Railroad Grade — Saturday, Sep. 21, 2024

    This was a fantastic hike! I think it deserves a more descriptive name than "Railroad Grade" , but the reality is that this trail really is very moderately and consistently sloped, so the 2,500 feet or so of elevation gain is nicely spread out over the entire distance. The whole trail itself is really one of the best maintained trails I have been on all year, and is very easy on the knees and ankles compared to most other hikes like this. There are a couple of creek crossings that may be a bit of a challenge for kids and dogs, but they are manageable. The last 3/4 of a mile on the ridge above the Easton Glacier moraine is exhilarating, with amazing views, but it is pretty "airy" and exposed, so if you are inclined to get vertigo, you may want to pass on this one. On the way back down, I took a short side trip on the Scott Paul trail, to the suspention bridge above the creek. It only takes about 15 minutes to get to the bridge, and is a very worthwhile side trip. No bugs, moderate amount of other hikers, and I will definitely be returning to this beautiful area