Merced River Canyon

April 16, 2012
Merced River Canyon
Total distance: 7.2 miles

It was a warm day with a slight breeze at Briceburg, a recreation area on the Merced River.  I walked across the one-lane suspension bridge spanning the river, through the metal gate and onto the sunny trail.  This was more of a walk and not a hike along the flat area of the old railroad bed.

I watched as rafters negotiated their way down the swift moving Merced River.  There were many varieties of wildflowers blooming.  Bees buzzed from flower to flower competing with the colorful butterflies that flew about.

While meandering along, I carefully skirted patches of poison oak that creeped onto the trail.  There were gullies to walk through where railroad trestles once stood.  I maneuvered around a king snake who posed for a photo, then ended the walk at the Slate Creek Bridge, constructed in 1926 having walked 7.2 miles roundtrip.