Station 1-2
 Plants
 Soils

Station 3-5
 Management
 Litter Hurts
 Rotten Log

Station 6-8
 Plant Succession
 The Living Forest
 Witches Broom and Bark Beetles

Station 9-11
 Effects of Trailing
 Wildfire
 Radio Viewpoint

Station 12-14
 Forest Habitat
 Abandoned Prospect
 Columbus Tree

Station 15-16
 Douglas-Fir Stand  
 Summit

Station 17-19
 Pit Excavations
 Fire Scar
 Habitat Contrast

Station 20-22
 Snags
 Root System
 Silver Tip Viewpoint

Other Area Hikes

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 Beauty Bay
 Blackwell
 Crystal Lake
 Crystal Lake 2
 Delaney Cr
 Fish Lake
 Gamlin Lake
 Little Lost Lake
 Lookout Mountain
 Lost Lake
 Mirror Lake
 Summary

Station 20 
QUIZ Snags

QUESTION 9
Do you see any old, dead standing trees from this location? Standing dead trees are called snags. TRUE OR FALSE?

QUESTION 10
Dead trees can provide habitat for numerous different wildlife species. List two habitat needs that snags can fulfill.

Station 21 
QUIZ Root System

By looking at the exposed roots of this fallen tree you can see how plant roots help to stabilize the soil and protect it from erosion.

QUESTION 11
Besides holding the soil in place and protecting it from erosion, plants also add mineral nutrients to the soil through the process of decay and decomposition. Decomposition provides the primary natural source of soil nutrients. TRUE OR FALSE?

QUESTION 12
The subsoil contains most of the organic matter found in the soil. Consequently it is coarse and has large pore spaces enabling it to absorb relatively large amounts of water. TRUE OR FALSE?

QUESTION 13
Not only are plants considered beneficial to the soil, but soil provides necessities for plant growth. In general terms, list two of these vital characteristics.

QUESTION 14
Notice that the larger trees around the ridgetop are ponderosa pines. Therefore, you can logically conclude that this fallen tree with the exposed roots was also ponderosa pine. Because the larger older trees here are pines, it is probably the climax tree species for this site. TRUE OR FALSE?

Station 22 
QUIZ Silver Tip Viewpoint

This location provides one of the more popularly photographed views of Lake
Coeur d’Alene. Note the grassy vegetation on this open hillside.

QUESTION 15
At this location it is especially important to stay on the main trail to prevent
soil erosion because of the sparse vegetation, shallow soils and steep slopes. TRUE OR FALSE?

Silver Tip Viewpoint is the last numbered station. The trail now descends
back to the parking lot. On the way down continue the review by answering the following questions. Read each of the questions before starting out so you will know what to look for as you proceed.

QUESTION 16
Match the plant drawings below with the  correct names. 
Also find an example of each plant  along the trail.

a. Douglas-fir b. Wild rose c. Ocean-spray d. Ponderosa pine e. Ninebark f. Snowberry

QUESTION 17
Remember, there are over 100 terrestrial plant species found on Mineral Ridge. Only six have been highlighted thus far. Here are descriptions of four additional plants. Identify and find an example of each.

1. SYRINGA sometimes called mockorange, is the state flower of Idaho. It has showy, fragrant flowers with four white petals. Leaves are opposite and ovate with an acute tip. Edges may be smooth or can have sharp teeth pointing outward. Its bark is somewhat shreddy.

2. OREGON GRAPE is a low-growing shrub with shiny evergreen, compound
leaves. Leaves are alternate. Leaflets have prickly and serrated edges. It grows on both open and shady hillsides. Older leaves may have red and yellow colorations. It provides forage for deer and elk.

3. SERVICEBERRY is a large-spreading shrub that prefers drier, open hillsides.
It has small, serrate, elliptical, and alternate leaves. Bark on older branches is grey. The dark, purple berries are edible. It is an important browse plant for deer and elk.

4. BRACKEN FERN is common in moist, mountainous areas. Its large compound leaves are broadly triangular in outline and are usually solitary.

QUESTION 18
Along the descent trail you will notice numerous dead, dying or unhealthy looking ponderosa pine trees. They have been attacked by bark beetles. Find an example of bark beetle damage. Look for holes bored into the bark. There may be balls or globs of pitch oozing from the holes. This is how the tree tries to expel the beetle. On dead trees, look for trails or etchings the insects have left on the debarked trunks.