Marys Peak

Sunday, June 16, 2024

It’s been quite awhile since I last visited Marys Peak. Today was too cloudy for views, but the flowers were still nice!

I started off at the Marys Peak Campground, where some lovely wild iris was blooming:

Marys Peak Hike

The start of the trail at the edge of the campground:

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Heading into the forest:

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

I quickly reached a junction with the Meadowedge Trail, which makes a loop. I turned right here:

Marys Peak Hike

Everything was so green and so lush in the forest!

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

There were these numbered markers that probably match up with some long-ago forgotten brochure:

Marys Peak Hike

Things were blooming:

Marys Peak Hike

Crossing Parker Creek:

Marys Peak Hike

Along the next stretch the forest floor was absolutely carpeted in sorrel:

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

The trail popped out into the meadow briefly:

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

I passed the junction where the Meadowedge Trail loops back to the campground (I’d be back to this spot later) then quickly reached another junction where I picked up the Summit Trail:

Marys Peak Hike

Back out into the meadow:

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

The lupine weren’t quite in bloom yet:

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

The summit was once home to a series of fire lookouts, the last of which was removed in the 1970s. This photo is from 1944:

Marys Peak, 1944

Now the summit is occupied by communications equipment:

Marys Peak Hike

I was pretty socked-in so there were no views, but the flowers sure were nice!

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

I followed the service road as it descended from the summit:

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

I reached a junction where trails headed off to the right and the service road went straight:

Marys Peak Hike

I turned left onto the Summit Trail:

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

Marys Peak Hike

During the final hike back to the trailhead it started sleeting at one point, so I picked up the pace and was glad to retreat into the warmth of my car. After that I drove to the day use area at the end of road. No surprise, the view was cloudy:

Marys Peak Hike

Nice to see the flowers up here, even with so many clouds.

Gaia stats: 2.6 miles, 590′ elevation gain