Field Trip: Perry Creek and Mount Dickerman Trail

Field Trip Leader: Sandra Ruffner
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Explore a Hidden Fern Haven: Perry Creek Natural Area

Designated in 1997 as a Research Natural Area, Perry Creek is a botanical treasure best known for its astonishing diversity of ferns. These ancient plants — with a lineage stretching back nearly 380 million years — were thriving long before flowers ever entered the evolutionary scene.

While most of the ferns you’ll see in the Pacific Northwest belong to the relatively “modern” Polypodiales group (which emerged during the Cretaceous alongside flowering plants), Perry Creek offers something rare: several species from the much older Ophioglossales lineage — living relics from the deep green past.

On most hikes, spotting ten fern species would signal an impressively diverse landscape. At Perry Creek? Over 30 species of ferns and lycophytes have been documented, and we can expect to encounter at least 20 of them on our route.

The trail also offers a feast for the eyes beyond ferns. Talus slopes descending from Mount Dickerman open up sunlit clearings rich with wildflowers — a vibrant bonus for those with an eye for color and form.

We’ll follow the trail to the Perry Creek crossing — a roughly 6-mile round-trip journey. Pack your lunch, your curiosity, and prepare to meet a side of the Pacific Northwest few ever notice.

🗺 Where: Perry Creek / Mount Dickerman Trailhead
GPS: [48.054549, -121.491068]
🕖 Meet: 7:15 AM at Green Lake Park & Ride
https://maps.app.goo.gl/VPf4jx9UiMzmkrYUA

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