Ecological Staircase Trail

Overview

Located within Jug Handle State Natural Reserve, the Ecological Staircase Trail is a favorite of area locals who enjoy the rich and varied ecological treasures found here. While Jug Handle, (and the Mendocino coast) is likely a lesser known area among non-bay area dwellers, it has long been a weekend destination for those willing to make the 3.5 hour drive from San Francisco. (Take it from a local: This drive is WELL worth the time, both for the outdoor opportunities once you reach the Mendocino coast, as well as for the gorgeous drive through coastal Redwoods and lesser known wine country). The Ecological Staircase Trail is the only maintained trail within Jug Handle, offering a breathtaking variety of environments within a 5 mile round trip. Traveling from the coast and heading inland for 2.5 miles (5 miles roundtrip), you’ll experience three marine terraces, each of which was formed 100,000 years before the terrace below, as the land underwent tectonic uplift. The lowest terrace consists of prairie; the second is covered with pines; the third supports a unique pigmy forest with knee-high trees possibly several decades old. All this in one hike! The trail starts at the parking lot, where visitors can obtain a self-guided pamphlet for the Ecological Staircase Trail (note: this box is sometimes empty, but the guide isn’t required for navigation. However, if possible to obtain a guide, it is highly recommended as it provides interesting side information that corresponds to numbered signs along the trail).  From the parking lot, the trail begins to travel towards the ocean, passing through the lowest (and newest) terrace, locally known as the headlands. Here, three plant communities exist; the North Coast Bluff Scrub, the Coastal Prairie, and the Bishop or Closed-Cone Pine Forest. While the entire terrace was formed at the same time, the different plant communities represent differences in the physical environment. During the spring and summer, the bluffs are doted with native wild flowers. This section of the t

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