Bridges cross Little River in Van Damme State Park in Mendocino. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Sometimes it’s good to read the literature provided about a location as well as signs along a trail. No matter how much you think you might know, you probably don’t know everything.

I found this to be true while hiking recently in Van Damme State Park in Mendocino.

Having lived in Lake Tahoe where Kokanee salmon spawn I thought I knew quite a bit. The sign in this coastal park with the title How a Salmon Becomes a Tree caught my attention.

While warnings are posted about mountain lions, slugs are sometimes the only wildlife to be seen in Van Damme State Park. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

The sign said: “The wild coho salmon’s annual migration from stream to sea and back again is a surge of energy nutrients that weaves the land and the ocean into one vital web. Coho enter the sea as small fish and return to their ‘home’ stream as adults—large and determined to spawn before they die. Insects, birds, bears, and other animals gorge on dead salmon, then fly or wander, depositing salmon and nutrients far from the stream bank. From ferns to trees, streamside plants benefit from these ocean nutrients. Scientists recognize that more salmon fertilizing the forest leads to wider growth rings in trees. More fish in the stream means bigger trees in the forest.”

Other than the spawning and fish becoming food for other animals I never thought about the actual impact salmon have on the forest. This proves life is circular and every beings’ impact has a ripple effect.

It’s the Little River that flows through the park. It’s a constant companion along most of the Fern Canyon Scenic Trail.

Redwoods and ferns are some of the most common flora in Mendocino County. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Something else on this hike that I learned is what I though was clover is actually redwood sorrel. One way to know for sure is the underside of the sorrel is dark purple.

I’m guessing the “clover” I’ve seen of late while hiking in Sonoma County is likely redwood sorrel as well.

Two of the attractions in this state park are the Fern Trail and Pygmy Forest. The former was stunning. I can’t imagine ever getting tired of wandering through towering redwoods, with ferns seeming to be able to grow between any crack in a wall of rock. Listening to the gentle wind and the rippling creek, well, it was soothing to the senses.

Redwood sorrel covers part of the forest floor in Van Damme park. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

A pygmy forest is also part of this park. Access can be via the trial I was on or driving right to it without having to pay the park entrance fee. I’ll take the redwoods and ferns over the stunted trees. Still, the diversity of vegetation was rather remarkable on this 8.15 mile jaunt.

In all, I had an elevation gain of 647 feet. The minimum elevation was 247 feet, while the max was 685.

Dogs and e-bikes are not permitted on the trails I was on.