Plant Guide to Laws Loop (Willow Creek Trail, Laws Camp, Caramba Trail), San Jacinto Mountains

Mile	S	#	id?	Common Name	Latin Name	#here	#all
0.00				Begin trail at Saddle Junction; elevation 8075 feet (2460 m)
0.00	b	1		Jeffrey pine	Pinus jeffreyi	99 / 9	87
0.00	b	2		white fir	Abies concolor	99 / 9	89
0.01	l			Sign: "Skunk Cabbage; Willow Creek; Long Valley" with an arrow pointing ahead.
0.02	b	3		Sierra Nevada lotus	Lotus nevadensis var. nevadensis	99 / 9	46
0.02	l	4		pinegrove gayophytum	Gayophytum oligospermum	30 / 5	43
0.02	l			(San Gabriel beardtongue, Penstemon labrosus; Parish's snowberry, Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii)
0.02	b	5		one-seeded pussypaws	Calyptridium monospermum	50 / 3	23
0.03	r			(Elmer's needlegrass, Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens)
0.03	r			(squirreltail, Elymus elymoides)
0.05	b	6		Parish's snowberry	Symphoricarpos rotundifolius var. parishii	99 / 9	59
0.06				Trail turns left 90°
0.07	l	7		San Gabriel beardtongue	Penstemon labrosus	2 / 2	33
0.07	l			(western wallflower, Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum)
0.07	l	8		Fremont's goosefoot	Chenopodium fremontii	99 / 5	42
0.07	l	9		groundsmoke	Gayophytum diffusum ssp. parviflorum	99 / 2	34
0.07	l	10		changeable phacelia	Phacelia mutabilis	99 / 9	43
0.09	b	11		fragile sheath sedge	Carex fracta	99 / 9	56
0.09	r			(Scouler's willow, Salix scouleriana)
0.09	r	12		western wallflower	Erysimum capitatum ssp. capitatum	50 / 9	73
0.09	b	13		fringed brome	Bromus ciliatus	2 / 1	26
0.09	r	14		Nevada cinquefoil (now only off-trail here; seen on-trail one year)	Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis	10 / 3	27
0.09				Cross dry drainage.
0.09	r	15		Brewer's monkeyflower	Mimulus breweri	5 / 1	20
0.09	r			(musk monkeyflower, Mimulus moschatus; larger mountain monkeyflower, Mimulus tilingii)
0.09	l	16		bracken	Pteridium aquilinum var. pubescens	99 / 9	66
0.09	r	17		wax currant	Ribes cereum var. cereum	20 / 9	59
0.12	r			(pine lousewort, Pedicularis semibarbata)
0.13	r	18		San Jacinto lupine	Lupinus hyacinthinus	99 / 9	58
0.13	l	19		pine lousewort	Pedicularis semibarbata	50 / 9	50
0.13	l	20		white catch-fly	Silene verecunda ssp. platyota	50 / 9	60
0.13	l			(spotted coralroot, Corallorhiza maculata)
0.16	l	21		Cleveland's horkelia	Horkelia clevelandii	5 / 1	31
0.19	l			(mountain mugwort, Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta)
0.19	b	22		spotted coralroot	Corallorhiza maculata	30 / 9	25
0.19	r			(California corn lily, Veratrum californicum var. californicum)
0.19	r			(pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea)
0.26	r	24		mountain mugwort	Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. incompta	99 / 9	49
0.28	l			(slender wheatgrass, Elymus trachycaulus)
0.29	l	23		purple false-gilia	Allophyllum divaricatum	2 / 1	26
0.32	l			(bitter cherry, Prunus emarginata)
0.34	r			(ranger's buttons, Sphenosciadium capitellatum)
0.37	r	25		little false-solomon's-seal	Smilacina stellata	20 / 2	14
0.37	l	26		plain mariposa lily	Calochortus invenustus	5 / 2	36
0.37	l	27	~	Check for pine violet	Viola pinetorum ssp. pinetorum	2 / 1	6
0.37	r			(California brome, Bromus carinatus var. carinatus)
0.38	b	28		yarrow	Achillea millefolium	40 / 5	55
0.38	r			(lemon lily, Lilium parryi)
0.38	b	29		blue wildrye	Elymus glaucus ssp. glaucus	50 / 9	28
0.38	l	30		squirreltail	Elymus elymoides	50 / 9	59
0.39	l	31		ranger's buttons	Sphenosciadium capitellatum	30 / 5	38
0.39	r	32		California brome	Bromus carinatus var. carinatus	50 / 9	58
0.39	l	33		Check for Elmer's needlegrass	Achnatherum occidentale ssp. pubescens	2 / 2	1
0.39	l			Check for (wild tarragon, Artemisia dracunculus)
0.40	r			View of Skunk Cabbage Meadow
0.41	l	34		vari-nerved sedge	Carex heteroneura var. heteroneura	2 / 1	15
0.41	l	35		Kentucky blue grass	Poa pratensis ssp. agassizensis	/	31
0.41	b	36		abrupt-beak sedge	Carex abrupta	5 / 1	23
0.41	l	37		musk monkeyflower	Mimulus moschatus	99 / 1	41
0.41	l	38		Idaho bentgrass	Agrostis idahoensis	/	47
0.41	b	39		mountain carpet clover	Trifolium monanthum var. grantianum	/	39
0.41	l	40		slender wheatgrass	Elymus trachycaulus	25 / 9	26
0.41	b			first on-trail Nevada cinquefoil, Potentilla glandulosa ssp. nevadensis, in 2011
0.41	l	41		glandular willowherb	Epilobium ciliatum ssp. glandulosum	5 / 1	12
0.41	l	42		western bistort	Polygonum bistortoides	5 / 1	10
0.41	b	43		slender hairgrass	Deschampsia elongata	50 / 3	41
0.41	b	44		slender cinquefoil	Potentilla gracilis var. fastigiata	10 / 2	8
0.41	l	45		Parish's yampah	Perideridia parishii	5 / 1	14
0.41	l	46		western marsh cudweed	Gnaphalium palustre	10 / 1	18
0.41	r	47		mat muhly	Muhlenbergia richardsonis	1 / 1	26
0.42	l	48		lemon lily	Lilium parryi	20 / 3	45
0.42	r			(Parish's lupine, Lupinus latifolius var. parishii)
0.45	r	49		goldenrod	Solidago californica	50 / 5	101
0.46				Cross small drainage
0.48	b	50		rigid hedge-nettle	Stachys ajugoides var. rigida	20 / 2	58
0.48	r	51		long-anthered rush	Juncus macrandrus	10 / 1	36
0.48	r	52		larger mountain monkeyflower	Mimulus tilingii	50 / 9	45
0.48	l	53		tinker's penny	Hypericum anagalloides	10 / 1	17
0.48	b	54		thyme-leaved speedwell	Veronica serpyllifolia ssp. humifusa	10 / 1	24
0.48	l	55		swamp sedge	Carex senta	30 / 3	46
0.48	l	56		small white violet	Viola macloskeyi	30 / 1	23
0.48				Cross wet drainage with a low depression to the left.
0.48	r	57		floriferous monkeyflower	Mimulus floribundus	20 / 2	25
0.48	b	58		spike bentgrass	Agrostis exarata	10 / 1	21
0.52	r			Skunk Cabbage Jct.: elevation ~8000 feet (2438 m); jct. trail to Tahquitz Valley; continue ahead; trail flat for next 0.3 miles
0.61	r	59		pinedrops	Pterospora andromedea	20 / 9	40
0.61	l	60		wild tarragon	Artemisia dracunculus	99 / 9	79
0.61	l			Jct. trail to campsite
0.74	b	61		San Bernardino rubber rabbitbrush	Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. bernardinus	30 / 9	65
0.74	r			Jct. trail to campsite
0.77				Leave bracken and wet area
0.78	l			(*downy brome, Bromus tectorum)
0.80				Trail resumes descent
0.81	b	62		Wright's buckwheat	Eriogonum wrightii var. subscaposum	50 / 9	40
0.81	l			(green-leaf manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula)
0.81	b	63		mountain whitethorn	Ceanothus cordulatus	40 / 9	65
0.88				Cross moist drainage and ascend briefly
0.89	l	64		broad-leaved lotus	Lotus crassifolius var. crassifolius	/	27
0.93	r	65		short-flowered monardella	Monardella nana ssp. tenuiflora	30 / 9	43
0.93	r			(naked buckwheat, Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum)
0.94				Cross small dry drainage
0.98	r	66	~	Scouler's willow	Salix scouleriana	10 / 3	51
0.98				Cross drainage; willows resprouting here from small lightning-caused fire in 2000, but kept low by deer
0.99	b	67		San Jacinto buckwheat	Eriogonum apiculatum	50 / 5	42
1.01	l	68		bitter cherry	Prunus emarginata	99 / 9	31
1.01				Cross small drainage
1.01	r	69		zig-zag gayophytum	Gayophytum heterozygum	/	2
1.06	l			(bush chinquapin, Chrysolepis sempervirens)
1.09				Cross small drainage
1.10	l			(incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens)
1.12	r			(Grinnell's beardtongue, Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii)
1.12	l		?	(~Martin's paintbrush, ~Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii; Sierra gooseberry, Ribes roezlii var. roezlii)
1.13				Trail curves left at ridge
1.15	r			(fir dwarf-mistletoe, Arceuthobium abietinum)
1.16	r	70		California black oak	Quercus kelloggii	1 / 1	33
1.17	l	71		hybrid manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula X A. pringlei ssp. drupacea	1 / 1	5
1.18	l	72	?	giant red paintbrush??	Castilleja miniata ssp. miniata??	1 / 1	38
1.19	l			(canyon live oak, Quercus chrysolepis)
1.25				(Martin's paintbrush, ~Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii)
1.25				Trail curves left at ridge
1.26	b	73		bush chinquapin	Chrysolepis sempervirens	50 / 9	53
1.31	b	74		green-leaf manzanita	Arctostaphylos patula	50 / 9	50
1.32	b	75		sugar pine	Pinus lambertiana	/	64
1.35	l		sp	(Cordylanthus sp.)
1.36	r			(snow-plant, Sarcodes sanguinea)
1.36	l	76		pipsissewa	Chimaphila umbellata	20 / 1	5
1.38	r	77		beaked penstemon	Penstemon rostriflorus	/	50
1.38	r	78		mountain pink currant	Ribes nevadense	10 / 2	53
1.41	r	79		western columbine	Aquilegia formosa	5 / 2	57
1.41	b	80		pearlwort	Sagina saginoides	5 / 1	29
1.41	b	81		brittle bladder fern	Cystopteris fragilis	1 / 1	42
1.41	l			(streambank lotus, Lotus oblongifolius var. oblongifolius)
1.41				Cross Willow Creek; local low point; elevation ~7800 feet (2377 m)
1.41	r	82	~	tall mannagrass	Glyceria elata	5 / 1	35
1.41	l	83		glaucus willowherb	Epilobium glaberrimum ssp. glaberrimum	50 / 9	30
1.41	r	84		western azalea	Rhododendron occidentale	10 / 2	40
1.42	r	85		fir dwarf-mistletoe	Arceuthobium abietinum	5 / 1	10
1.55	b	86		Grinnell's beardtongue	Penstemon grinnellii var. grinnellii	2 / 1	43
1.58				Local high point; elevation ~7880 feet (2402 m)
1.70	r	87		yellow willow	Salix lutea	2 / 2	25
1.70				Cross creek (short tributary to Willow Creek) with running water; local low point; elevation 7840 feet (2390 m)
1.76				Trail turns right 90°
1.84	r			Jct trail to Laws; local high point; elevation ~7900 feet (2408 m); turn right and go to Laws Camp
1.84	l			Sign: "TBS"
1.84	l	88	~	pinewoods rock-cress	Arabis holboellii var. pinetorum	5 / 1	27
1.91	l	89		naked buckwheat	Eriogonum nudum var. pauciflorum	40 / 9	56
1.93	l	90		mountain California-fuchsia	Epilobium canum ssp. latifolium	20 / 3	94
1.93	r	91		canyon live oak	Quercus chrysolepis	20 / 9	77
1.97				Trail curves right at drainage and then curves left
2.00	r			View of entire Tahquitz ridge
2.06	b			Trail makes half circle on right on flattened spot; many dead firs with dead fir mistletoe, Phoradendron pauciflorum here
2.09				Good view of desert
2.17				Switchback left
2.20				Long switchback right
2.21	l			(nearby incense-cedar, Calocedrus decurrens)
2.21	r		~	(pine dwarf-mistletoe, Arceuthobium campylopodum)
2.28				Switchback left
2.28	r			(California-aster, Lessingia filaginifolia var. filaginifolia)
2.32	l	92		beautiful hulsea	Hulsea vestita ssp. callicarpha	10 / 2	32
2.33				Trail curves right
2.41	r	93		incense-cedar	Calocedrus decurrens	20 / 3	58
2.47	r			(Interesting green-leaf manzanita, Arctostaphylos patula, which split a boulder)
2.57				Switchback left
2.64	l			Check to make sure this honking grass is Poa pratensis
2.67				Trail curves right
2.71	l		~	(~willowherb, ~Epilobium ciliatum ssp. ?)
2.71				Cross Willow Creek again; elevation 7440 feet (2268 m)
2.72	r			Sign: "Willow Creek (back); Long Valley (back)"; Trail turns left 90°
2.74	b	94		breakfast bedstraw	Kelloggia galioides	50 / 3	5
2.74	r			(Fendler's meadow-rue, Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri)
2.76	l			(Campsites on other side of Willow Creek)
2.76	r	95		Hall's brome	Bromus orcuttianus var. hallii	/	8
2.83				Laws Jct.; jct. Caramba Trail; go right on it; low point on loop, elevation ~7425 feet (2263 m)
3.18	r	96		leafy daisy	Erigeron foliosus var. foliosus	2 / 2	80
3.20	l			(Martin's paintbrush, ~Castilleja applegatei ssp. martinii; only ones seen in 2007)
3.24	r	97		Sierra gooseberry	Ribes roezlii var. roezlii	/	43
3.27	r	98		tall trisetum	Trisetum canescens	/	14
3.27				Cross lush creek without water
3.27	l	99		bigleaf lupine	Lupinus polyphyllus var. burkei	/	15
3.28	l	100		thimbleberry	Rubus parviflorus	10 / 1	31
3.28	l			(California geranium, Geranium californicum, along bank of creek)
3.35				Trail curves left at small drainage
				(closer California corn lily, Veratrum californicum var. californicum)
3.66	l			First good view of Tahquitz Creek
3.71	l	101		splendid gilia	Gilia splendens ssp. splendens	50 / 5	25
3.73	r	102		Utah service-berry	Amelanchier utahensis	1 / 1	23
3.76				Cross drainage in moist area
3.89	r	103		spear-leaved mountain dandelion	Agoseris retrorsa	3 / 1	32
3.90	r	104		Fendler's meadow-rue	Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri	10 / 3	30
3.97	b	105		Mexican rush	Juncus mexicanus	10 / 1	53
3.98				Cross moist drainage
3.99	r			Sign: "Candy's Creek"
4.44				Jct. trail to Skunk Cabbage Meadow (r) and Tahquitz Meadow (l)
5.04				Saddle Junction; end loop

http://tchester.org/sb/plants/guides/willow_creek.html
Updated 15 June 2012.