Rainbow Creek RNA

Rainbow Creek Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent the interior mixed-conifer forest zone including old-growth grand fir (Abies grandis)-western white pine (Pinus monticola), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga) -ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and western larch (Larix occidentalis) stands. The RNA is bounded on the west by a creek flowing through a narrow meadow known as “Happy Valley”. The topography is steep and broken. The ground breaks rather abruptly from the top of sugar loaf as it falls into the creek bottoms. The primary forest types are grand fir and western white pine while Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine are also common. The grand fir-western white pine forest types are at lower elevations, in the draws, and on the north slopes of Sugarloaf Butte. The Douglas-fir-ponderosa pine forest types are primarily on the south and west slopes of Sugarloaf Butte. Ground vegetation is dominated by thinleaf huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceum), along with Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia), thin leaf alder (Alnus tenuifolia), (Rosa spp.) and several species of forbs and grasses.