On a hike up the Tranquille River Trail with the grandkids, we stopped to investigate things we spotted along the way.

Poison ivy (Rhus radicans sp.) is abundant in the area.     All the leaves had fallen off, but stems had many white berries on them.    Poison ivy is less volatile in the winter, but toxicity increases with age and the berries are poisonous.

Red osier shrubs have colorful red leaves in the late fall.

White clematis (Clematis lingusticfolia) have many fluffy seedheads above the woody trailing vines.

A spring coming off the foot of the hills has contributed to a marshy area next to the trail.     Fringing reeds, rushes, and shrubs add more color than the fading grasses and sagebrush.

There is some smooth sumac on the hillside.  In the fall the leaves bring more reds to the landscape.

Hoary alsyssum (Berteroa incana)  is considered to be an invasive and we did see it in clumps here and there.

The main reason to hike the Tranquille River Trail in the fall is the seasonal foliage by the trailside.     This section I call the Color Corridor.

On the way back we watched for carvings in the cottonwoods next to the trail

We will be back in winter to see the ice formations on the river.