Cathedral Rock — Saturday, Jul. 8, 2023

Lots of large blowdowns over the trail in the first mile, but after that the trail was in good condition with just a few small logs and a couple of muddy patches. Bugs were really bad - lots of mosquitos and some biting flies - it felt like we needed to reapply bug spray every 30 minutes or they would get us again. My husband didn’t apply as often and only had one layer of clothing, so got bitten pretty badly at the top of the pass.

However, even with all of that, the trail was beautiful and so worth it! The hike takes you from a vast wildflower meadow through the forest on a few long switchbacks along streams and waterfalls up to an alpine meadow with peek-a-boo peaks,filled with more flowers and huckleberry bushes (should be delicious later in the summer!), and dotted with small alpine lakes. Cathedral rock stands above as you head toward the pass, and disappears as you get near. At the top of the pass you can hang out on some lovely rocks for a snack and gaze over the next valley dominated by Mount Daniel.

The grade on the way down is pretty easy on the knees, and you get to see everything again! Just try to remember how you got around the blowdowns on the way up, because you’ll have to do the same again.

The road out is in good condition, with some washboarding but no potholes to speak of. It has a creek running over it at one point that I wouldn’t want to try in a low clearance vehicle - only saw SUVs, crossovers, and trucks at the trailhead.