Fern Canyon Research Natural Area Establishment Record

Higher elevation north slopes of the Fern Canyon Research Natural Area are covered with southern California woodland type vegetation. Predominant types are canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis) and bigcone Douglas-fir (Pseudo-tsuga macrocarpa). South facing slopes have California shrub oak (Q. dumosa), buckthorn (Ceanothus sp.), and chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum) chaparral. Vegetation density varies from very dense to fairly open, depending upon soil depth and steepness of slope.