You will reach a section of the trail that is about 15 feet wide, and the drop-offs are pretty intense on both sides, so do note that if you are afraid of heights.įrom here you reach the highest point of the hike and can officially say you made the summit. This section does require some rock hopping, but it is not too bad, and the views make it easy to push on. Eventually, you will reach the granite base of Clouds Rest and start the last 100 feet of scrambling till you make it to the top. This section is steep, and you are at 9,500 feet of elevation, so you will be feeling it.Īs you climb, you start to get past the trees and get views out both directions that will surely give you the adrenaline needed to finish the hike. When you reach the bottom of this part, you will be facing the last climb that takes you up the base of the granite. Reaching the top of this section, you will have a nice flat portion before going downhill once again. This is where you will get some excellent views of your destination, but it is still 2 miles away. When you flatten out, you will be on rolling ups and downs for the next mile and a half. The area is beautiful with views of Sunrise Peak, water crossings, and lots of plants and trees.Įventually, you will reach a large pond / small lake, and this is the mid-way point for the trail.Ĭontinuing on, you will start to go uphill again, but it is more gradual for the next mile or so until you hit another junction, which is an excellent place to rest.įrom here, you will have another steep climb that you will wish had switchbacks but instead goes straight up. This is nice when you are going this direction but tough when you are heading back after summiting. Heading towards Clouds Rest will take you down about 300 feet. The views get better and better as you climb and look back on the valley below you.Īfter what seems like an eternity, you will make it to the saddle where the trail breaks off to Sunrise Lakes and Clouds Rest. This section was harder than I anticipated it being, and I recommend you take your time. Over the next mile, you will gain 1,000 feet, which means it is up the entire way. Do bring insect repellent though, we got bit a lot by mosquitoes during this section.Īt about 1.5 miles, the trail heads into a brutal, steep uphill. Generally, you can look at the location tag on Instagram to see what people are saying about the trail if you are worried, or you can call the rangers to ask.Īfter crossing the river, you continue following it as you head back into the forest.Įnjoy this first mile as it is nice and flat, which is not something you often have on this trail. The crossing was knee-high when I went, but that is not always the case. I brought my Crocs as they are lightweight and can be attached to my pack with a carabiner. It heads out on a wooden bridge before it bends and goes into the forest.Īfter a tenth of a mile, it reaches the river crossing that you may need a change of shoes for. ![]() You will find the trailhead right next to the pit toilets in the parking lot. Now that we have that out of the way let’s jump into the trail. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |