Little Ranger Peak via Ranger Creek — Monday, Jan. 19, 2026

Day hiked from the trailhead at Ranger Creek to a saddle at the intersection with Palisades trail.  Total out and back was a bit over 10 miles, with an elevation gain of 2,794’.  There are numerous blowdowns, some within the first 1/2 mile, many to crawl under or over, and many covered with soot from the Norse Peak fire.  There are a few glimpses of views of surrounding peaks.  The Ranger Peak viewpoint is a tiny, rocky ridge, with partially obstructed views.  There is intermittent snow along the trail, and several washouts.  We didn’t use micro spikes or snowshoes, but poles are helpful in the tricky places. Our group of four encountered only four other people on this unseasonably warm January day.  It was close to 60 degrees at our lunch spot!  When we got back to the car it was 37 degrees at highway 410!