Feather Falls National Recreation Trail

Enjoy one of nature's wonders in Northern California. The Feather Falls National Recreation Trail will lead you to Feather Falls, the 6th highest waterfall in the continental United States, and fourth highest in California.

Within the 15,000-acre Feather Falls Scenic Area, located in the La Porte Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest, the trail winds through the Sierra Nevada foothills 3.8 miles to Feather falls. Along the trail you will experience a variety of plants, animals, and environments which change with the seasons.

Experience the natural environment as the Maidu Indians may have experienced it when they inhabited the area hundreds of years ago. Signs of the Maidu are still visible to the watchful traveler and many of the features in the area are still sacred to Native Americans. While on the trail, you can view Bald Rock Dome, known as 'Earth-Maker' to the Maidu.

140 million years ago, rocks that were melted deep in the earth's crust formed large granitic bodies called plutons. One pluton formed at the location of the existing falls. This pluton is about two miles wide, and includes Bald Rock Dome. Since some parts of the pluton contain more resistant rock than others, the area between the falls and Bald Rock Dome eroded away more quickly. This resulted in these two spectacular natural features. If the rock to the west of Feather Falls were more resistant, it would not have eroded away as quickly, and a series of Falls would have been formed.

What To DO & Where To Go

In addition to hiking, other popular activities at Feather falls are mountain biking, horseback riding, picnicking and camping. When camping, make sure you are on Forest Service land, check for fire restrictions and carry a fire permit. Water and restrooms are available at the trail head, but not on the trail. No motorized vehicles are allowed within the Feather Falls Scenic Area. Help preserve this beautiful area by observing trail restrictions.

Spring and Fall are the most popular times to visit Feather Falls, although the trail is accessible (and enjoyable) all year round. From March through spring, the wildflowers provide spectacular shows of color, and the most water cascades over the falls. During the fall, enjoy breathtaking fall colors. If you visit during the summer, remember that temperatures may reach 90 to 100 degrees. Be prepared for these conditions and carry plenty of water. All year round, the overlook platform provides unequaled views and photographic opportunities of the falls and the confluence of Fall River with the Middle Fork of the Feather River.

Directions from Oroville: Oro Dam Blvd. to Olive Hwy. turn Right. Olive Hwy. approximately 5 miles to Forbestown Rd., Right. Forbestown Rd. approximately 7 miles to Lumpkin Rd., Left. Lumpkin Rd. approximately 12 miles to Feather Falls trail head turn off, Left. Trailhead Rd. 1.5 miles to Feather Falls Parking Area.

Length of Trail: 3.8 miles.

Hiking Time: Allow 4 hours round trip.

Common Wildfires of the Feather Falls National Recreation Trail

The month of March brings the fascinating, colorful parade of wildflowers to the Feather Falls Trail. The spectacular display of wildflowers continues through April and May, with a few flowers remaining through mid-July, and still fewer flowering until October. (These "late bloomers" are mainly of the sunflower family.) A few of the more than 180 species of wildflowers found along the Feather Falls Trail are mentioned here, and are listed in the approximate order of earliest to latest blossoming.

The earliest flower is one that many people never get to see because it hides among the dead leaves of the previous season. Before its leaves come out, the climbing PIPEVINE (also known as DUTCHMAN'S PIPE) produces blossoms that closely resemble an old pipe. This shy flower is dressed in green with brown lines marking its contours. In early June, the odd-shaped fruit may be found, but only if it is discovered before the pipevine caterpillar reaches it. This black caterpillar with bright red dots has such a large appetite, that very few of the fruit actually reach maturity. The caterpillar becomes the beautiful pipevine swallowtail butterfly, with iridescent blue-green and black wings and a row of red spots on the underside of the hind wings.

A much smaller flower, but much more visible, is the SHOOTING STAR. Its purplish pink petals twist backward with narrow rings of white, yellow and purplish-black. This flower can be found nodding cheerfully to hikers during March and April.

INDIAN PINKS are some of the more persistent of the trail side flowers. The scarlet, fringe-tipped petals offer a bright welcome to visitors from March through July.

Brilliant splashes of scarlet with a bit of yellow may catch your eye throughout the long blossoming season of the INDIAN PAINTBRUSH, found from March through September.

The interesting little STAR TULIP is actually a lily. Its sunshine yellow blossom and spring-green foliage delights the eye and sparks the imagination mid-March through June.

Early in April, you may discover the BUTTE FRITILLARY, an open, bell-shaped lily, strangely colored from pale yellowish green to purplish brown. A nodding flower, its leaves are in whorls around the stem.

Early spring also brings the beautiful FLOWERING DOGWOOD with its never-to-be-forgotten masses of large white flowers. It can be seen here and there on shaded forest slopes from early April through May.

During April and May, shady trail sides are often carpeted with fragile white STAR FLOWERS. These may be accompanied by the WESTERN BLEEDING HEART with its pink end white heart-shaped flower and finely dissected leaves.

Also found in shady areas along the trail is the cheerful YELLOW WOOD VIOLET, nodding a happy hello to passers-by from April to mid-July.

From April to mid-June, WILD GINGER, a trailing vine with large, heart shaped leaves, hides its strangely beautiful maroon flowers under its leaves, snuggled close to the ground. By gently lifting the large leaves, sharp eyes may be able to detect this flower.

ALUM ROOT juts out from rocky outcroppings from April through June. A cluster of roundish, scalloped leaves at the base surround long, slender flower stalks which produce hundreds of tiny flowers in a delicate, lacy profusion.

The charming SIERRA IRIS, with its creamy yellow flowers, can also be found in blossom from April through June, as can BLUE LARKSPURS. Its Spanish name is "espuela del caballero" or the "cavalier's spur".

DEER BRUSH, a widely branching shrub from 4 to 12 feet tall, also blooms between April and June. Its profuse white blossoms resemble drifts of snow. Notice the spicy fragrance of the bright green leaves.

On open slopes from Frey Creek to Fall River, the CALIFORNIA SNOWDROP BUSH flowers from late April through May. Its snow white petals form delightful, curved bells.

BUSH MONKEY FLOWER, a small shrub with salmon colored, "open mouthed" flowers, grows in abundance along parts of the trail, blossoming in showy profusion from late April to early July.

In May and June along the edges of woodland areas, delicate WILD ROSES enhance the trail with their gentle beauty and graceful pink flowers.

Often covering the uphill side of the trail in large masses are RED RIBBONS or CLARKIA Found from May to early July, the combination of crimson sepals and rose-purple petals produces a surprisingly delightful sight.

From May through July, GRINDELIA, also known as GUM PUNT, may be seen in open sunny areas along brushy banks. Its early bud is green and round with a flat top that is covered with sticky white gum. This white gum gradually disappears as the bud opens into a full flower.

Another maroon flower, with a bold and unabashed appearance, may be found blossoming from late May through July on the SPICE BUSH growing on the upstream side of the Frey Creek bridge. Last season's odd seed pods also might be seen with careful scrutiny.

TOYON or CHRISTMAS BERRY, is a large shrub ranging from 5 to 15 feet high. Although not showy, large dusters of white flowers appear from July through August By November the berries have turned a bright harvest orange, and by December, to a bright Christmas red, a striking contrast against the rich green foliage.

Year round there is always something along the trail to delight the eye. You can help future visitors enjoy the spectacular display and variety of wildflowers by taking only pictures and memories.

Fern of the Feather Falls National Recreation Trail

Scattered along at various trail side locations are nine different kinds of ferns. Some, with sufficient shade and moisture, remain green throughout the summer. Others thrive in the cool dampness of springtime, but dry up when exposed to the drier conditions of summer. Among these is the delicate CALIFORNIA MAIDENHAIR which prefers well-shaded canyons. Another is the CALIFORNIA POLYPODY, usually found on banks or mossy trees, or in cracks where direct sunlight cannot reach it. A third fern in this group is the FRAGILE or BRITTLE FERN that grows on sheltered, moist stream banks.

At one extreme is the BIRD'S FOOT FERN, with narrow leaves and curled margins. This characteristic allows it to thrive under hot, dry conditions. This fern can be found near the trail just before reaching the falls, while walking up the last dry, exposed ridge.

On the other hand, along several of the creek beds, the GIANT CHAIN FERN, California's largest fern, finds plenty of nutrients in the shade and moisture of wet drainages, and grows very tall. Look for this fern when traveling through damp, shady areas along the trail.

Other ferns are more flexible in their "likes and dislikes", and are more widely scattered along the trail. SWORD FERN and WOOD FERN survive in both wooded areas as well as open areas, as long as there is enough moisture. The SILVERBACK or TRIANGLE FERN, accepts sun or shade in rocky soil, and can be found on rocks and lodges. As the soil dries, the leaves dry and lie dormant until the rainy season.

COMMON BRACKEN FERN, the only fern found all over the world, is not very choosy in where it prefers to live. This fern grows in sun or shade, and does not need very much moisture. It is often found in places where little else will grow. Although not particularly large in California, in some parts of the world it has been known to reach a height of 15 feet.

Altogether the observant hiker may find a total of nine ferns along the trail, with the COASTAL LIP FERN, a rare species, near the head of the fails in the crevices of boulders, making a total of ten ferns that have been observed in the area. To those who appreciate diversity of shape and form, these widely varied fern species offer an intriguing experience in comparison.

Plants and Animals of the Feather Falls National Recreation Trail

The Feather Falls National Recreation Trail offers fantastic opportunities for discovery of trees, shrubs, flowers, ferns, and creatures large and small. Walking along the trail, you will notice a wide variety of growing conditions, from shady and wet to sunny and dry. These conditions provide the visitor with a rich variety of plant life to see while enjoying the trail. Over 180 species of flowers, 17 species of trees, 20 shrubs, 11 vines, and 10 ferns have been identified along the trail.

As the trail takes you toward your destination, you will experience three different plant communities. These are the YELLOW PINE FOREST, MIXED EVERGREEN FOREST, AND FOOTHILL WOODLAND communities. Each community has its own special types of trees, shrubs, and flowers that, in combination, identify it as a particular community.

Though some species may be limited to their special community with unique requirements, other species may be found in different communities.

Plant life partially determines the kinds of animals that live in an area. Some creatures find food, shelter, and moisture in one community; others find that their needs are met in other communities. (for example, acorn woodpeckers thrive best in a plant community that has a lot of oak trees, where squirrels do well where either oaks or pines exist) In the Feather Falls Scenic Area, different plant communities exist so close together that animals may wander from one community to another.

Woodland trails are not always the easiest places to observe birds because the understory is thick and the upper story is often very high. However, some birds that you might see or hear are robins, black-headed grosbeaks, mourning doves, flickers, sapsuckers, nuthatches, Stellar's, jays, and scrub Jays. Above the overlook at the falls, violet-green swallows and black swifts may den about in search of insects.

The trail begins in the MIXED CONIFER FOREST COMMUNITY (indicators: ponderosa or yellow pine, incense cedar, Douglas fir, black oak). As you begin your walk, you may see pyramid-shaped cores of ponderosa pine cones with their scales removed lying on the ground along the trail. These are signs of the gray squirrels that live among the branches. The squirrels build stick and leaf nests or use holes in the trees for shelter. Occasionally they can be heard chattering, and an alert observer may catch the flick of a fluffy tail as a squirrel scrambles up a tree or leaps from branch to branch.

Bark beetles do their damage among trees weakened by drought or disease. Listen for a persistent clicking sound in the trees. This is a sign that bark beetles are nearby.

As you drop down toward Frey Creek, the MIXED CONIFER FOREST COMMUNITY blends into a community closely resembling the coastal MIXED EVERGREEN FOREST COMMUNITY (indicators: tanbark oak, madrone, Douglas fir, canyon oak big-leaf maple, California bay, flowering dogwood).

In the vicinity of the Frey Creek bridge, you may hear the soft, tinkling, waterfall like song of the winter wren. This tiny brown bird with a tipped-up tail loves moist, shady canyons of the mixed evergreen community.

The white alder, a creek-side tree that grows to a height of 50 or 60 feet, may be seen on either side of the Frey Creek bridge. Its catkins bloom in January, lending a lovely green-gold aura to the tree. These catkins are the male flowers, and they produce lots of pollen. A quick tap on a flowering twig will fill the air with a golden haze that drifts off to find the cone-like female flowers.

Walking on the trail downstream along Frey Creek, you may wander through an amazing spring phenomenon: the gathering of lady-bird beetles which hibernate in this area and take flight when conditions are right. Thousands, maybe even millions, of these 'lady bugs' may fill the air, making it unwise to open your mouth or even inhale too deeply! Sunlight refracted through thousands of pairs of tiny wings makes an unforgettable sight!

Butterflies can be found resting on the moist ground near the creek side. Little "blues" can be seen, as well as the larger California sister, having brownish-black wings with a large orange spot near the tip of the forewings and white markings streaking down the center of both fore and hind wings.

As you continue your walk, look for grassy areas bordered by trees. In these areas, flattened grass and droppings may indicate bedding places of the California black-tail deer. If you are very quiet, you may even catch a glimpse of his black tail as he senses your presence and disappears into the woods.

The cone shaped trap of an ant lion larva (also known as a "doodle bug") may be found in dry sand or dirt, under the low overhang of large rocks. Lurking hidden in the soft dirt at the tip of the cone, the ant lion larva waits for his dinner (some unsuspecting ant, maybe) to slide into the pit to his doom. After much growth and several metamorphoses the ant lion will emerge into a lacy-winged flying insect similar to a small dragonfly.

Webs of funnel-weaving spiders are visible all along the sides of the trail. A close look will reveal that the wide flatish web narrows to a tube in which the spider makes a mad dash for his insect victim, bites him, and carries him back to his hiding place for lunch.

An entirely different plant community exists near the last climb before reaching the falls. It is called the FOOTHILL WOODLAND COMMUNITY. Open to direct sun, it is very hot and dry in summer, and the soil is poor and shallow. Manzanita and other shrubs dominate this community along with digger pines, low growing live oaks, and other drought resistant species. Along here you will also find the un-fern like bird's foot fern, with its gray green, dry, brittle frond, enduring exposure to baking sun, rocky, clay soil and little moisture.

Summer creatures prefer shade rather than exposure to the extreme heat, and are more active in the twilight zones of early morning and evening. Skinks (small lizards), however, enjoy the heat, and will hurry along the trail trying to escape you. The sounds of rustling leaves or grasses may lead you to a blue-bellied or an alligator lizard scuttling across your path and into the safety of the trail side vegetation.

There are many discoveries and surprises in the Feather Falls area for careful observers and watchful eyes. As you follow the trail to Feather Falls, enjoy nature's secrets as they appear before you, allowing you to experience many wonders.