Field Trip 3 - Seattle Naturalists Intro Natural World Course - Esmeralda Basin & Fortune Creek Pass

Meet 1/4 miles past Beverly Creek Campground at the large turnout at 930 am.

We will be identifying flowers, shrubs, and birds.  The mountains surrounding the North Fork of the Teanaway River have the reputation for sunny weather, even when it is raining in the Seattle.  Plus they offer acres of beautiful wildflower meadows, making this an ideal field trip site to practice wildflower identification.  You will see shooting stars, columbine, paintbrush, phlox, groundsels, penstemon, many shrubs, and at least nine kinds of trees.  This trip will go several miles and less than 1000 ft elevation up into Esmeralda Basin, or as far as group interest and time allow.

Directions:  Take I-90 east to Cle Elum.  Take exit 85 and travel east on highway 970.  In 6.5 miles, turn on to Teanaway River Road.  At milepost 13, pavement ends and the road splits.  Take road 9737 to Beverly Creek Campground.  Restroom is available at Beverly Creek Campground so stop there first.  Northwest Forest Pass is required at the trailheads, but not at the meeting point.