I found the Trip report posted by AlpineWander on 5/10/26 very informative and suggest lookin at it. No snake encounters.
Trail - A steep first 2 miles up ridge - best to take road up to trail rather than mtn bike trails at beginning. The trail levels out into a great ridge walk to top. 6.8 mi RT/2883' (While it looks possible to hike up from Ollalie canyon on a road, would miss views and likely lots of the flowers).
Water - none
Weather - A blustery spring day with some clouds at first then clearing and strong winds up to 50 mph!
Access and parking - Go up Hay Canyon Road 1.1 miles from Highway 2. Multiple parking spots near TH. Don't leave valuables in car.
People - no other hikers, one Polaris ATV at top
Flowers - Balsamroot peaked probably 7-10 days ago for most of hike but still great at top. Lupine profuse. Many other flowers including bitterroot lewisia, penstemon (2 types), chickweed, white phlox, barestem biscuitroot and swale desert parsley, dogbane, ceanothus, yarrow, pearly everlasting, mariposa lily, thyme leafbuckwheat, western clematis, delphinium, woodland star and prarie star, trupet bluebells, flax, cinquefoil and more.
Birds - western tanagers, lazuli bunting, western meadolark, swallows, red crossbills, robins, stellars jay
Comments
I think your last pic is Bitterroot. It is a type of Lewisia, just not Tweedy's
Posted by:
Maddy on May 17, 2026 07:29 AM
thanks for the feedback - always more to learn!
Posted by:
Jim K on May 17, 2026 10:39 AM