I hiked Summerland on 7/23/17, and the weather and views were absolutely mind boggling. The trail was literally snow free, the wildflowers were in bloom, and I even saw a pack of mountain goats. Wowzers!
From the entrance (of the Summerland trail) to the group shelter, the total distance on my Garmin Fenix 5X was 4.2 miles. A nice couple had their tent pitched off to the side of the shelter, and several other day hikers were exploring the area throughout the day.
Elevation gain to the group shelter (on my device) was 2,096 ft; however, other websites state that the incline is around 1,950. On average, the hike is approximately 500 ft of gain per mile, but keep in mind that most of the incline feels like it is over the last mile or so (see below). There is a fairly flat area about a mile before Summerland near a river crossing. I personally think that's a great spot to fuel up before the last incline.
Once you make it to the top, what I experienced was almost hard to capture in words. I've done my fair share of hikes, and the weather, combined with the wildflowers and critters, made this a very special day.
As stated earlier, I did see a pack of mountain goats moving in and out of trees. I didn't see any bears, but I did speak to a woman who says that she saw a relatively large black bear during her trek up to the group shelter.
There are many spots where you can refill your water bottle. I'd recommend bringing a small filter (I carried the Sawyer mini). The water sources provide clear, cold, tasty water! Bring some flavored juice packets to make it even better!
There is also a very nice bathroom (toilet) about 200 yards from the group shelter. It doesn't have running water, tissue, etc.
Finally, the bugs were not really a nuisance; however, I did apply a generous amount of DEET about halfway up the trail.
I strongly recommend this as a day hike! I took my time going up (about 3 hours), and it took me about 2 hours to make it back down to my vehicle.
I will certainly do this again hike before the summer is over. It's definitely one of my favs on the mountain.
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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