Yesterday we visited Wrightwood, CA to go hiking and sightseeing.
We stopped by The Big Pines Visitor Center to get information.
The Big Pines Visitor Center is a historical building built in 1924. It is open Mondays through Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, and you can obtain National Forest Adventure Passes, Campfire Permits, and much more. There are two hiking sites: the Blue Ridge Trail which is across the road and Big Pines Nature Trail which is above the visitor center building. Restrooms are across the road.
The start of the Nature Trail is above the staircase. The walk is quite simple despite a few steep areas. After a certain point, you can’t go further due to the possibility of encountering a Mountain Lion.
Due to the extreme weather, we did not venture on the Blue Ridge Trail.
There is a sitting area across the road. It’s next to the public restrooms and the parking leading to the Blue Ridge Trail.
While hiking, we spotted a few native plants on our way up:
Arctostaphylos Parryana (also known as Parry Manzanita), Eriastrum Sapphirinum (also known as Sapphire Woollystar), Asclepias Californica (also known as California Milkweed), Castilleja Applegatei (also known as Applegate’s Indian Paintbrush ), Phacelia Ramosissima (also known as Branching Phacelia), Penstemon Speciosus (also known as Royal Penstemon), Justicia Californica (also known as Chuparosa), Astragalus Lentiginosus (also known as Freckled Milkvetch), and Hypericum Calycinum (also known as Creeping St. John’s Wort).
We wrapped up our trip by visiting Alice’s Vintage Cottage.
By Rachel
