Sunset Rest Area, Highway 26, between mile 28-29
This rest stop is located on the south side of the South Fork Rock Creek, and has a short loop trail, reached by a bridge across the creek from the rest area.
The creek is cobble bottomed here, with a low damp terrace under the conifers and hardwoods. Nettles are extensive (proof of damp soils), and grow in patches with tall larkspur, youth on age, Pacific waterleaf, lady fern, and several native grasses. There are thickets of stink currant (lovely plant, horrid common name), thimbleberry and other species of damp shady soils.
Pacific Fritillary and Western Tiger were flying when I stopped in early June. I've seen Margined Whites and Echo Azures on other visits, and other less common species have also been seen here.
Among the usual damp soil and shade plants of the Coast Range, this site also has California Hellebore and Carolina Bugbane, two less common and very showy plants when in flower. All of the Hellebores that were flowering this time were buried in tall stands of nettles.
If you are looking for butterflies, or just want a cool walk in the woods to take a break during a road trip, this is a nice stop on a hot summer day.
