North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve is a seemingly flat grassy mesa with a wide range of things to see. As I hiked an 8-mile loop over a sizeable section of it, I came across ravines and canyons, four waterfalls, and impressive volcanic rock formations. I only wish I had come in earlier in the year when it's greener, the waterflow is greater, and the landscape is apparently blanketed with wildflowers.
The Mesa
Large stretches of the hike were through grass that had dried with the approach of summer. In different places, mounds of volcanic rock could be seen.
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| Narrow Path through the Dry Grass |
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| Volcanic Rock |
The mesa wasn't completely flat and barren though. The landscape undulated and was dotted with trees in places. There were also spots where water ran in streams such as this one which fed a small pond or reservoir used by cattle and the natural wildlife.
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| Scattered Trees across the Landscape |
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| Pond |
Ravines
In several places, the mesa was dissected by ravines with varying degrees of volcanic rock on their sides as well as trees and streams running along their bottom.
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| Ravine Adorned with Rocks and Trees |
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| Hiking through a Broad Ravine |
I climbed in and out of several ravines, including the one containing Ravine Falls.
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| Ravine Hides a Waterfall |
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| Ravine Falls |
On the other hand, it was from a point on the rim of the ravine some distance away from where I got a peek of Lower Ravine Falls.
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| Lower Ravine Falls |
Some ravines were deep and narrow while others were broader and afforded a better view.
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| Beautiful Setting |
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| Oak Tree Oasis |
Coal Canyon
Probably the most impressive sight on the hike was Coal Canyon with its sheer cliffs of volcanic rock.
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| Coal Canyon |
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| Sheer Rock Face |
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| Countless Ridges and Grooves |
At the closed end of the canyon, the waters of Phantom Falls seemingly dropped into an abyss.
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| Phantom Falls |
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| Falls Forever |
Looking down the canyon toward its mouth afforded a grand view.
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| Down the Canyon |
Flowers
While I missed the prime season for wildflowers, patches of them could still be found.
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| Milk Thistle |
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| Armenian Blackberry |
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| Western Morning Glory |
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| Tufted Poppy |
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| Small Brodiaea |
Butterflies & Birds
Pollinators, especially bees and butterflies, were very active. I could hear small birds calling, tweeting, or singing all through the hike.
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| Pipevine Swallowtail |
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| Horned Lark |
Beatson Gorge
While not as impressive as Coal Canyon, Beatson Gorge provided a closer look at the volcanic rock lining its sides.
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| Rocky Sides of the Gorge |
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| Is That a Rock or a Rabbit? |
Its waterfall was sourced by a stream that ran the length of a long, shallow ravine.
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| Beatson Falls |
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| Stream, Falls, and Gorge |
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