Recent rains and the subsequent tamping down of summer heat and wildfire smoke provided blissful conditions on this pre-fall hike. As we walked through the dazzle of newly rain-washed vegetation, under vibrant blue skies, we could almost hear the forest sigh with relief. Ahhhh….
Don’s new-found fascination with the late-season botany of dry lake beds and other normally wet areas was the impetus for choosing this particular section of the Pacific Coast Trail (PCT). Three and a half to four miles “north” from Highway 299, the PCT reaches the edge of an enormous meadowy area that is bordered on the east by a high, picturesque rocky ledge. This now-dry wetland was our destination.
The botanist was somewhat disappointed at the dearth of blooming species to be found. The botanical diversity was admittedly low, but the hike was still lovely. The PCT is one of our nicest trails, locally: generally very good footbed, well signed, gently sloped. Between Highways 299 and 89, the 6.7 miles of PCT is mostly flat, skirting the edge of Lake Britton (which never comes very well into view, oddly enough), making a 13.4-mile out-and-back hike quite do-able. Our hike was only ~8 miles total, on trail that ran through open pine–oak forest, across a years-old wildfire footprint where vegetation regrowth continues, and back into pine–oak forest before hitting the meadow.
This is a great section of the PCT on which to stretch one’s legs and get some clean fresh air. See our write-up, Baum Lake, November 22, 2020, for directions to the trailhead. Because the parking spot on Highway 299 is cramped, one can also park at the intersection of Highways 299 and Cassel Road and walk the 300 yards to the trail, which is what we did on this hike. ~Laurie & Don Burk