Preserving Nature &
Wildlife
The Conservation Area supports a large population of animals,
birds and fish. Wild inhabitants include squirrels, mice, skunk,
frogs, salamanders and deer as well as bear, cougar and coyote.
Birds of prey include bald eagles, hawks and owls. Much of the
headwaters of Bear Creek are located here…home to resident trout,
migrating salmon, brook lamprey, sculpin, dace… and beavers! As you
travel the trails, please enjoy the abundant forest vegetation.
Douglas fir and our State tree, the Western Hemlock, dominate
upland areas along with stands of White Pine. When you get closer
to wetland and stream environments, vegetation will transition to
Western Red Cedar, Cottonwood, Alder, Red Osier Dogwood and Willow.
Take extra time to look at the diverse forest under-story. In
upland areas you will see low growing plants such as Oregon Grape,
Salal and Sword Fern. As you transition to moist lowlands look for
Salmonberry, Huckleberry, Deer Fern, and False Lilly of the Valley.
Along the way, look for flowers in bloom: Nootka Rose in the upland
areas, Trillium in the deep shade, and, in the very wet areas,
Skunk Cabbage… also called “forest lantern” because of its bright
yellow spring flowers.
The cache is about a 1.5 mile hike in with many trails through
out the area. Please be sure to follow the signs and make note of
where you are at all times. From the parking lot take the main
trail to Forest Ridge Trail. Be sure once you find GZ and find the
cache follow the trail up to the next intersection then go left and
follow Floyd trail back, you will enjoy this return route back to
the parking lot.
I first discovered this park when I did the cache Cow watching
back on April 29th. I was in the park once again from an older
trail entrance to go after the first cache placed Intel Inside.
When I was through with Intel Inside I had to hike the trails and
see what all this was about. I never made it all the way through. I
have sense then come back and hiked more of the park trials. This
time I decided to place a cache deep inside the park.
Please obey the park hours and rules. Beware that after dusk
they do lock the gate and you won’t be able to get out until after
7:00AM the following morning.
Note of Caution: There have been known
car break ins in the parking lot. Be sure to hide or carry your
valuables with you.
Be sure to bring a writing instrument along to sign the log.
I hope that you also enjoy this park as much as I have.
| Congratulations on FTF to
“Rahvin”. |