In early July we returned to hike a loop route on Mt. Embleton.   In  a wet spring the road to the parking areas was eroded to the point where one section is now 4WD, but we went slowly and parked at the upper parking area near the Fence Trail.   We worked our way over to the Pine Loop Trail and on to the highest part of the mountain trails.

The trails on the east side were all very wet.   The bridge was partly washed away, several stiles were down, and the trail ahead was just a streambed.

We worked our way to the cutblock at the top and then over toward the western bluffs, winding through the firs.

The trail also winds through aspen stands on the upper end of the south-facing ridge.

We had fine views of Heffley Lake from several spots on the Skyline Trail.

There are many route choices for a loop combination on the Embleton trails, but we enjoy and usually hike the Old Mills Trail, going past old shingle mill sites on the hillside.

The Old Mills Trail is an old road and the double track winds through the forest, linking the trail network with a moderate east-west link.

Wildflowers were abundant along the trail.   Agoseris was spotted on the lower open areas on the Skyline Trail.

We hike the Mt. Embleton Trails once or twice every year, sometimes on snowshoes in the winter too.  Right now they are in need of some TLC, but a few obstacles makes the hike a bit more of an adventure.