Carolyn's Crown  - Shafer Creek RNA

Carolyn’s Crown/Shafer Creek Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent a cross section of forest associations that occur at mid-elevations in the Cascade Range of western Oregon. The RNA is situated at the head of a small, glacially carved drainage of very steep headwalls and sidewalls with numerous cliffs and rock outcroppings and an intervening ridge between the sidewalls. The area includes talus slopes, rocky cliffs, a deep lake, a shallow marshy lake, a creek, wetlands and mossy balds. Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), western redcedar (Thuja plicata) and western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) are dominant tree species. There are also occasional stands of noble fir (Abies procera) with Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis) at higher elevations.