Wednesday, April 10, 2019

SANTA ROSA PLATEAU ECOLOGICAL RESERVE: 12/30/18 Engelmann Loop, Sylvan Meadows Rd. & ManzanitaTrail (Murrieta, SW Riverside County, CA)


Manzanita Trailhead

After all these years of living in La Cresta, we finally took our first trek with the fur babies on the multi-use Sylvan Meadows area of the Santa Rosa Plateau, a 10-15 drive from our house and the only trail system within the reserve that you can bike, ride your horse or walk your pooches in. Why didn't we come sooner?!!! Anyhoo, better late than never. The Engelmann Loop trailhead on the right side of the parking lot is an easy hike through a landscape of, what else but, Engelmann Oaks! Addy took a ginormous dump along the way, which I had to unceremoniously scoop into a poopie bag. Gil was no help because, well, sigh, no comment...Trip note: clean up after your dog and be prepared to pack the doo doo out cuz there are no trash bins out here. After doing a brief jaunt through the Engelmann Loop Trail, we continued on out to Sylvan Meadows Road and then Manzanita Trail in hope of finding some manzanitas. As this trail was more upslope, we were, or should I say the fur babes (namely Addy) were, tiring out, so we headed back down before traversing the entire trail and actually coming across any manzanitas. That's another trek for another day. We'll be back in a few weeks to check out the wildflowers that should be spectabulous this year due to the abundant rains.  

 Engelmann Loop Trail

 Trailhead at Engelmann Loop Trail

Trailhead at Engelmann Loop Trail

 Engelmann Loop Trail

 Engelmann Loop Trail

 Engelmann Loop Trail

 Engelmann Loop Trail

 Engelmann Loop Trail

 Engelmann Loop Trail

 Engelmann Loop Trail

 Engelmann Loop Trail


 California Peony (Paeonia californica), Engelmann Loop Trail

Sylvan Meadows Road trailhead 


Sylvan Meadows Road junction at Manzanita Trail 


Manzanita Trail 


Manzanita Trail 


 Manzanita Trail 

 Manzanita Trail 


 Manzanita Trail 


 Manzanita Trail 


 Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum), Manzanita Trail 


Manzanita Trail 


Looks like a burn area, maybe from the Volcano Fire of August 2012? 
View of La Cresta in the background, Manzanita Trail 




 Mossy area, Manzanita Trail

 Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum), Manzanita Trail 


 Black Sage (Salvia mellifera), Manzanita Trail


California Sagebrush (Artemisia californica), Manzanita Trail 


Wild Cucumber (Marah macrocarpa


Soap Plant (Chlorogalum pomeridianum), Manzanita Trail 


White Sage (Salvia apiana)

Looks like the bones of a large animal, maybe mule deer? Sylvan Meadows Road 



No comments:

Post a Comment