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Jug Handle Trail: Location 16

Around two hundred thousand years ago, when the third "step" of the ecological staircase head was at the edge of the ocean, winds and waves created a sand dune that was lifted along with the rock beneath. Now this ancient dune is eroding to form a well drained soil that favors the growth of the forest that you enter as you leave the old logging road. The forest is dominated by redwoods and Douglas firs.

The forest floor is covered with shade-loving plants, especially sword fern, with leaflets shaped like little swords, and redwood sorrel, with leaves that are purple underneath. In spring and summer look for white trillium flowers (three petals, three sepals, and three leaves). The lavender calypso orchid, the minute pinkish starflower, and clusters of red clintonia blossoms.