Kautz Creek to Indian Henry's Hunting Ground — Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025

For starters, the WTA hike description needs a small change: I couldn't find a picnic table at the ranger cabin. Instead I ate lunch while sitting on a bench on the front porch.

For this hike, I (1) was looking for a challenge, (2) wanted to see Indian Henry's Hunting Ground because it seemed like a fun name, and (3) wanted to see more wildflowers before the season ends. This hike gave me all three. My goal was to make it up this steep, difficult trail all the way to the intersection with the Wonderland Trail and the ranger cabin there. And make it back down too. :-)

So I got up early this morning and drove down to the Kautz Creek parking lot on the Paradise Road. I got there at 7:15, just before the lot filled up and the line started forming for the outhouses. I guess not surprising for a Sunday in the summer. (The park really should put a few more outhouses there, there always seems to be a line to use them.)

I crossed the road to the "viewpoint" sign; there's no sign specifically for the Kautz Creek trail. Follow the boardwalk for a few feet, then turn right at the little sign that mentions the trail.

From then on I was almost completely alone - I saw around about a dozen other people all day. A big difference from the hordes at Paradise and Sunrise!

The trail does mostly climb up and up, steeply - it really was a challenge for me! Large portions of it are in deep woods - views are scarce until around the final mile or so. That made walking it a bit tedious. The trail is mostly in good shape - there are some instances of tread erosion, and the upper portion could use some brushing. Just before the ranger cabin there's a 1-foot diameter log across the trail - it's a pretty easy step-over.

Wildflowers were still abundant in some of the upper meadows, but I think they'll be done in a week or so.