The Trail Companion

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Although yellow skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanum) may not sound like a reason to visit Butano, the plant has a very prominent and colorful flower - and is found in few places in the Santa Cruz Mountains. From the parking lot at the entrance kiosk, take the Jackson Flat Trail up the north side of the canyon. You can see a nice specimen along this trail, growing next to a spring roughly halfway to the Canyon Trail junction from the parking lot. More exciting might be the fairy slipper (or Calypso) orchid (Calypso bulbosa) that also blooms along the Jackson Flat Trail closer to the Canyon Trail junction. These small orchids are very colorful, but easy to miss. Look for them February-late March.
      If you continue to the top of the ridge and meet the Butano Fire Trail, be on the lookout for numerous bush poppies (Dendromecon rigida) in the chaparral. Take a moment to smell these bright yellow flowers - the cool scent may surprise you.

Getting there: Take Hwy 92 or 84 from I-280 to Hwy 1 and go south to Pescadero Rd.; turn left and go through the town of Pescadero to Cloverdale Rd., then turn right and travel south 5 miles to the park entrance. Alternatively, take Hwy 84 to La Honda and turn left on Pescadero Rd; travel 8 miles to Cloverdale Cut-off; turn left, then left again on Cloverdale Rd.

Distance/Elevation change: 3.5 miles to Butano Fire Trail; approx. 900 ft. climb.

Best time for flowers: February-early April.

On the Web: Butano State Park on the California State Parks site

Six Sure-Fire Wildflower Hikes

A Few More Wildflower Tips

Los Trancos Open Space Preserve

Stevens Creek County Park

Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve

Identifying the Mystery Plant

Wildflower and Plant Guides - Web and Electronic Resources

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