed to pick up a tick. Get out; but take care! -Chris Harvey