I had intended a completely different hike today from Sunrise Point. I decided to check out the Sunrise parking lot just to in case it wasn't busy. It wasn't. I quickly changed plans.
There was a doe at the TH, right in front of the lodge, eating her breakfast. Another sign of just how empty Sunrise was this early morning. I waited until she was finished prior to starting my hike.
I took Sourdough Ridge to the Wonderland to Skyscraper Mountain for sunrise. I came back along the Wonderland to Sunrise Camp. I went up to the Emmons lookout. I then came back down to Sunrise Camp/Shadow Lake and followed the Sunrise Rim trail back to the parking lot.
Items to note:
- Trails around Sunrise are dry and dusty.
- Flowers above 6400 ft are past peak. Paintbrush, lupine and couple other species are hanging on between the Berkley Park trail and Skyscraper Mountain. Mountain Heather and Lousewort are done for the season in this area. Penstemon, Rosy Spirea, Subalpine Daisy, Phlox, Bistort and Short-beaked Agoseris can be found in the area. But are fading quickly
- Flowers are most spectacular along the Wonderland between the Burroughs Trail turnoff through Sunrise Camp, up to Emmons Viewpoint, around Shadow Lake and along the Sunrise Rim Trail. Multiple species throughout this section with different flowers dominating different areas along this portion of the trail.
I only saw four people all day until back to the parking lot. A true rarity in a National Park let alone at Sunrise!
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