Did Cashmere Canyons today for the wildflowers, almost a year to the day after I did it last time. I can say two things in comparison: flowers are not quite as far along, and there seems to be a bit fewer balsamroot flowers than last year (which, granted, was a banner year).
We got to the trailhead a little before 8 AM, which I'd highly recommend. There were far fewer people than on the weekend last year, and the lot was no fuller when we departed around 2. Also, it heats up quickly, so generally the earlier the better.
The tread is soft and foot-friendly, but there is pretty unrelenting elevation gain until the first junction. We bore left at both junctions and followed the start of the Spring Canyon Loop, which has always seemed to me it would have the best wildflower/view bang for the buck. Other people seem to agree, although people have also recommended the summits of Sunrise and Little Bear, so I'll have to do those at some point.
You'll want to bring plenty of water, as well as sunscreen and possibly bug spray. I didn't get bothered by bugs but my hiking companion did, and she also saw a tick, though fortunately that was the only one we saw all day.
Comments