Elsa Rupp Nature Trail

Finding this place was really easy, you pass the fish hatchery and follow the signs. Even I didn't get lost! The parking lot wasn't much bigger than a large camping spot, but it was completely shaded, which was nice.

This trail was short, even for me, and the ground was covered with lush, green vegetation. For someone who can be completely entranced by nature, I am reminded that I am still a city girl by the way I get startled when I hear rustling in the bushes. So I ordered myself a whistle and kept going.

The path is really easy to follow and well maintained, although there was one spot I thought I might go right but immediately saw a barbed wire fence and changed my mind. The trail narrows in a few areas due to the bushes and vines and ferns growing on the ground. Other than the footpath you could not see the forest floor at all for most of the trek.

The greenery was abundant and heavenly. And the trees...tall, strong, impressive. The way pines grow is fascinating to me; losing their needles on lower branches to allow the tops to grow and thrive and absorb the sun. They often look dead until you look up to the sky to see the branches full of needles and pine cones.

Yes, this is when I pause to talk to the trees, thanking them for their shade and wondering about all the things they have lived through. They have persevered through floods, drought, pollution, fires, and humans. It's awe inspiring.

Continuing on, I walked across a few bridges. Some were put on the path to cover what would have been mud or possibly a trickle of water. Then I came to a beautiful open space with a bench and a bridge with a railing. The water was gorgeous and clear and rushing over the tiniest waterfall made by fallen branches. When I sent the pictures to my daughter, she said it looks like fairies live here. I didn't see anything resembling the Home Tree, but I can definitely envision Pixie Hollow looking like this.

After crossing the bridge, the path runs right next to the river for a while. The water rushes and then comes to spots where it seems so still, it flows unobstructed and then moves past fallen branches and large rocks and tree stumps and pebbles and sand. And then I came to a clearing and I didn't just pause, I came to a full stop.

The sun was peeking through the branches, the trees towering over me in their majesty, the verdure in all of its shades of green, the wind rustling the leaves, the rushing of the water, the scent of it all enveloping me...I was swept with emotion and abundance and gratitude. Gratitude to the Rupp family for not turning this land into a residential property, to Elsa Rupp for donating the land to ensure it is never developed, to California Fish and Game for maintaining it so people like you and I can experience nature, and for the vastness of life itself.

I will definitely be returning, and I will undoubtedly come to a full stop yet again. I hope you do as well.