Road to the TH is pretty rough. Be prepared for 6.5 miles of potholes and rough, rocky FS road conditions. A low clearance vehicle would be alright (we saw a Prius at the TH) if driving slowly and carefully. Probably the biggest concern would be the rocks that make up a good portion of the road; they are pointy and sharp, just the thing to impale or gouge a tire flat. Limited parking, maybe room for 6-ish vehicles.
This trail had been on my "next time" list for a while now, and figured I'd try it out as the kick-off for my Hike-a-Thon trips. While the trail itself is billed as "short" (various sources list it as >6 RT), it certainly "feels" longer, especially on a really hot day. Starting on old rocky roadbed, switchback up moderately steep tread to the sheer vertical cliff face of 3 o'clock Rock. This is a good place to catch your breath and admire the imposing granite, and the views back down the valley before heading up the increasingly steep and rough trail. With some brush obscuring the trail at the base of 3 o'clock Rock, one might be tempted to scramble up and to the left; however instead go right through the brush and the actual trail picks back up a few yards in. Continuing on, the trail gets increasingly steep,and you will find yourself nearly scrambling in places over rocks large and small, spidery masses of tree roots, and 5-6 blow-downs which can be over-undered. This trail will give you a full workout for sure. Several mucky spots just before the pass, and a few small pools and tarns in this area as well. Once at the camping area at the pass, there are gorgeous views of Three Fingers, Mt Bullion and Whitehorse. The landscape here is a study in smooth white granite, wind-sculpted trees, and high peaks in all directions. While my hiking partner rested at the camping area, I continued upwards to Higher Squire, following an increasingly difficult-to-follow bootpath and occasional cairn. Fabulous views from this point as well, but lost/re-found the trail coming down a couple of times as it headed over unmarked expanses of granite.
Ripe berries everywhere, mostly thimble and blueberries. Blueberries are ripe but quite tart, almost bitter. A few flowers here and there; pearly everlasting and yarrow lower down, partridge foot, meadow camas, gentian, asters,and some almost-done mountain heather near the summit. On our way out, we stopped on 2060 where Asbestos Creek crosses the road and took a dip in the perfect pool beneath the falls, pure bliss after a hot dusty hike!
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