Mendocino Range: Difference between revisions

▲The Mendocino Range rises from the [[California North Coast]] in southern [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]], to include Bear Mountain, Rainbow Ridge and Gypsy Mountain of the Mattole Range, and Grasshopper Peak, which is the dominant mountain within [[Humboldt Redwoods State Park]]. This area is extremely beautiful, with huge stands of giant Old Growth, including the [[Coast Redwood]], [[Douglas Fir]], and [[Grand Fir]]. The [[California State Route 254|Avenue of the Giants]] is a particularly scenic route, providing for car touring of the Redwood Forest. The Mendocino Range continues south into [[Mendocino County]], to include a mountainous region to the east including the [[Mendocino National Forest]] and Yolla Bolly Wilderness along the [[Eel River (California)|Middle Eel]]. Westward, nearer the coast, the Mendocino Range can best be seen by following [[Pacific Coast Highway (US)|Highway 1]]. Scenic vistas include Gilham Butte, the Chemise and Red Mountains along the South Fork of the [[Eel River (California)|Eel River]], and Cahto Peak, near Leggett. These mountains form a rugged terrain that includes Rattlesnake Pass and other mountains along [[U.S. Route 101 (California)|U.S. Route 101]]. This mountainous terrain continues south to include Jackson State Forest and the [[Big River (California)|Big River]] watershed, near [[Fort Bragg, California|Ft. Bragg]] and [[Mendocino, California|Mendocino]], with elevations from sea level to 1710 feet, and the area around Ukiah, to include English Ridge, the Sanhedrin Mountains, the Snow Mountain Wilderness, and Cache Creek. Further south, these mountains gradually become smaller and less rugged, transforming themselves into the [[Mayacamas Mountains]], the Sonoma foothills, and the wine country of the [[Russian River (California)|Russian River]].

▲The Mendocino Range is home to a wide variety of interesting plant and animal species, including Elk, [[American Black Bear|Black Bear]], [[Coho Salmon]], [[Chinook Salmon]], [[Steelhead Trout]], Cutthroat Trout, [[Marbled Murrelet]], [[Northern Spotted Owl]], [[Bald Eagle]], and large communities of [[Polystichum munitum|Sword Fern]] and other unique rainforest species. It contains several large protected forested areas, and is a large part of our national treasure of natural resources.