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Spanish Creek Is Glorious

Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley

If you have never seen Indian Rhubarb at peak, now is the time to do so.

Plumas County color spotter Michael Beatley hiked and photographed Spanish creek and the Cascade Trail, from Keddie, just west of Quincy, upstream.

He described it as “One of the best years I have seen during the past 36 years I have lived here.”

  • Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley
  • Indian rhubarb (darmera), Spanish Creek (10/16/19) Michael Beatley

The Cascade Trail, in its own right, has a fascinating history. It was used by local Maidu people for thousands of years. Remains of a Maidu dwelling can still be seen near the Cascade Trailhead.

Chinese workers constructed the Maxwell Ditch beside the trail in 1872, and Spanish Creek was an active placer (gold) mining area in the 19th and 20th centuries. At several locations along the trail, evidence of mining can still be seen.

The trail was developed to help supply railway construction camps with food and merchandise for construction of the Western Pacific Railroad. Nearby, the Keddie Wye is one of the west’s famous railroad attractions. Train spotters often stop to see long trains of cars passing over it.

Though, at this time of year, a different type of spotter has the best show. They are fall color spotters, enjoying the artistic brilliance of orange-red Indian Rhubarb (darmera) and yellow bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) reflected in the dark waters of Spanish Creek.

  • Spanish Creek (3,264′) – Near Peak (50-75%) GO NOW!
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