When the south-facing hills start to dry out, we look for scenic routes through the hills.   On this mid-March day we hiked up the Pruden Pass Road from the Mara Trail(head), then took side routes out to the Guardsmen Overlook, Panorama Point, and Moby Dick before returning to the double track back to the parking area.

We climbed up the old double track toward Pruden Pass for 3.2 km, but as it turned toward the gap, we followed a side track on our left that we sometimes take on our way to the Guardsmen.   As we followed the descending ridge toward Tranquille River, Wheeler Bluffs stood above the side valley on our north side.   We had hiked to the top of the bluffs last fall.

At the Guardsmen Overlook we could see the two “guardian” hoodoos below us and to the north we had a good view up the Tranquille River Canyon.

We retraced our steps up the ridge, then traversed off-trail over to Panorama Point.   This triangular-shaped hill juts out into the canyon for great views in every direction.   The most colorful bluffs of the canyon are just to the north.

To the south the canyon widens out toward the lower trails alongside Tranquille River.

From Panorama Point, we traversed slopes and gullies to ascend Moby Dick, a volcanic hill with fluted bluffs facing west.   It was named by Roland Neave in his book “Hiking the High Points.”

While scrambling along the Moby Dick bluffs we enjoyed seeing emerging mosses and wildflowers.   Click an image for a larger/close-up view.

puccinia monoica on boechera

new growth on mosses

rust fungus on rockcress

new moss growth on volcanic ledges

We traversed back to the double track and finished our 9.4 km hike.   This is a good spring hike, but watch for ticks in the grasslands.