The 3,500-foot cumulative elevation gain and 11-mile loop hike over Horseshoe Ridge is always tough. The pitches ascending and descending the Ridge are very steep.

However, the hike has a very pleasant stretch too.  Almost four miles of the trail follows the picturesque Souixon (rhymes with Tucson) Creek on a well-maintained, well-graded trail. Waterfalls, ferns and campsites are abundant underneath the old-growth forest.

The challenging aspect to the hike is the seven miles up, across and down the 3,400-foot ridge. For the first time in years though, the Forest Service had removed numerous blowdowns over the trail making it much easier to navigate.

It’s mainly a conditioning hike, but has enough variety to make it interesting too.

Pinesap

The beauty of an old-growth Mountain Hemlock forest

Siouxon Falls

Penstemon

A cloudy day

Merten’s Coral Root Orchid

Tiger Lily

Doesn’t take long for Alders to eat an unused road

Bead Lily

Nice campground near Siouxon Creek

Penstemon