Geo 730: August 25, Day 602: Yellowbottom Falls

The next stop after the quick pull-off to see the Boulder Creek boulder (which, depending on time constraints, I more often than not didn't do with middle-schoolers) is Yellowbottom Falls. This spot is not really visible from the road, but it's about 0.2-0.3 miles up the road from the Yellowbottom Campground and day use area (The latter has parking and vault toilets, and we'd generally stop there first for a bathroom break. If you choose to swim here- highly recommended for people who don't mind their swim on the chilly side- the day use area is here, and can also serve as a spot to change with some privacy.) There's a fairly wide strip of Douglas firs between the road and the creek upstream from the day use area; they gradually thin as the road and creek converge just upstream from the falls. Where the road and the creek are closest, the firs end and there's a patch of alders along the bank. You'll see a number of pull-outs along the creek side of the road, into the firs, and the last one or two before the alders offer the easiest access to this spot. I'll let the importance and nature of this rock simmer until tomorrow, but if the anticipation is too much, you can go read Dana's spoiler.

Photo unaltered. August 5, 2012. FlashEarth Location.