Woodward Valley fall visit
I took a vacation day on Friday November 12 and headed out to get new photos of the Woodward Valley Trail for the 2022 Point Reyes Hiking Calendar. I was eager to see how the trail had changed after the August 2020 Woodward Fire. I chose a 9.5 mile lollipop loop starting at the Laguna Trailhead.
Laguna Trail
Only a few yards onto the Laguna Trail, I had my first “wow” moment. Spider webs glistening everywhere on shrubs and vines. The fog added beads of moisture to the webs and the sun illuminated them. The magical thing was they became invisible as you passed them. They were only revealed in a certain light. My day was off to a good start!
Fire Lane Trail
Less than a mile later, I was on the Fire Lane Trail. I haven’t hiked this trail in several years and was reminded that it is mostly uphill, the whole 2.3 miles. It was a warm sunny day a couple of days after a rain which meant one thing - mushrooms! Other things I noticed along the trail were many colonies of Dusky-footed Woodrat nests among the trees and a surplus of bobcat scat. One spot in particular looked like a mandatory poop stop for bobcats. It was a cross roads with animal trails heading in both directions. At least three places along the trail had fallen trees that you have to climb over or through. The park service is still doing cleanup from the Woodward Fire and will undoubtedly move these barriers when they have time.
Sky Trail
Two things enchanted me on this trail. Number one, moss is growing back in the burn areas! The hanging moss that made the Sky trail so beautiful is coming back! And the second magical thing was long stretch of hillside with rocks balanced on the top of eroded earth. Little earth towers!
Woodward Valley Trail
As I entered the trail from Sky Trail, I could see the beautiful meadow was completely untouched by the fire, and the magical thing on this trail was the fir needle path with no footprints. I walked along the edge to leave the center unspoiled so that it might beckon others. The fire did only minor damage to the forested part of the trail. However, as you leave the fir forest, you see the epicenter of the fire with every tree and shrub charred. This coastal scrub area was covered in ceanothus which burns easily. The panoramic view along the coast was as magnificent as ever.
I returned via the Coast Trail, Fire Lane Trail and Laguna Trail back to the trailhead. I met one friend along the way, a rough-skinned newt. I would have liked to get a better photo but I didn’t want to disturb my friend more than I already had. I was relieved when he walked to the side of the trail away from hiking feet.
