This hike was lovely! The wildflowers are OUT! Lots of lupin and arrowleaf balsam root, as well as some other kinds I haven’t identified yet. We also saw some nice wildlife - harrier hawks, lazuli buntings, western tanagers, several deer, and a gopher snake. It was much sunnier and nicer than in Seattle. We saw others on the trail but it certainly wasn’t crowded!
We got to the trailhead around 10am on Saturday morning. There were several spots available, but note that there are only about 20 parking spots and it is not possible to park on the road outside the parking area as there is no shoulder. We did about 8 miles overall (up to Sunrise Point, then the Canyon Loop back around to the trailhead) at a leisurely pace and got back to the car by 4. There are a few places that are very steep but they don’t last long, and the trail is in very good condition. One thing to note is that there are signs at the trailhead asking you not to hike if the trail is muddy to keep it in good shape, so I’d recommend checking the recent weather before driving out there.
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