Arrived at the completely empty trailhead at around 10:30 AM on Memorial Day (Mon 5/29) The 2.5 mi forest road was rough and narrow, but doabale in a 4x4. I was excited to already see a bunch of wildflowers on the drive up. There was no trail marker, just a sign to pack in/pack out. Cell service out there was spotty, so I recommend downloading an offline map to make sure you're stopping in the right place.
The hike begins with a modest tree-covered climb, but very quickly rewards you by taking you through meadow after meadow of wildflowers. The flowers directly crowding the trail are abundant, but probably just starting to pass their peak. There are some pretty amazing pockets of flowers in their prime just a bit off the trail. I'd say they probably have another week or so. ~2 miles in is a quick scramble up to a viewpoint with great views of Mount Rainier and the snow-capped Enchantments. I stopped for lunch at the peak after the sign for the Red Hill Trail (2.5mi), turned around, and made it back to my car at 1:30 PM. We were the only ones there the entire time. Overall this is a super enjoyable and underrated hike.
Comments
Pnwtrailsandtails on Tronsen Ridge
Did you start from the Northern trailhead? Did you need to utilize 4x4 or was just higher clearance helpful? Thanks!
Posted by:
Pnwtrailsandtails on May 30, 2023 12:47 PM
teejay1 on Tronsen Ridge
I drove in on Five Mile Road and put my jeep wrangler into 4WD about a mile or so in. There were some puddles and lots of deep tire ruts. No downed trees, but there's a decent amount of overgrowth so you'll probably get some scratches on your car. I took it slow and had no issue!
Posted by:
teejay1 on May 30, 2023 01:37 PM
Maddy on Tronsen Ridge
Are the Tweedy's Lewisia blooming?
Posted by:
Maddy on May 30, 2023 02:48 PM