Fern Canyon

Fern Canyon, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, CA

Fern Canyon, in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, still within the boundaries of Redwoods National and State Parks is one of the beautiful natural wonders in the area. If you noticed in most of my redwood pictures, there are a lot of ferns lining up the trail and also covering the ground. What is special about Fern Canyon is that some of the ferns clinging to the steep cliffs are ancient species whose ancestry can be tracked 325 million years ago. 

Experiencing the canyon felt like going back in time. I was not surprised to learn later that this canyon was used as location for The Lost World: Jurassic Park and BBC's Walking With Dinosaurs because of the pre-historic feel when we were traversing its trail.

The hike to Fern Canyon is on an easy almost flat trail, with very little change in elevation. It passes through a moss filled forest, though devoid of redwoods trees, but pretty on its own.

Hiker @ Fern Canyon Trail

After this is a trail intersection, where the Fern Canyon is to the right, drained by Home Creek.

Home Creek to Fern Canyon

In a very short distance after making a right turn, ferns surround and cover both sides of 30 ft canyon, some parts of the canyon could reach up to 50 ft high. 

First View of Fern Canyon 

What can I say, maybe my pictures are not enough to describe the sense of awe and wonder when I was in this place. It is something different, there are no curvaceous and colorful rocks typical of the canyons I see in the desert Southwest, but the feeling of awe is just as great. It really is a beautiful sight. We saw a lot of water dripping on the canyon walls, though it is hard to take them a picture, but here is one anyway.

Water Dripping from Canyon Wall, With Moss and Ferns

The canyon goes narrow in some areas, and it makes it more interesting. For about a half mile stretch, we were walking through 30 ft dripping wet canyon walls covered with healthy and green ferns on both sides.

How was this canyon formed? For a little bit of history, here is an excerpt I took from Redwood National and state Parks site.

"Millions of years ago, a retreating sea left this coastal bluff behind. Waters draining to the ocean sculpted the rocky formations into sheer canyon walls. Some of the exquisite ferns now clinging to the walls are ancient species whose ancestry can be traced back 325 million years. Seeping waters supply year round dampness for the dense foliage and provide habitat for a diverse mix of moisture loving creatures."

 Ferns Up Close

There are some wooden planks placed along the stretch of the trail for walkers to avoid getting wet. Though I wished there were none of them so the hike would be more fun :) .

Wooden Planks to Cross Some Wet Area

Here are some more pictures we got from the 1 mile loop hike at Fern Canyon.

Salmonberry ( this is edible, just like raspberry)

Wild Iris

( ? ) - sorry, I still have to find the name of this one

Dried Wildflower

( learned to take this shot from ICY, who beautifully captures every stage of a flower)

For more information about the hike, please visit the park site here. 

♥♥