Natural History Wanderings

submitted by Daniel 

Electra Rd in Jackson CA off of Hwy 49

There are many wildflowers on Electra Rd along the Mokelumne River in Jackson CA (located about 45 miles northeast from Stockton and southeast from Sacramento). Traveling from Sacramento, I took Hwy 16 East then Hwy 49 South. After passing the main town of Jackson you will start seeing spots of poppies on the hillside about 3/4 of a mile before Electra Road. After turning left on this paved but narrow road you will see small patches of wildflowers here and there for the first mile. But the best viewing is between mile 1 and 2. The wildflowers (mostly poppies & lupines) are so concentrated here that they form large patches and fields that go up the hillside. Electra Road travels east right next to the North Fork of the Mokelumne River. By the end of mile two there are even many flowers on the other side of the road that go down within a couple feet of the water.

As you enter the day use and picnic area, the poppies appear further up the hillside and away from the road. However, there are various purple and yellow flowers between this mile 2 and 3 section of the park. By the 3rd mile you reach the dam and the road turns into gravel so you have to turn around. By 5:30pm most of the hillside was under shade and many poppy flowers were closed up. If you have extra time such as on the weekend, you could combine your trip here in Jackson with a visit to McLaughlin’s Daffodil Hill (10am to 4pm) in Volcano CA (if the farm is still open during their short bloom season).