Ecological Staircase Nature Trail

We stopped at Jug Handle State Natural Reseve south of Fort Bragg, CA to hike the Ecological Staircase Nature Trail, we did 4.5 miles round trip with about 300 ft of gain.

First we took the short trail down to look at the beach at Jug Handle.

Then up the stairs to start the trail.

The trail goes through a tunnel of shrubbery and trees.

Then crosses under Highway 1

Stairs lead down to Jug Handle Creek

And a wooden bridge goes over Jug Handle Creek

Jug Handle Creek this morning.

This is a very pleasant forest walk.

We saw lots of shrubs, vines, ferns, and trees.

Walking under an arch of branches.

There are some tall second growth redwood trees.

Some very tall redwood trees

We also found ripe huckleberries, both blue 

and red.

We returned back towards the beginning of the trail going up the stairs,

and back through the shrubbery tunnel.