On Sunday, March 29, we took a hike along and around Yana Trail, starting at Perry’s Riffle Trailhead. Yana Trail is a prominent trail in the Sacramento River Bend Recreation Area in Tehama County, one of our favorite stomping grounds, situated in gorgeous blue oak woodlands and open grasslands.
Spring is really getting underway! We saw ~90 species in bloom, but some of these blooms were off trail. Off-trail exploration is actually encouraged on this BLM-owned property, and if you are comfortable venturing off the trail, we highly recommend it. One of the species that we encountered when we left the main trail to go down to the river’s edge, was the delicate small-flowered woodlandstar.
Later on the hike, we meandered into the off-trail fields of wildflowers, where we found masses of bird’s-eye gilia, as well as numerous purple sanicle.
We seemed to have hit the peak of Themidaceae (Brodiaea Family) flowering season, for here, without going off trail, you can see and compare four different brodiaeas in bloom: white hyacinths, round-toothed ookows, bluedicks, and Ithuriel’s-spears. Although we did not see it on this hike, glassy wild hyacinth is also blooming in the area, and at least three other species (California brodiaea, bluestars, and garland brodiaea) should be blooming soon if they aren’t already.
Perry’s Riffle Trailhead is located at the very end of Bend Ferry Road, which comes off of Jellys Ferry Road at the tiny community of Bend. Please note that, because the bridge on Jellys Ferry Road is out, it must currently be accessed by taking the south entrance to Jellys Ferry Road (I-5 exit 653).
Happy hiking! -Laurie Burk