Feather River Canyon
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Chambers Creek Falls Feather River Canyon |
June 5, 2010
Just a month ago, I trekked about halfway up this trail, then turned
back for reasons not entirely clear in retrospect. Photos of the
lower portion of this trail include some taken on
May 5th.
An easy 120-mile drive gets me to the trailhead on beautiful
Highway-70. The thermometer is up to 71° already,
so it's going to be a warm outing.
About a hundred yards off a closed dirt road, a little sign pointing
to the right takes me to the only obstacle on today's route —
a fording of Granite Creek, which necessitates a tricky balancing act
during this period of high water.
That log could use some reinforcement
Within five minutes of crossing the little stream, I encounter a profusion of wildflowers lining the trail on both sides. I also am treated to a spiffy new warning sign.
Monkeyflowers and Daisies abound
The power lines will go away soon, I hope
Bad guys lurk ahead
Even though I got a dose of poison oak across my face on the American River several weeks ago, already I am too busy shooting flowers to worry about such things now.
Pacific Bleeding Heart
Mountain Dandelion
Enjoying the Woolly Sunflower
Western Morning Glory
Kellogg's Monkeyflower
Pine Violet
The show gets better and better as I continue up the trail. I never have seen so much paintbrush, and the little purple monkeyflowers litter the trail to the extent that it is impossible to avoid stepping on them.
The Paintbrush are awesome
Chaparral Nightshade
Heartleaf Milkweed
Black Oak
False Solomon's Seal
The trail is only moderately steep, but the grade is relentless.
Today's heat is causing me to take more breathers than usual.
It was somewhere near here that I curtailed my prior trip, after an
800-foot ascent.
Unbeknownst to me at that time, the trail soon enters the forest at the
thousand-foot level, unexpectedly morphing from a hot, shadeless route
into a verdant environment of ferns and moist air. For the first time,
I can hear the sounds of rushing Chambers Creek down and to my right.
The entire route is joyfully easy on the feet
Pacific Stonecrop
Purdy's Iris
As I lie prostrate across the trail photographing flora, a hiker couple comes down around the corner, stopping just in time to avoid stepping on me.
The only hikers I would see today
Western Spring Beauty
The big leaves are Wild Ginger
Presently I get a glimpse of the creek itself. Around the next turn is a nifty footbridge, built back in the 1930s by the CCC men.
First view of Chambers Creek
Evidence of a relatively recent fire
The destination appears
Chambers Creek Falls actually is a 4,000-foot cascade
It so happens that the 'falls' portion of the creek is almost totally obscured from view by trees. Bummer. As no use trail is in evidence, either, I judge that an attempt to get closer would be minimally rewarding and probably dangerous.
Views above and below the bridge
Thus far, my ascent has been just 1,600 feet — less than expected.
The trail continues much farther up the mountain, so I humor myself by plodding
onward for about another half-mile, until my altimeter shows a
2,000-foot gain. I would have gone farther had there been anything
particularly exciting to see. As it is, however, this effort rewards me
with views across and above the canyon.
Beyond the bridge
A fanciful formation
Cascade across the canyon to the south
Chambers peak, 6115'
Pussy Paws
Bald Eagle Mountain, 7183'
Silver Lupine
Mountain Pride
Back near the bridge, I scramble down the embankment to a nice viewpoint, remove my boots and socks, and munch some gorp.
Chambers Creek just below the footbridge
I still have fully half my water, indicating that the air temperature had not been as big an issue as was anticipated. Upon starting back, ever more flower varieties present themselves.
Spicebush
Dwarf Checkerbloom
It's mellow going, downhill
A number of butterfly species have been flitting about. One particular chalcedon checkerspot leaves me little choice but to capture its image for posterity.
This is why I go hiking
A few more bugs and flowers see me the remainder of the way down the mountain. I never stop marvelling over today's floral display, because it never stops.
Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home
Having a three-way?
Many-flowered Brodiaea
Larkspur
It is 81 degrees at the trailhead; but I have survived without undue discomfort. I didn't even consume all my water.
§: The falls themselves were disappointing, and it was a bit
too warm for comfort. Nevertheless, I have upgraded this hike's
rating based upon a pair of superlatives:
Early May is a great time to visit, before it becomes hot. Should you venture here the day after a nice rain, Feather River Canyon will be awash in scenic cascades as well.
| Scenery |  |
| Difficulty |  |
| Personality | |
| Flowers |  |
| Solitude |  |
Today's bonus was a first-ever encounter with a fresh-water otter, near roadside during the drive home:
 |
September 2021: This area has burned. As of April 2022,
the trail is open, but the bridge two miles up is impassable. |
