| This weekend Todd and I went exploring in our backyard. After conducting the campfire program at Quaking Aspen Campground Saturday night we camped there and in the morning we woke up and I made breakfast burritos. Then we drove south along the Western Divide Highway to the Crawford Road. This road goes northeast up and over Windy Gap then skirts along the headwaters of the South Fork Tule River passing through the Red Hill Grove of Giant Sequoias. There are wonderful views of Slate Mountain and Mule Peak along the way. This road then cuts across a corner of the Tule River Indian Reservation then turns northwest and enters the Black Mountain Grove. This is one of the largest sequoia groves and it spans the ridgeline between the Middle and South Fork Tule Rivers. We then took the Solo Peak Road which is reported to be the longest road within a single sequoia grove. You can travel about 8 miles out along the ridgeline on this road. Along the way you will see many sequoias as well as fabulous views looking north towards Dennison Peak, Moses Mountain, Maggie Mountain, and Jordan Peak. After exploring the grove we drove down towards Camp Nelson and found a campsite at Coy Flat Campground. Even on a busy holiday weekend you can usually find a place to camp here in this little campground amongst the cedar and oak trees. |
