Back on July 5 when I first did this hike I was so impressed I vowed to return. And today I did and I am glad. Another perfect day and, as a bonus, thanks to yesterday’s rain the smoke was gone (for now).
This hike really has it all and if it wasn’t so darned far away, about a 2 hour drive, I would do it way more often. It is just under 8 miles round-trip. 3,100 feet of elevation gain. Except for the summit block, which is just as steep as summit blocks usually are, it is a fairly even grade the entire way. It works out to just under a 15 degree grade, which is steep enough to be a good workout but not so tough it wears you out.
The views at the top are awesome, the meadow below the summit is beautiful and the trail itself is very good pretty much the entire way. It is not obnoxiously rocky like Mount Washington or Granite Mountain.
Anyway, a beautiful way to spend your morning. I made it to the top in about 2 hours and ten minutes and just under two hours down, with 15 glorious minutes drinking in the view at the top.
Sweet!
In the photo right above, note how far down the river is – that’s the level where you park.
The track:
