I'll start with the positives... this hike was beautiful! The wildflowers and views were spectacular. I'd say it's probably right around peak. I loved seeing the paintbrush along with the balsamroot and lupine!

The negatives (with the caveat, that yes, we went at 3pm on a Saturday during peak wildflower season)... SO MANY PEOPLE WERE TRAMPLING THE FLOWERS. One person even had a bouquet of balsamroot as she was posing for that perfect Instagram photo. There were multiple dogs, when the trail clearly says no dogs. We saw many people off-trail in areas that were closed for restoration. It was infuriating. I feel that with this being a nature preserve, maybe there should be a fee to enter and probably a little bit of trail etiquette enforcement. It was heartbreaking to witness such ridiculous behavior. 

That said, if you are capable of following the rules so we can continue to enjoy this fragile environment, you should go in the next week or so before the balsamroot start to fade!

Hiked to Tom McCall Point today. Trailhead was very busy at 12.30pm, and the trail was heavily trafficked. Many people with dogs, even though there are signs that dogs are not allowed. No rattlesnakes encountered today.

The trail is in great shape, dry and easy to follow. Balsamroots are in abundance! Lots of other flowers too. Views from the top are not very different from the parking lot, except Mt Adams pops up above the ridge line, but fantastic variety of flowers make this hike very special.

It was about 70 degrees, with cloud cover and 22mph winds. I started at 2pm. The trail was in great condition and the balsam root was in bloom. I ran into not 1 but 2 RATTLE SNAKES. I was shocked, both times the snakes alerted me to their presence with their distinct rattle, they were camouflaged by the grass and soil, but once I heard them I saw they were extremely close (within 5 ft of  me, the first 1 ft off trail. The second was on the trail, further up in the first patch of trees.) I had to go off trail to avoid the first, the second I waited until it moved off trail. I have done this hike several times, in the hot hot heat of summer, and for the last 3 years of wildflower blooms. Never have a seen one or heard of them here. I had to alert other hikers. Other than that it was a lovely hike. Just use caution, this wasn’t a trail that I had considered an area to find them so it gave me quite the shock. 

What a fantastic hike. The Tom McCall trail is open and splendidly full of sweeping, verdant, lush (and a hundred other adjectives) views every step of the way. This hike is just the right mix of huffing and strolling on a well-traveled path that requires no navigation. The wildflowers are almost bursting. I bet that they’ll be in full bloom in a week or so.