The trail is broken into thirds: steep and in the shade for a mile, flat and exposed for a mile, and steep and in and out of the forest. Each part is about a mile. This is a hike where you definitely want trekking poles: the path is made up of loose stone and the grade is very steep for a lot of it. There was a nice variety of flowers throughout the trail. I think that if we did it a few weeks earlier, it would have been even more plentiful.
The views are great. You feel like you're right in the middle of mountain medley, a cascade convocation! You're surrounded by Mt St. Helens, Mt Rainier, Mt Adams, Mt Hood and Mt Jefferson. We sat up there and enjoyed the view and our lunch.
On the day we hiked, it was a bit hazy. I suspect the panoramic views are even better on a clear day.
- Elevation: 2,200 feet
- Distance: 6 miles RT
- Discovery Pass required at trailhead