Stevens Trail Wildflowers

With the rising temperatures and recent rainfall, the wildflowers are starting to bloom in Northern California. Today I left my gold pan at home and brought only my camera to Stevens Trail. The parking lot at the trailhead by Colfax was almost full.

Today was a preview. I hear the color peaks out in the next weeks, so I'll make return trips.

There were a few patches of wildflowers on the south facing slopes. Once I passed the patches I had the ordinary everyday views of Stevens Trail such as below. These ordinary everyday views make the North Fork of the American River spectacular.

I left the main trail to explore a level area by the river. The little wear on the path showed few people went there. During the Gold Rush and the Depression many miners camped in this area. I found a piece of what may have been a ceramic jug. Did it date to the Gold Rush itself? I left it where I found it.

I ended at the spot where I had panned for gold these past weeks. The water level had not risen much. I took the overview photo below from atop a slate outcrop. I looked down and saw some grinding holes. These were made over many centuries by Nisenan women, as they ground seeds into meal.

On the return hike, the California golden poppies were starting to open up in the warmth of the noonday sun.

I reached my truck and drove to Colfax Cemetery, a short distance from the trailhead, to pay my respects to Truman Stevens, builder of Stevens Trail. He left Camden, Maine in 1859 and crossed Panama to reach the California gold country. He made his living charging a toll on the trail named for him. He died in 1884.