Lincoln National Forest - McAfee Canyon

The entrance to McAfee Canyon is very slightly southwest  of and across the highway (County Road E- 12, also known as FR 537 and the Sacramento River Road) from the pull-out parking for the Corral Canyon Trail. There is level, gravel area across from the mouth with room for a couple of vehicles to park. After parking, and figuring out for sure which canyon we wanted, we hiked across the Sacramento "River" and up and onto the dirt cattle trail cut in the green turf of weeds, wildflowers, and grass. The "trail" doesn't last for long, but it's no matter, the valley is easy, if somewhat lumpy walking without one. Here and there are narrow passages between the forested hillsides with a channel for stream flow( but no water) where there were cropped older spruces, but also a conifer nursery of sorts lining the banks with young spruces and firs.

 Mostly, however it was wide, without an obvious stream course and open to the sun as is typical of many, many named and anonymous canyons in the Sacramentos.  Thistle was blooming, and butterflies  were making their way from purple flower to purple flower. Beware of the stinging leaves. You can even feel it through your clothes. Our dogs did their best to avoid contact with them as we marched ever upward.

Chipmunks and squirrels scrambled and squeaked in the many very old slash piles ( perhaps even left from the railroad days?). Flashes of blue descending through pines was a Stellar's jay, ravens beat their wings among the trees, and a few juncos bounced from branch to branch. We heard an elk bugling, but never saw any larger animals, including cows ( for which I was grateful as I had two cattle-hating Scotties with me). 

 An old railroad grade, now given the road ( or trail ) number 5015 crosses the canyon about half-way up. We used it for a little ways to bypass a lengthy area of downfall on the way up and on the way back.

 The nicest thing about this valley hike that is so similar to others around the forest is that it ends at the Sacramento Rim. There weren't many views where we emerged, but a short walk north led to and open area with long distance scenery all the way out to the white sands and beyond.  

We tried the south branch of the railroad grade  when we were returning, but after a short distance realize it was taking us up the mountain and not likely return to the canyon. So, we cut back down a ravine, on the way walking past a huge sawn log that must have come loose way back when.

  The shade was plentiful on this fall day and it didn't get above 65 degrees, so all in all it was hike that was just what we were looking for: an escape from the lingering heat in the desert. The colors of the aspens, maples and oaks had yet to really develop, and it may be that it won't be  great color year due to all the recent moisture, but that's all right.