Nicolaus to Red Bluff, California – 21 April 2024

We were pleasantly surprised with Sycamore Grove Campground which we thought was a private campground. The park is actually part of the Mendocino National Forest in Northern California, in Red Bluff. There are lots of hikes through flowering grasslands, wetlands and oak woodlands with lots of different birds, bees, butterflies, squirrels, opossums and apparently bobcats and coyotes. The hikes provide incredible views of Mount Shasta, Mount Lassen and the Yolla Bolly Mountains.Sycamore campground is situated on the banks of the Sacramento River which was flowing quite swiftly.

We went for several walks around the campground while we were there, admiring all the spring flowers. There were an abundance of large butterflies with beautiful turquoise, orange and black colours on their wings and black spotted bodies. They are called California Pipevine Swallowtail. The reason for the name is because their larvae feed on plants commonly known as pipevine plants. Incredibly hard to photograph as they move continuously.