Field Trip: Butler Bar

Saturday, May 25, 10:30 am

Leader: Olivia Dethlefsen at ol**************@gm***.com (Note email Jb***@ba****.com as Olivia will be out of town until mid-May)
Location: Near Butler Bar Campground, 22 miles from Port Orford

This plant walk will consist of three legs. First, we will visit a Pacific dogwood located in the campground itself. Next is a short walk on NF-5325, in the direction of Laird Lake, to look at some special plants of interest there. After we walk back past our parking area, there will be an optional third leg, involving a little bit more hiking. We will explore about one to one to one-half mile up NF-5201, following Butler Creek, and then return the same way. This road is closed to vehicles at this time but is fine for walking. There is a patchwork of burn scars and slides, interspersed with less disturbed parts which remain green. We may see a couple new plants on this leg, but the main interest here is the chance to compare the disturbance and regrowth to NF-5325.

The first two legs will be about one-half mile of walking total, with little elevation change. The last leg will be two to three miles total, walking uphill and then downhill on the return. Binoculars are encouraged: one side of the road is a steep, rocky slope, so binoculars will give you a little bit more to look at higher on the cliffs. This forest includes tanoak. To prevent spreading sudden oak death, if you are coming from Brookings, Gold Beach, or Port Orford, it is encouraged to make sure you aren’t tracking in mud or leaf litter from another tanoak forest.

If you are interested in attending this plant walk, please sign up by emailing Julia Bott at Jb***@ba****.com as Olivia will be out of town until mid-May. Olivia (ol**************@gm***.com) will provide additional details and directions once she returns.