Mount Catherine — Saturday, Jul. 23, 2022

Stats:

• Distance: 3-1/4 miles
• Duration: 1-3/4 hours
• Vertical: 1290 ft
• Weather: sunny, 70s, some marine layer drifting in and out
• Trail: excellent condition; briefly starts as a road-to-trail conversion, but then gets down to business with single-track switchbacks; beautiful open forest with large trees and good views in all directions; trail travels out onto a fin with steep drop-offs on both sides (although no real exposure as the trail is wide), making for a unique perspective and 360 views at the summit; a very quiet trail that is like a cross between Little Si and Rattlesnake Ledge - similar vertical but packed into less miles so a little steeper; good alternative to both on a busy weekend; bugs were not a problem until we reached the summit where for whatever reason the mosquitos were suddenly bad; butterflies at the summit as noted in the trail description
• Road: Fair; stretches with significant pot holes so I would suggest AWD; the parking area has room for about 7 cars; lots of flowers on the road!!
• Takeaway: Looking to justify beer and pizza at Dru Brew, we took a quick first-time hike Mount Catherine; it is a quick trail through a pretty forest; lots of blueberry bushes; the views to the north and south are excellent; Silver Mt just up the road will be next for me in this area