Biking the Sutter Trail & Hiking the Phantom Falls Trail - CA

Nicolaus, CA

Minden Lake RV Resort

It's so nice that the storms have taken a break and we can enjoy some blue skies and sunshine.

Before we left, I visited my parents.  Bonus was my Uncle Danny/Godfather was there too.  I haven't seen him for one reason or another since Covid started.  We had a very nice visit.

This park is ok.  The sites have decent room.  We're in the D20, W/30a.  What I like about it is there is a lot of open, flat space to ride your bike or walk and get away from the trailers and other people. It's a nice place to be in the spring when it's green.  In the summer it gets very hot here!

There's a large path around some of the fields.

It's a nice mile walk around the field.

There is a good-sized lake/pond that you can also walk/ride around.

The Sutter Bike Trail runs between the towns of Sutter and Yuba City.  It's a 5 mile rural area on the former Sacramento Northern Railroad right of way.  Since Steve is still healing, we took it easy on this flat path.

You pass olive and walnut orchards.

The Sutter Buttes in the distance.

There are rice fields and ranches.

This is a Boer goat which is a typical goat raised for meat.

Cute name for a ranch.

There were cattle and horses too.

At the Sutter end are the graineries.

This area is also a huge flyway for migrating waterfowl.  Ducks, geese and cranes can be seen everywhere.

The ravens like to roost at the tops of the trees at night.

After our ride we came home and made some Pasta & Shrimp in a light creme sauce.  Yum!

Another night we finally had a chance to catch up with friends Scott and Nesha.  Dinner at the Ranch House was delicious.  Hopefully we'll see them again before we leave the area.

And my favorite part of our 2 weeks here was the hike to Phantom Falls.  I had wanted to hike in the Buttes but they are private property.  There is a conservancy that offers a few hikes but they were booked.  Second up was North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve which is 3,315 acres in Oroville, CA.  Our friends Rick and Angie live near here and mentioned it too.

Table Mountain was formed by ancient lava flows of basalt rock which holds water resulting in spectacular spring wildflowers and waterfalls.  The falls only flow for a very short time, especially after heavy rains.  Each person must have a Lands Pass to enter the area which was $5.  This mighty oak is at the trailhead.  It's mostly open, rolling, rocky rangeland with a few oaks here and there.

This is a 4.2 mile out and back trail.  Some flat and some hilly.  Luckily most of the mud has dried up.

Just a couple small stream crossings.

We got very lucky with the sunniest day yet and no wind.

Ravine Falls is visible first.  You see it in the distance and then hike down the canyon to the base of the falls.

It's a short downhill section.  It was very smooth and grassy with a few trees down.

Ravine Falls

Ravine Falls singing her song.

Then it's up the other side of the canyon which is a bit steeper.  Steve did very well and we took our time.

Looking back across the canyon at Ravine Falls.

It's not wildflower season just yet but these tiny yellow flowers called Glue-Seed or Yellow Carpet are beginning to bloom. It's obvious why they call them that.  Some sections were blanketed with them.

As you get close to the Phantom Falls you can see the huge canyon that opens up with panoramic views.

The hillside here is covered in oaks.

Little Phantom Falls.  You can hike around the rim for different views, but across from it is best. You can see people above for scale.

Phantom Falls will be on the left with Little Phantom Falls to the right.

This view is deceiving.  It looks like falls go into a pool but that is actually shade from a shelf that you see.  The falls are about 165 feet.

The view of the canyon from here is amazing!

The gap between North and South Table mesas with the central valley beyond.

Time to head back.

Steve checking out the roots of a huge recently fallen tree.

The cows and calves were happily grazing on our way back.  Don't worry, this is zoomed in.  They are used to seeing hikers but best to keep your distance as Mama Cow is watching.

Thank goodness the bulls are on the other side of the fence.

One more climb and a field to cross and we'll be back at the parking lot.  What a great hike!  I can't wait to come back for the wildflowers in a couple of months.

As we pulled into camp we noticed this long skinny cloud.  It seemed to stretch from the valley all the way up to the mountains.  The only cloud in the sky.  Pretty cool looking.  Especially reflected in the lake as the sun set.

Our day turned out to be a long one.  We stopped by Rick and Angie's for some pizza and a couple of drinks.  I'm sure we'll see them again before we head back to Placerville.