We have been camped at Brooks Memorial SP since Monday and today we meandered the trail again before heading home to see how many plants were blooming since we walked the trail on Monday and all were now blooming. As we were at the last plant in the loop 2 of the state park maintenance men were coming up the trail. One has been with the park for over 20 years and he was bringing his fellow worker on the trail to show him the plants. He showed us lady slipper plants in the nearby area which we had not seen before as they were slightly off trail amid the trees. He also showed us a nice group of spotted coral plants.

Today we made our annual trip to Brooks Memorial State Park to hopefully see blooming Mountain Lady Slippers. We were able to find some blooming ones, but many are still in the embryo stage. Balsamroot was fading and lupine was just beginning. Its fragrance filled the air in the light breeze which followed us on much of the trail. The trail begins from the TH across HWY 97 from the CG where we are camping for 3 nights. When we reach the trail sign which is in the collage in the 4th picture, we headed east (left) on the Brooks Nature Trail which is no longer signed to do a lolly-pop loop to the start of the Lady Slipper Trail which is no longer signed. This trail returns to the Brooks Nature Trail and back to the TH parking area. One spotted coral root, a few pea flowers, yellow desert parsley,a few prairie stars and Larkspur were also seen. 

Spent a couple days running around the trails as part of a trail assessment for WTA.

Great little gem of a park in a lovely part of the state. Trails are in good shape and wildflowers are really good right now. Can walk almost all the trails in a half day.

Since it was opening weekend of rifle deer hunting season and a 3-day holiday weekend as well, we decided to play it safe and hike in a state park where hunting is not allowed.

We had not hiked at Brooks since last year so we were surprised by some new changes. The biggest change is a formal trail map and designated, marked trails. The trails are marked with brown carsonite posts with colored stripes at the top that correspond to the trail colors on the map.

We parked at the Meadows Trailhead and hiked the service road up to the first meadow. From there we hiked both the Camp Creek Loop and the Monastery Fire Loop. A picnic table in the shade of a large Oregon white oak tree at the upper meadow provided a great spot for our lunch break.

We enjoyed a fine autumn day of blue skies and colorful trees changing color and no other hikers.

#Gratitude

Today was our annual trip to see the mountain lady slippers along the Lady Slipper Loop at Brooks Memorial SP. It is just a little over an hour from Yakima Sportsman SP where we are camped. Our meander was 2 miles from the TH with only 205 feet gain. We found blooming plants in at least 10 areas and many of the areas had several plants. There were a few embryos with blooms yet to open. There was one vehicle parked at the TH parking area, but we saw no other hikers. Lupine, balsamroot, desert parsley, silver crown and 2 spotted coralroot were also seen.