Category: Field Trips

— by Anne Adams

On Saturday, June 21, a group of nineteen people and two sociable canines gathered at Booty’s Road Park in Georgetown to hike a one-half mile section of the San Gabriel River Trail. The outing began with a plant scavenger hunt at the edge of the parking lot, where a diverse group of trees, shrubs, and vines could easily be observed at eye level. Participants were challenged to find eighteen species listed on a handout.

From the parking lot, we headed east following the concrete trail that passes through an open woodland of Ashe juniper, Escarpment live oak, and Cedar elm. The path soon transitions to decomposed granite and enters a shaded riparian woodland. Here the path is bordered by a steep limestone bluff on the left, and the North Fork of the San Gabriel River on the right. Along the base of the bluff, large boulders provide varied terrain for an interesting mix of herbaceous plants, including Turk’s cap, Toothleaf goldeneye, Roughstem rosinweed, Pigeonberry, Inland wood oats, and White avens.

Overstory trees, including Pecan, Walnut, American elm, American sycamore, and Green ash, form a high, closed canopy, while understory species include Box elder, Texas ash, Carolina buckthorn, Yaupon holly, and Roughleaf dogwood. Vines, including Mustang grape, Virginia creeper, Carolina snailseed, and Yellow passionvine were frequently seen. Less common were Pitcher’s leatherflower, Alabama supplejack, Anglepod, and a delicate Creeping cucumber.

Adding interest to the hike were several small, natural seeps that emerge from the bluff and flow under the trail through culverts, trickling down toward the river. One of the prettiest spots was a small, spring-fed pool lined with maidenhair ferns and moss-covered rocks, fed by a perennial spring higher up on the bluff. At this popular spot, the group took time to enjoy the scenery as the outflow from the pool forms a wide, shallow sheet that cascades down a rocky slope dotted with mosses, ferns, and lush aquatic vegetation. Near this spot, observant participants noticed the pink flowers of Marsh fleabane, as well as white-flowered American water willow, in moist soils along the river bank. A little past the pool, where the trail splits around some major boulders, the group observed several Rusty blackhaw, a small tree distinct for its shiny opposite leaves and dark checkered bark. A little farther on, the group turned around and we retraced our steps back to the parking lot.

While some of the participants had hiked this trail before, it was a new experience for others. On this day, the easily accessible trail was populated with hikers, cyclists, dog walkers, and families with strollers. Our group found that, even on a warm June day, this woodland trail provided a welcome respite from the rising heat.