We hiked from Helmcken Falls along the Rim and down to the Clearwater River and back up.    The rivers were our focus, but we saw a few plants along the way too.

We hiked through mixed forest with lots of moss, lichen,  and shrub growth under the evergreen trees on the rim and on west-facing slopes in the canyons.   There was lots of kinnikinnick, boxwood, and huckleberry shrubs, and polypores on fallen and aging trees and logs.

The stars of the day were some fairyslippers (Calypso bulbosa) on the trailside.

Green alder (Alnus alnobetula) was showing spring growth too.

But it was the roar of the falls and the rapids that fixed our attention for this fine hike.