This hike has it "all". Open spaces, traverses, rocky outcroppings, green tunnel with pine needles underfoot, rocky ridge areas, etc. Loved every inch of it. Best of all it's very accessible. Not a 100 yards off of I-90, so no potholed gravel roads to get to it. Would suggest a weekday if you can manage it because of it's extreme popularity. The main interest for most people is the Katwalk, so named because it's a narrow traverse across a steep rocky mountain side. Not outright dangerous, but one must keep his eyes open as you would anyway I guess, but the consequence for a mistep would be very high. (see attached photo which shows a section of the catwalk behind me. Note: (there is a small wooden sign asking mounted riders to dismount and lead their animal through this area) This is just before you encounter the catwalk. I ventured beyond this point to try and get a glimpse of Alaska Lake, but it's a shy one. Without hiking the 1,050 feet down to it, you will only see the barest corner of it. Turning around here gave me about 14.5 miles round trip, so it's not bad for a day hike. Weather was windy up near the top, but had become sunny. (the day started out very grey and about 41 degrees at the start).
I heartily recommend this hike for the fall. It's very beautiful everything in fall colors.
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