Lace Lichen Trail

.5 mile, 10 minutes. Parallels main road coastward from entrance station; this is a pleasant alternative to walking that road.   It also connects with the Pine Ridge Trail and with the upper end of Mound Meadow Trail, and, across the road, with the trail up to Whalers Knoll. Accessibility: Flat, mostly easy walking, but has a couple of sections with roots that would impede wheelchairs or strollers (for easier through-the-forest rolling,  such wheeled vehicles should try the Mound Meadow Trail - the lower half, near the shore - and particularly the Carmelo Meadow Trail). And: Lace Lichen Trail can be marshy after heavy rains.

Lace Lichen Trail is named for the gray-green lichen which hangs from the branches of the Monterey pines and coast live oaks through which this trail winds. Look closely at this "lace" lichen to discover why it's so named.  This organism (actually a partnership of a fungus and an alga) does not harm the trees.; on the contrary.  Because lace lichen is extremely absorptive (was used in the past as a dressing for wounds, and by the natives as a diaper), it helps the trees by capturing much of the the summer fogs' moisture; this  water drips to the forest floor, and is eventually absorbed by the trees' roots. This unusual precipitation source helps to make a forest possible in our area of Mediterranean climate, with its long rain-free dry season, and its low (20" or less) annual rainfall totals. And, a bonus: deer like to eat it, and birds carry it off for nesting material.

The large shrubs you pass under along the trail, some approaching the size of small trees, are blue blossom ceanothus. When they bloom, in the late winter/early spring, they are not only lovely to look at, but scent the breeze.

This is also a good trail for mushroom enthusiasts. After winter rains, many varieties pop up through the mat of pine needles; a particularly conspicuous one is the poisonous red fly Amanita.