{"id":5614,"date":"2026-06-18T15:34:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-18T15:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/?p=5614"},"modified":"2026-06-22T03:43:47","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T03:43:47","slug":"juniper-ridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/juniper-ridge\/","title":{"rendered":"Juniper Ridge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Thursday, June 18, 2026<\/p>\n<p>After finishing up the short <a href=\"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/tongue-mountain\/\">Tongue Mountain hike<\/a>, I took set off to do the Juniper Ridge hike.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fs.usda.gov\/r06\/giffordpinchot\/recreation\/trails\/trail-261-juniper-ridge\">Juniper Ridge Trail #261<\/a> heads south from Road 2904:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347416749\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347416749_aa17839b28_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I started climbing immediately. The day was getting warm and I was grateful for the shade of the trees:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55346631752\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55346631752_b3286383ee_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The trail was in bad shape thanks to the motorbike use here:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347780829\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347780829_91977b5b01_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347563141\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347563141_993a167fb1_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347780734\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347780734_09a9784404_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There wasn&#8217;t much to see along the way except for a couple different wildflowers:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347780764\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347780764_9649902b3f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347780474\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347780474_be6b1ac19d_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348562373\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348562373_9fe1070968_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The trail was steep and rutted and hiking it felt like a slog. Then the mosquitos started getting bad. I was grateful to come to this viewpoint when I was close to Juniper Peak:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347563301\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347563301_8a271ba835_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347563216\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347563216_b7098eb54a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>More rutted trail:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347985280\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347985280_5dc5af6ece_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347780479\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347780479_76224f201f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The steep sections were loose dirt and rocks. Not fun to go up and really not fun to descend later:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348822660\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348822660_a94f60a490_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Then the trail popped out of the trees at the foot of Juniper Peak:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347984995\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347984995_89feacf7af_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Wow, the views! Mt. Adams:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55346636427\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55346636427_4c43abc039_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348329076\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348329076_ba95d522e8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Mt. Rainier:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348750315\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348750315_34f5aac6b4_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The trail skirts around Juniper Peak:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348753385\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348753385_08080817ed_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>More views of Mt. Adams (the pointy peak at left has no name):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348502223\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348502223_a03c79b14c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Goat Rocks were visible too:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348563564\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348563564_68cc02600a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A steep eroded trail heads straight up the southern slope of Juniper Peak:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348518663\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348518663_8d2342c57e_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I decided to skip it and just enjoy the nice garden gardens along the trail just south of Juniper Peak:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348577379\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348577379_5d9dd45809_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348512588\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348512588_13f233f507_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There were plenty of wildflowers to see:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347722318\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347722318_381201ecd0_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347985045\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347985045_5c15d9d8ec_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348361031\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348361031_cec314d50d_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348361006\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348361006_223aa88df7_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347429262\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347429262_e2ea7ab69d_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348577184\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348577184_21bcd12126_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347429202\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347429202_7f3bc02842_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348584634\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348584634_478c9cfcee_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348584819\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348584819_86149a7f9f_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347436737\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347436737_0c4f9ce5e8_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348526028\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348526028_0614a7b252_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347436682\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347436682_b57c78b804_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348622164\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348622164_eb37e93147_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348562468\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348562468_d3ed30dc83_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And lots of views to soak in. Looking west at McCoy Peak and Mt. St. Helens:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348512443\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348512443_57a8f19a1a_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348512448\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348512448_b8a5f1a4c9_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Looking south at Jumbo Peak:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348563364\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348563364_e8237b714c_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Looking northeast:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348773430\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348773430_83e217af90_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Past the rock gardens the trail heads into the trees:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348585429\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348585429_1fb986f6e5_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And at the top of the rise is a view of Mt. Adams again, as well as Sunrise Peak (which I would hike tomorrow):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348376926\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348376926_5d8c782478_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347455717\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347455717_e7c1271ca0_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>And the &#8220;backside&#8221; of that pointy unnamed peak:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348557273\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348557273_27402128b5_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After lingering for awhile on the ridge I turned and headed back:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348399246\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348399246_85395325f0_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>North of Juniper Peak was a rise next to the trail with a user trail to the top. I headed up there and got a nice view looking northwest at Burley Mountain:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55348563568\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55348563568_15d41d3489_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Looking back at Mt. Adams and the north side of Juniper Peak:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/cheryl_hill\/55347473942\/\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/live.staticflickr.com\/65535\/55347473942_d8516499cd_c.jpg\" alt=\"Juniper Ridge Hike\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>It was a long slow descent on the rutted trail. I was glad to get back to my car!<\/p>\n<p>Gaia stats: 6.8 miles, 1,800&#8242; elevation gain<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thursday, June 18, 2026 After finishing up the short Tongue Mountain hike, I took set off to do the Juniper<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/2026\/06\/18\/juniper-ridge\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Juniper Ridge<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5615,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[187,161],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5614"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5614"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5614\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5635,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5614\/revisions\/5635"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5615"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cherylhill.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}