SHASTA CHAPTER
of the
North American Rock Garden Society

FIELD TRIP to Cook and Green Pass

Getting to Cook and Green Pass is long but not hard. It is located in Siskiyou County right on the Oregon border. Leaving I-5 at Collier Rest Stop between Siskiyou Summit and Yreka, turn west on State Hwy. 96. Go west to Seiad Valley past The Seiad Store, over the bridge at Seiad Creek. Turn right(north) on a forest service road, which will become a dirt road. Climb up to the top of the mountain, which is Cook and Green Pass. The road will continue down into Oregon, BUT the road is closed and you can not go clear to Applegate and Ashland that way. Right on top is a small camping area with no facilities.

“Cook & Green” so I’m told, was named such, because when one stands in the pass, the east side of the road is dry, rocky and hot, thus the name “Cook” and the west side is cool, wet, and lush, thus the “Green”.

Inside-out flower - Vancouveria hexandra

Looking East, to the “Cook” side- - -

      Rocks covered with Lewisia cotyledon and L.leana, Phlox diffusa, several penstemons, sedums , potenillas and eriogonums. Calochortus tolmiei, Eriophyllum lanatum and of course many, many sun loving plants.

      The hillside also has snow brush, manzanita, firs and pines, including knob-cone pines Pinus attenuata and a large grouping of Brewer’s spruce.

Looking West, to the “Green” side- - -

      The trail heads down towards Oregon. Lots of lush plants, I just can’t name them all, but a few are: Pyrola picta, Anemone drummondii, Clintonia unflora, liliums,heucheras, and Cypripedium californicum and lots, lots more.

      One of the pure joys of the day was walking down the trail, observing, photographing and enjoying the day to the fullest when we were hit with the most incredible sweet smell of a patch of wild azaleas Rhododendron occidentalein full bloom.

            It was wonderful..