MERCED RIVER TRAIL – Briceburg (Past)

DATE: Saturday, April 1, 2023

LEADER: David Campbell with BLM Ranger, David Greenwood
LEVEL: Moderate – Flat Trail along railroad grade turned trail to start, then hiking up steeper foot trail with moderate elevation gain. 5.5 miles out and back.
DESCRIPTION: Explore the main stem and North Fork of the Merced River to see early season foothill blooms. This should be good timing to view the hillsides covered in poppies. This trip pairs with the May 6th, Hite Cove trip along the South Fork of the Merced River to view later season blooms and all the forks of the Merced River. The trail is a flat railroad grade turned trail to start, then follows up a steeper grade along the North Fork of the Merced and onto a different aspect where we expect to find a different suite of species blooming.
MEETING PLACE: Meet at the Briceburg Visitor Center Parking (right off of Hwy 140). Compress into fewer vehicles, if possible, to drive to the trailhead, about 5 miles down Briceburg Rd., a graded dirt road along the River.
MEETING TIME: 8:00 am
RSVP & MORE INFORMATION: DCampbell.CNPS@gmail.com