OK, a very slight exaggeration, but The Ralston Peak Trail boasts 2,700 feet of climbing in just over 3 miles equaling just over six miles up and back. At some points the grade is 16%.
If you are not a regular at climbing peaks I suggest training for this one. Tiffany and I trained on Cardiac Hill, Red Shack Trail, and the horse hills @ Jenkinson Lake.
Hiking poles are highly recommended. Electrolytes are highly recommended.
Warning: this is a high altitude hike. The summit sits at 9,235 feet.
Directions: Highway 50 across from Sacramento Camp.
| Climb | 9 | Not Shasta. Not over 10,000 feet. But for us amateurs this is very nearly as tough as they get. |
| Shade | 2 | Everyone one we saw wore Sun hoodies. Not the desert but no shade. |
| Trail | 9 | Very well marked and maintained. |
| Crowds | 3 | Not many people, but enough you don’t feel lost. |
| Noise | 2 | Lower score means less noise! |
| Wildlife | 2 | Cute squirrel and chipmunk but not much else. |
| Photography | 8 | Amazing landscape shots at the top, but not before, and not wildlife unless . . . Chipmunk. |
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