Flowers come out to greet hikers the Red Hill Trail

May is the best time to hike the Red Hill Trail near Cashmere, on the dry side of the Cascades. By now the snow has receded, the snowmobilers are gone, flowers are blooming and the multiple-use trail gets a rest from motorized vehicles until mid-June, when the trail becomes busy with hikers, mountain bikers, equestrians and motorbikes.

Now, however, the trail must be sighing with relief with only occasional hikers on the lonesome path as it climbs through vanilla-scented vegetation to a long rolling ridge with views of the Wenatchee Mountains and eerie rock formations, some covered with constellations of tiny flowers.

However, we don't think we got to Red Hill. Despite a new Green Trails map for the region, an old but detailed USGS map, guidebook directions and trail signs, we found that elevations, mileages and names differ and it was not absolutely clear to us which high point was Red Hill proper. The guidebook describes it as a nine-mile round-trip hike with 2,180 feet elevation gain to Red Hill, but the map says it's more.

Our Mountaineers hiking group started from the Sand Creek trailhead at 1,650 feet. The trail cuts through a brief stretch of forest, crosses Sand Creek and a logging road before it begins to ascend to the high country.

The first couple of miles are particularly gentle, and we found the trail easy on the feet. Some hikers may disdain multiple-use trails, but we find that these trails usually are well graded, maintained and the elevation is spread out gradually rather than the heartless ups and downs of hiker-only trails.

At approximately two miles (2,700 feet), we came to a junction where the guidebook warns of a confusion of motorcycle trails, but there was no confusion. The Red Hill Trail has been made obvious and hard to miss as it heads uphill. The map shows another junction at 2,800 feet, but you shouldn't have any problem staying on the trail.

From the junction at 2,800 feet, it is another 1.8 miles or so to a 3,400-foot saddle and trail junction with signs for Red Hill, the Red Hill Spur, Red Devil Trail and Tronsen Ridge. There are several options for hikers here. You can turn left at the saddle onto the Red Hill Spur Trail (No. 1223.1) that connects to the Red Devil Trail (No. 1221) for a loop back to the trailhead. Longer hikes are possible by following the Red Hill Spur Trail to the Devils Gulch Trail and Mission Ridge -- study the map for details. We continued on the Red Hill Trail, turning right as the trail resumed climbing toward the Tronsen Ridge trail at 4,700 feet, 3.7 miles from this junction.

The Red Hill Trail angled steeply uphill, leveled out for a bit, then climbed again to the first of several high points. By this time we had gained that 2,180 feet of elevation and had stopped at several high points along the ridge.

After awhile we grew weary of high points that dropped downhill, only to climb to another high point just like it. We had more than gained the appropriate amount of elevation but gamely continued toward a high rocky knoll where bitterroot was just beginning to display its pink blooms.

Like hikers, bitterroot is a flower that likes views and there were views of Tronsen Ridge illuminated then by a golden splash of sunlight against darkening skies. Bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva) was first collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition and is Montana's state flower.

After lunch we hiked a bit farther along the ridge but when faced with another steep descent into the forest, we called it quits and turned around. Fortunately this is the kind of country where the view is everywhere you look and it is not mandatory that you get to any particular place. The guidebook says Red Hill is at 3,850 feet, the map says 3,835. Do you care? Let purists dither about which high point is truly Red Hill. To us, it didn't matter.

Wherever you are on the trail, you'll enjoy the flowers. At higher elevations in addition to bitterroot you'll also find death camas, phlox, lomatium, balsamroot, and bursts of purple cliff penstemon spilling from the crevices of crumbling rocky outcroppings. You'll find a variety of flowering shrubs at all elevations along the trail, and at lower elevations look for yellow violets and dwarf waterleaf. Crashing the floral party near the trailhead you'll find Vinca minor (periwinkle or myrtle), a pretty but invasive weed with small blue flowers.

In addition to impressive evergreens and Ponderosa pines, you'll come across the occasional sweet surprise of a larch tree here and there, adorned in spring's soft green needles rather than the golden needles that herald fall.

* Getting there -- From Seattle, drive Interstate 90 or U.S. Route 2 to Cashmere, about 2.5 hours drive time. From the main stoplight in Cashmere, continue straight a block or two on Division Street. As Division Street curves right, it turns into Pioneer Street. Turn left at the blue sign "Devils Gulch" (Mission Creek Road). In a block or two, turn right at Binder Street and then left on Regan Street, which soon becomes Mission Creek Road. Continue to the end of paved road (about 7 miles from downtown Cashmere) to a road junction at a junkyard (listen for several barking dogs). Here turn right onto Road 7104 (unsigned) and continue about a mile to the Sand Creek trailhead, just past a gated road, elevation 1,650 feet (1,700 per map), facilities and a campground.

* Trail data -- According to the book, it is about nine miles round trip, with 2,180 feet elevation gain to Red Hill. The map is Green Trails No. 210 Liberty or the newer Green Trails map (No. 211S Mission Ridge/Devils Gulch, WA).

* Information -- Refer to "100 Hikes in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness" by Ira Spring, Vicky Spring and Harvey Manning (Mountaineers, 252 pages, $ 16.95), or call the Leavenworth Ranger Station at 509-548-6977 or visit their Web site at www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee.

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