DeRoux, Teanaway, Wenatchee National Forest
The last time we were here it was with a Mountaineers naturalist class in mid summer with temperatures in the 90s F. This year it has been cooler and a check of the weather made it possible to visit on a more comfortable day. As the sign shows, this trail is open to hikers, mountain bikers, horses, and motorized two wheel bikes but closed to three and four wheel ATVs and other vehicles. We saw no evidence of motorized use and no bike tracks. There were 3 horse trailers and 2 cars in the parking area when we arrived. There were signs that horses were using the trail but we did not encounter any while we were hiking.
DeRoux Falls
DeRoux is in the Teanaway, part of the Wenactchee National Forest. The Forest Service Pass is required. There is an outhouse at the trailhead. Because it is on the east side of the mountains there are some plants that are not found on the wetter, cooler, west side. We had a double goal, to see the rarely photographed DeRoux Falls and enjoy the flowers. We could hear the roar of the falls as we got close but the falls are not visible from the trail. In a couple of places near the falls a short off the trail walk offered good views. These off trail sites do have faint paths to point the way but unless one knows the falls are there it is unlikely that hikers would see them.
Bob at one of the off trail viewing areas for DeRoux Falls
DeRoux Creek
This is in an open mixed forest of mostly pine and fir trees. The dead trees, from fire or disease, have whitened and are sometimes called ghost trees. The DeRoux creek parallels the trail in places and disappears in the woods in others.
Davidson's or Cliff Penstemon
Woodland Penstemon
We saw these two kinds of Penstemon, the bright pink cliff variety or Davidson's Penstemon, and the more usual woodland variety with a blue-purple color. There are several different Penstemons. We have coastal Penstemon growing in our home garden, so it was fun to find two other kinds in the woods.
California False Hellebore
All parts of this plant are poisonous to humans and cattle. It is sometimes called California Corn Lily and differs from the "normal" false Hellebore or Corn Lily we usually see that has drooping greenish flowers instead of white flowers that grow upward. There were thousands of these plants all along the roadside making a splendid looking display. Until we discovered how poisonous they were we were quite taken with their appearance.
This strikingly beautiful black and white, with a little orange, butterfly or moth wouldn't open its wings all the way but waited patiently while I took a picture. I couldn't identify it for sure.
Count for the day: 0 hikers, 0 dogs
4 miles RT, 750 ft elevation gain
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