Islay Creek Hike Day

Went up an old loop trail along Islay Creek yesterday to see if we could get to the back of the park. Well, we could not as the vegetation is extremely overgrown. I actually have a little black poison oak tattoo on my face from the walk (black spots from the sap). The trail was really beautiful though with lots of interesting views and vegetation. 1 1/2 hours to the top, 4 1/2 hours back through the nettles, blackberries and poison oak.

The first picture is of the panorama from Alan Peak to the far left at the end of the Oats/Valencia Peak trail and then all the way around to Hazards Peak to the right. The road up Islay Creek is right down the middle.
Here's some Gaultheria shallon or Salal that is growing in Islay Canyon. We don't get much of this in our area, so it was a treat to see.

Ceanothus papillosus var. roweanus growing right over the trail. This is a rare one in our area and only grows in scattered locations around the region. Usually represented by only a few individuals in any one locality. Another treat to see.

Here's a closer look at that view right down the middle of the canyon.