On Mother’s Day Sundays, Don generously let’s me pick our hiking destination. This Mother’s Day, I chose Thomes Gorge Trail (AKA Nomlaki Trail) in the Mendocino National Forest, ~30 miles west of Corning. We hadn’t hiked this trail in three years and I was dying to get back.
Much had changed! Most notably, the August Complex wildfire of 2020 burned through much of this area, leaving the trail even more exposed than it was in April 2018, when we were last there. We were grateful for the steady wind—I think we would have cooked without it!
For spring wildflowers, the first ~1.4 miles of this ~5.4-mile trail, between the trailhead and Road 23N35, is a botanist’s delight. Many species that we rarely get to see elsewhere can be found on this section of the trail due to its serpentine soils: dwarf soaproot, dimorphic snapdragon, sickle-fruited jewelflower, woolly malacothrix, leather oak, and much more. The fire was not especially severe here, mostly reinvigorating vegetation and increasing diversity, making this a great place to witness landscape renewal after fire.
Past Road 23N35, the trail continues another 3 miles through open scrub, finally descending to Thomes Creek in the last mile, for a total of 5.4 miles from trailhead to creek. We turned around at the road this time, but many hikers like to start here and hike this section north to the creek and back in the winter, simply for the views,
While most of this trail is gently sloped, there are some rather steep sections, especially where it drops sharply to cross Bennett Creek, earning it a rating of moderately difficult.
To get to Thomes Gorge Trailhead, take I-5 exit 631 and go west ~20 miles to Paskenta. Turn west onto Round Valley Road and follow it for ~10.5 miles to the signed Thomes Gorge Trailhead, on the right. If you go, be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen and bring plenty of water, as it could be very hot and dry. But as burned and baked as it is, it is still beautiful!
The wind made for trying photography conditions, but a few of the hundreds of photos that Don took came out OK, and we share a few of our favorites in the slideshow below. All photos by Don Burk. Enjoy! ~Laurie & Don Burk
