Hand drawn hiking maps of Chantry Flats and Wrightwood
Vincent Gap trailhead is once, again, open to vehicles coming in through Wrightwood. Highway 2 continues to be gated to any driving west of the trailhead. If you’re looking to hike up to Mt. Baden Powell or drop down into the East Fork, all this is possible now and through the summer and autumn months.
Wrightwood’s Blue Ridge Trail hike, located just three miles west of this scenic mountain village, is a good place to get some shade and maybe even a little cooler weather, this time of year. The trail runs between Big Pines and Blue Ridge Campground, traversing richly forested mountainsides. Total elevation gain is only 1,100′ in the two miles spent under the canopy of expansive white fir, black oaks, Jeffrey, ponderosa and sugar pine. Starting at 6,800′ , the trailhead is located just across Highway 2 from the old Big Pines Lodge. There’s also a U.S. Forest Service information station here, which incidentally, is closed for the meantime due to Covid cutbacks throughout the Forest Service. Park in the paved lot adjacent to the restrooms. Walk down a worn trail through the brush that’ll cross the Mountain High West parking lot’s exit road. Look for the brown painted trail sign.
Halfway up the trail is, true to its’ name, the Half Way rest. It’s a nice log bench indicating that you’re only a mile from Blue Ridge Campground and a mile from where you began. You’ll pass by some gentle draws along the mountainside where glades of gentle green squaw currant, dogwood and willow grow lushly. There’s the smell of moist plants and earth dropping down from these quiet places. The terrain is gentle, especially for the San Gabriel mountains. Take the time to breathe all this beauty in. Return the way you came.
Hike Details for – WRIGHTWOOD’S HEATH CREEK
Distance and elevation gain / loss: Approximately one mile (one way) with 400′ of elevation gain.
Follow the gated dirt road that runs atop levee on north side of Heath Creek stream bed.
Hike begins on Thrush Rd, just east of the tee intersection with Victorville St. Walk up the dirt road just west of Heath Creek bridge. There’s a silver colored pipe gate just a short distance above Thrush.
One of the major canyons dropping into Wrightwood’s Swarthout Valley is Heath Creek. It’s the canyon that begins as the large, conspicuous slide on Wright Mountain’s north side. The slide, dropping straight down from the summit is especially prominent from downtown Wrightwood. If you’re outside the post office or Mountain Hardware and looking southward, there’s a really good view of the slide, with Wright Mountain’s pine covered summit just to the left of it (elev. 8,505′). The canyon is named after Harry Heath who homesteaded the east end of the Swarthout Valley, near present day Pacific Crest Estates, back in 1886. Back then, Heath Ranch (circa 1900-1919) had a dairy, as well as boasting an orchard of apple and pear trees irrigated with water conveyed from a stream intake in the watercourse that today bears his name.
Pat Krig, a long-time Wrightwood pioneer and historian, wrote down some notes about the Heath Ranch which she visited on horseback as a young girl. The Wrightwood Historical Society generously provided me a copy of her notes from 2006 which portrays what little is known of Harry Heath’s ranch. Unfortunately, there were no photos of either Heath or his ranch. One paragraph in Pat’s reminiscences that in particular stood out to me, was this: “A few of the gnarled apple trees still stand, bearing fruit and bringing memories of hot apple pies for tired travelers, and offers of a pitcher of fresh milk, thick cream for coffee, and butter to spread on warm, fragrant bread then slathered with pumpkin butter.” Pat wrote this back in 2006. Sadly, Pat passed away just this last year, taking with her memories of an earlier time in the mountains that we can only faintly imagine.
Pearl Comfort Fisher, who wrote “The Mountaineers” back in 1972, provides a brief glimpse into a cowboy’s visit to the Heath Ranch back in 1907. The cowboy was Harvey Cheesman, hired to round up stray cattle from the nearby Lovejoy Springs Ranch. “So it happened that as I came over the divide from Lone Pine Canyon one cold February late afternoon I found the ranch or homestead of Harry Heath at the head of Sheep Creek. Upon knocking at the door I was met by a lady with a small baby in her arms. It was Mrs. Heath. She said, “‘My, am I glad to see some one. A mountain lion has been prowling around here for three nights and my husband is away working, and I am afraid the lion will get some of our pigs and chickens. “No lion showed up that night and I had to go on my way the next day.”
Today, it’s hard to imagine Wrightwood as wild and isolated as it must have been 112 years ago. The upper half of this hike will give you a taste of a quieter more forested Swarthout Valley.
This walk is a great one if you just have a little time, say less than an hour and you’d like to get some hill climbing in, too. You’re walking on a flood control levee road. The beginning of your trip is a bit exposed to the sun and completely devoid of trees, much of the landscape down in the wash to your left has a sterile, bleak look due to constant grading from county bulldozers. Not that great at first. . . Hang in there, the bleakness soon ends. Your route soon encounters black oaks, Jeffrey and Ponderosa pines on both sides of the levee road. An enticing flat makes its’ presence across the stream on your left. On your right is a gentle, expansive alluvial slope covered in a healthy pine forest. Mostly private, undeveloped land, this terrain gives you a sense of what Wrightwood must have been like in the 19th century. On a warm day, the air is fragrant with pine and amazingly quiet, save the occasional song bird or acorn woodpecker tapping high above the forest floor.
After a mile, you’ll encounter another silver painted pipe gate. This is your turnaround point. If you have the time, continue further up along the road to a set of four wooden benches set in a square configuration. Walk on past this gathering area, bearing left and staying with the canyon bottom. Follow a deeply eroded trace of a former jeep road. Essentially now a trail, continue on up the canyon for another 400′ feet of elevation to the trail’s end on a rocky berm above the stream bed. You will also see a little frame structure made from lashed together cedar trunks and limbs.
Yesterday, I headed up Heath Creek and got a quick snowshoe in to the upper gate. Only went about a mile up from Thrush Rd. However, it’s about 460′ of gain. It’s been so long since we’ve had this kind of snow. Forgot how much of a chug it would be with snowshoes on – ha! Good times.
Elevation Gain / Loss:
From the lower gate (just above Thrush Rd.) to upper gate = 460′. The elevation on Thrush Rd. at spot where you walk up the beginning of levee road is 5,840′. This gain takes place in approximately one mile along the levee road located on west side of Heath Creek. Elevation of upper gate is 6,300′.
If you have time, keep on going past the upper gate. Soon you’ll encounter some sawn log benches placed in a square configuration. Keep going further up along the stream bed on the old, steeply rutted jeep road which is in places barely a trace. It’s steeper going now than it was on the levee road between the two gates.
From upper gate to top end of old jeep road (abandoned) =400′. The top end of old road is where two canyons come together. There’s a forested canyon on the left side and small stream running between jagged walls on the right. The elevation here is 6,700′. Look for the little framework of limbs that have been lashed to some upright hand-hewn cedar poles.
The northwest side of Mount Baldy as seen from the Lightning Ridge Nature Trail ( summit is between the two pines in foreground). To the left of Mt. Baldy is Pine Mountain. It too, still has some snow on its’ slopes. Mount Baldy, officially known as Mount San Antonio, is the highest peak in the San Gabriel mountains at 10,064′ elevation. That’s the Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy. 2) coming up from the mountain village of Wrightwood on the left side of photograph.
Now that it’s May and the days have started to warm up and lengthen, consider walking the Lightning Ridge Nature Trail. It’s up 7,300′ on the spine of the San Gabriel mountains. This is high country with fabulous views in all directions. A short drive west of Wrightwood, approximately 5 miles, takes you to the trailhead just across Hwy. 2 (Angeles Crest Highway) from Inspiration Point.
Colorful lichens make these wind swept boulders their home atop the San Gabriel mountains. Elevation is 7,400′ on an exposed ridge top. Lightning Ridge Nature Trail – Wrightwood, CA.
The trailhead is on the north side of Hwy. 2 in a wide turnout next to a backdrop of willows and shrubs. There’s a red metal picnic table there as well. Find your way through the little brushy opening and you’ll see a PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) signpost marking the trail to your left. You’ll take the trail directly in front of you, contouring the gentle slope. Sometimes you’ll find leaflets in the covered metal box at the trail’s beginning that describe the flora along the way. Whether you find them or not, there’s plenty to ponder and take in without knowing the names of all the plants along the way. This loop trail is only a bit over half a mile in length, climbs about a hundred feet from the start and perfect for all ages and abilities. The Lightning Ridge Nature Trail travels underneath mature Jeffrey pines and black oaks, at times switchbacking amongst whitethorn chaparral (buckthorn) and even ascending the slope by means of steps made of landscape timbers. Over the years, our family has often used these steps as little seats to look out over the nearby desert with its’ ever-changing palette of color and shadow. One of the unique qualities of this loop trail is the constant grand views of the Mojave Desert to the north, Mount Baden-Powell toward the west, the open canyon country of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River to the south and, of course, Pine Mountain, Dawson Peak and Old Baldy to the east.
A view of the beginning of the Lightning Ridge Nature Trail. This short loop trail is a wonderful introduction for all ages into the landscape and flora of the San Gabriel mountains high country.
As the trail circles back in on itself and joins the PCT for the return, take a little time to rest on the overlook bench, taking in the fine views of canyons and peaks. Much of the Sheep Mountain Wilderness area is directly out front of you from this ridge top perch. One of the range’s most isolated and challenging peaks, Iron Mountain (elevation 8,008′), can be seen straight out to the south at the end of lonesome West San Antonio Ridge, which comes off of Mt. Baldy to it’s right (west). Iron Mountain’s nipple shaped summit is easy to identify from this vantage point. When you’re ready, return back to the beginning by way of the PCT. You’ll pass by fallen giant tree trunks, bleached smooth by the high elevation sun and wind. A great trail to experience at sunset!
Close up of plate-like tree bark on Ponderosa Pine. The Big Pines Nature Trail travels among mature stands of Jeffrey and Ponderosa pines. The north-facing forested slope of Blue Ridge is off to the right.
Just went up to the Big Pines Nature Trail last week. It was late in the day and thick, gold light was drifting down through the pines and slopes. Located just three miles west of Wrightwood, this is a convenient spot to walk a gentle, half-mile loop up amongst some
Looking out at Wright Mountain on the far east end of Blue Ridge. Mature stands of Ponderosa and Jeffrey pine are in the foreground.
really large pines along with fine views of thickly forested Blue Ridge. The trail starts next to the old Big Pines Lodge. Look for a little parking lot on the north side of Highway 2, just before passing the old Big Pines Lodge. You start your loop hike by walking up a flight of beautiful stone stairs built back when Big Pines was developed as the jewel of the Los Angeles County parks. These stairs were tread upon by visitors to this mountain wonderland of four seasons. Not only was there a lodge here for dances, movies, plays and replete with fireplaces, but there were housekeeping cabins, a place to dine, sled runs, ice skating, camping, swimming and even a little zoo. Back then, the Angeles Crest Highway had not yet been finished, so one drove here from
North Tower. This is what remains of Davidson Arch, built back in 1926. The arch spanned the highway, providing a pedestrian overpass for the many visitors to Big Pines. The arch was torn down in 1950 to accommodate the widening of the highway.
the desert side on County Route
N4 or up from Cajon Canyon by way of Lone Pine Canyon Road through Wrightwood. No freeways. The San Gabriel Mountains have always held an allure for people seeking beauty and peace. It’s no different today, and although the times and works of man pass slowly by, the beauty of these mountains remains. An easy walk for all ages, this self-guided nature trail does about a hundred feet of gain in just over a half mile before returning back down to its’ beginning. There are signs along the path that point out the native plants along the way. The slope you travel is south-facing and receives good light
This benchmark, placed next to where the north tower of Davidson Arch is located, marks your elevation at 6,861 feet above sea level. As you can see, it was placed here 93 years ago by the surveyors!
and even in the winter and early spring can still be comfortably warm while snow still clings to the north slopes of Blue Ridge. Because of this slope’s southerly aspect, you’ll find sun loving plants such as Yerba Santa, Parry’s Manzanita and Fremontia (flannel bush) to name a few. Yet, you’ll still enjoy the welcome shade of Ponderosa, Jeffrey pine and leafy black oaks (Kellogg). There are some good spots to sit down and rest awhile and think about nothing. Upon your return, don’t forget to poke your head into the door of the visitor center, located on far right side of the porch of the old Big Pines Lodge. Presently, the center is staffed by the U.S. Forest Service Friday through Tuesday, providing information on local places to visit and hike.
Looking down into Sawmill Canyon while descending the Blue Ridge Trail. Photo taken just below Blue Ridge Campground. That’s Pinyon Ridge out in the distance.
It’s already far enough into the Spring to do the Blue Ridge Trail hike in Wrightwood, CA. Yesterday, Joanie and I worked our way up the Blue Ridge Trail, which begins across the street from the old Big Pines Lodge just a few miles west of Wrightwood. The air was fresh (mid 40′s) as shredded white clouds blew fast to the north over Blue Ridge. The Blue Ridge Trail is 2 miles in length and climbs about 1,100′ between Big Pines and Blue Ridge Campground. This trail hike is a pleasant climb, in many places contouring shaded slopes and occasionally poking into quiet little side canyons filled with willows. Much of the view is of the Swarthout Valley which cradles the little mountain village of Wrightwood.
Half way up the mountainside is a wooden bench that performs double-duty as both a place to sit as well as a trail sign. The recessed lettering indicates that Blue Ridge Campground is one mile up and Big Pines one mile down. The trail continues on, contouring and climbing the mountainside above Sawmill Canyon. Eventually, the trail switchbacks just prior to reaching Blue Ridge Campground, a pretty little spot with eight campsites straddling piney Blue Ridge. The Pacific Crest Trail, spanning from the
A section of the Trails of Wrightwood – Big Pines map is being oriented to the local landscape. This photo was taken on the lower end of the Blue Ridge Trail between Big Pines and Blue Ridge Campground.Mexican border all the way to Canada, is also met here at the campground.
Mexico border all the way to Canada passes through the campground.
You can return back down the mountainside, the same way you came up, or make a loop out of it by taking the PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) toward Inspiration Point and then cutting off onto a dirt access road which descends back toward Mountain High West ski area. This route can be seen on both the Trails of Wrightwood – Big Pines map or Tom Harrison’s Angeles High Country map.
Regardless of which way you do your return trip, you’re sure to enjoy passing through healthy and mature stands of black oak, jeffrey pine, ponderosa pine, sugar pine and white fir.
Morning light on flowering lupine. Photo taken about midway between Big Pines and Blue Ridge Campground.
Here’s a close-up image of a bough of Limber Pine (pinus flexilis) taken near the summit of Mount Baden-Powell. Some of these trees found high, about 9,000′ elevation, on this mountain slope in the eastern San Gabriel mountains range in age from 1,500 – 2,500 years. Look for needles numbering five within each sheath, smallish cones and white, cordlike branches that are very flexible. The trees are not terribly tall and sometimes appear shrubby and very wind bent.
The Mount Baden-Powell hike is featured in the Trails of Wrightwood – Big Pines Map, as well as 19 other trail hikes in the surrounding area. The map is hand-drawn on weather-proof map paper. Unfolded, it measures 19″ x 28″, giving a clear sense of how many of the trails are laid out in this part of the eastern San Gabriel Mountains high-country. Contour lines have been purposely omitted, presenting a clear and uncluttered appearance. Just click on www.hikewrightwood.net to see details. Late summer and fall are both good times of the year to hike up this beautifully forested mountainside.
Joanie Kasten framed between two ancient limber pines as she nears the summit of Mt. Baden-Powell.
You start out at Vincent Gap on the Angeles Crest Highway in an area of red soil, sort of like a color you’d see in New Mexico. In 38 switchbacks you’ll climb 2,800′ to the top of the windswept summit. Less than half way up, make sure to stop at Lamel Spring and check out native wildflowers, such as Shooting Stars and Crimson Monkey flowers.
About 2/3 of the way up to Mount Baden-Powell, you can see a smoke cloud behind East Blue Ridge. We thought that the fire might be near Wrightwood, however, it was way down on the I-15 Freeway in the Cajon Pass. Notice the deer brush and Lodgepole pines in the foreground.
One of the great reasons to do this hike is to experience forest transition the whole way up. Start your hike out in scrub oak and lots of jeffrey pine. Soon, you’ll be experiencing stately sugar pines with their long, glistening cones hanging from the tips of broad horizontal branches. Next, you’ll travel through stands of lodgepole, nearly perfectly straight in stature, with a myriad of tiny cones covering the forest floor at their base. As you near the summit, start to look for the ancient limber pines, which have been buffeted by the storms of wind, rain and snow for centuries. In some cases, 2,500 years! Whatever your reasons for doing the Mount Baden-Powell hike, you’re sure to to enjoy majestic panoramas of the Mojave Desert to the north along with a view of the rugged peaks of Pine Mountain, Dawson Peak and Mount Baldy to the east. Come back refreshed.
Here’s a view looking out toward the Mojave Desert. Photo was taken just below the summit of Mount Baden-Powell under the shade of an ancient limber pine in the late afternoon. Notice the trail sign in the foreground, marking the intersection of the P C T (Pacific Crest Trail) and the final few switchbacks to the summit.
This is a view looking into the Big Horn Mine’s upper adit. Note that the narrow ore car track is still fairly intact.
A new Big Horn Mine trail map is now available through Canyon Cartography’s website with free shipping. Also, a number of retailers in Wrightwood carry the map as well. Mountain Hardware, Wrightwood Market, Jensen’s Market and the Grizzly Cafe are some some of the locations where you can pick up a trail map on your way to the
The view down into Vincent Gulch taken late in the day. Photo taken near the Vincent Gap trail head. The mountain, back center skyline, is Pine Mountain (elevation 9,648′).
trailhead. The approach to the Big Horn Mine from Vincent Gap is depicted on the Wrightwood – Big Pines Trails map. Getting to the mine is straight forward, your path being an abandoned dirt road skirting the east slope of Mt. Baden-Powell. The distance, one way, is 1.8 miles with 250′ of elevation
The trail head at Vincent Gap. Note the white fire road gate on left. You’ll want to follow the red dirt road that continues past the locked gate. This road will soon narrow to single track, reemerge as a road only to once, again, become narrow single track. This is your route to the Big Horn Mine. The trail sign on the right directs hikers to Mt. Baden-Powell via the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).
gain between the Vincent Gap trailhead and the Big Horn Mine. Your route passes amongst healthy stands of white fir, sugar pine, jeffrey pine, incense cedar and other conifers in this high country setting. Occasionally, the terrain takes on a stark and arid feel amongst the fractured rock. Along the way, you’re afforded spacious views of the eastern high country peaks. Pine Mountain, Dawson Peak, Mt. Baldy and remote Iron Mountain make up a big section of the skyline. The sky on most days is deep blue up here, with the deep and wild gorge of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River giving you a sense of depth and steepness below the path. The main area you’re looking out toward is the Sheep Mountain Wilderness. John Robinson, in his classic “Trails of the Angeles”, guide book which describes 100 hikes in the Angeles National Forest / San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, rates this hike as an easy one. When you arrive at the Vincent Gap trailhead, notice the reddish soil, a unique and scenic feature in the San Gabriel mountains. There’s ample parking at this 6,593′ high saddle, a major
A view looking back down at the stamp mill from the upper adit. Note: dilapidated wooden ladder – not recommended for supporting your weight – avoid it!
watershed divide between the East Fork of the San Gabriel River to the south and Big Rock Creek to the north. The Vincent Gap trailhead is less than seven miles west of the scenic mountain village of Wrightwood.
Mining in the San Gabriel mountains is an extensive and colorful part of the history of man’s
Remnant road to the Big Horn Mine is now a single-track hiking trail due to numerous landslides on the slopes of Mt. Baden-Powell.
forays into these rugged canyons and mountainsides. Most of the gold that’s ever been taken out of the “hard rock” types of mines in these mountains is to be found in quartz veins, known as “gold bearing quartz.” The Big Horn mine was no exception to the rule. Charles Tom Vincent discovered a gold bearing vein back in 1895 while hunting big horn sheep on the steep, raw slopes of Mt. Baden Powell. Hence the name of the mine was created. Back then, Mt. Baden-Powell was known as “North Baldy.” Back in these early days of the mountains, there was no Angeles Crest Highway, no easy drive to this part of Southern California. It took days of hiking from the valley towns, such as Azusa, Sierra Madre and Altadena to reach these haunts. Miner Vincent would have trekked up the long and sinuous San Gabriel River from Azusa. Approaching from the north, he would have ascended Big Rock Creek from distant desert locales such as Pearblossom, Victorville or the Cajon Pass to the east. Most belongings were packed in on men’s backs or possibly mules. Miner Vincent did not possess the resources to bore tunnels and erect a stamp mill on the precarious mountainside. Eventually, over the decades, a number of companies played their hand at extracting the elusive gold deep within the mountain. The usual pattern of “bonanza!” followed by heavy investment, hard work, diminishing returns and finally abandonment, took place at the Big Horn as it has in all the other hard rock mines of the San Gabriels. Today the approach to the mine is being reclaimed by the mountains. The skeletal remains of the stamp mill still remain adjacent to the adits (horizontal mine shafts) in this alpine
The high country peaks of Pine Mountain, Mt. Baldy and Iron Mountain are framed within this view looking out from the Big Horn Mine’s stamp mill.
setting. Take care exploring what’s left of the Big Horn. The slopes are extremely steep and exposed. This is a great hike to take in a sense of what mining in the early days of the San Gabriels must have been like. It’s also a wonderful place to take in the grandeur of the wilderness all around you.
Remnant platform emerges from the upper adit of the Big Horn Mine. This spot is located just upslope from the stamp mill.
Crimson Columbine grace the fresh, tumbling waters of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. This scene was photographed just downstream from Mine Gulch campsite at an elevation of 4,500′ in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness. It’s all boulder hopping downstream from the confluence of Vincent Gulch, Mine Gulch and the Prairie Fork.
There are at least twenty good reasons to hike Wrightwood during the spring and summer months. While the front country of the San Gabriel mountains swelters under the summer heat and high humidity, there’s a beautiful place in the eastern high country where the air is lighter, cooler and a bit drier, too. Gentle breezes sweep through the pine forests, imparting a restful, freshness to your hike. If you can imagine spanning the ridge top distance between Wright Mountain on the east out to Mount Baden-Powell in the west, there’s a myriad of hiking trails, over 20, to be found among the high elevation pines, fir, cedars and fragrant chaparral. Some of the trails connect places like Jackson Lake with West Blue Ridge, Wrightwood with East Blue Ridge and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Big Pines with Blue Ridge Campground, Vincent Gap up to Mount Baden-Powell’s 9,399′ summit or the descent into the headwaters of the East Fork of the San Gabriel River.
Old metal supports from the Big Horn Mine’s stamp mill provide this framed view of Pine Mountain, Mount Baldy and Iron Mountain. Thousands of feet below, the East Fork of the San Gabriel River churns through the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.
There’s quite a variety of places to hike Wrightwood that provide you with a sense of of our past, such as the remains of the Big Horn gold mine, which clings precariously to the slopes of Mount Baden-Powell in Mine Gulch. Dating back to the 1800′s, this hard rock mine was worked for decades by tenacious miners, in hopes of golden outcomes. Today its’ stamp mill and mine shafts sit idle, a testament to nature’s relentless taking back of the works of man in mountainous places.
If you look around the old Big Pines Lodge at the heart of what was once Big Pines County Park, founded in the 1920′s, classic rock work fringes rock walls and staircases from an era gone by. Walk the Big Pines Nature Trail or head down to the old ice skating rink near the Arch Picnic Area to catch glimpses of where cabins once stood amongst groups of campers and snow players.
An ancient Limber Pine straddles the ridge top just prior to arriving at the summit of Mount Baden-Powell. Some of these beautifully gnarled pines are nearly two thousand years in age and are found near the upper end of the Pacific Crest Trail that connects Vincent Gap’s trailhead with the summit.
Hiking up to Mount Baden-Powell or dropping down into the canyons from Vincent Gap provide for a wonderful variety of terrain and plant life. Regardless of your conditioning and time available, there’s a trail here for you. If carrying a trail map appeals to you, there’s a large scale, hand-drawn map that highlights twenty hikes in the Wrightwood – Big Pines area of the San Gabriel mountains, providing a brief description of each hike experience with rise over run. The map is very accurate, easy to read and has been field checked throughout. Contour lines have been purposely omitted to provide a clear, uncluttered overview of the local high country trails. The Wrightwood – Big Pines Map is available online with free shipping or can be found at Mountain Hardware and the Wrightwood Market in the quaint village of Wrightwood, CA. Happy Trails from Chris at Canyon Cartography!
Heading back up the Manzanita Trail toward Vincent Gap. Western Wall Flowers and Indian Paint Brush signal the advent of the summer hiking season.