Upper Table Rock

Good timing makes for a good hike! After scouting Lower Table Rock in early March, we waited a month for improved weather and a colorful beginning to the Spring Wildflower season.

The trail up to the mesa on top featured lots of new blooms: Pink Manzanita blossoms, White bunches of blossoms on Buckbrush, Yellow waxy Buttercups, delicate Fawn Lilies, Henderson Shooting Stars, Larkspur, Woodland Stars, Hounds Tongue and Scarlet Fritillary/Red Bells. The blades of Camas could be seen everywhere but the blue blooms weren’t out yet.

Up top the species grew closer to the ground so more challenging and exciting to find. Most obvious were the bright expanses of Goldfields. But if you looked closer you’d see Blue-eyed Marys and Baby Blues, miniature bicolor Lupine, Rusty Popcorn flowers and Cranesbill. Liz spotted the last bloom of the early season Grass Widow; but we were most fortunate to find the Dwarf Wooly Meadowfoam growing on and just off the trail. This rare plant that grows only on the Table Rocks when seen as a cluster reminds one of white foam on the water.

The sky was sunny and clear with mild temps into the 60s. Snow capped mountains could be seen all around with Mt McLoughlin looking like an ice cream Sundae.

We had lunch by the VOR aircraft signal tower, then walked out past the frog pond for a view of the valley below.

The day’s hike was 7.5 miles with a gain of 800′ going up the trail.

April is prime time to enjoy the Table Rocks.

Hike Leader: Rich Stickle

Photos By: Liz, Randy