The views from Catherine are the nicest you’ll get from a 1.5-mile hike. Butterflies and flowers and all. But the 1,330 feet elevation gain over that distance means you’ll have to work for it. This trail is an almost nonstop uphill slog and it felt like we stumbled all the way to the top. But it is so well worth it.
Tip 1: Just before you summit, you’ll have the option of two routes to the top. Straight ahead is a rocky, rooty, straight-up path that you’ll have to climb on hands and knees with cables to assist. Or on the right, a much easier (though still steep) option. Veer right.
Tip 2: The 4 miles to the trailhead are pretty rough. But if you’re driving an SUV, keep going beyond the rocky bend in FR 9070, a mile or so from the trailhead, where many people appear to stop and park. That’s about the worse the road gets and an suv will give you plenty of clearance to make it all the way.
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