To Get There: The Hardy Ridge Loop route is located in Beacon Rock State Park. Normally you would start from the Equestrian trailhead on Kupfer road, but the lower portion of that trail is closed, so you need to begin on the Hamilton Mountain trail. After passing Rodney Falls, fork left onto the Hardy Creek trail until you get to the picnic area, then turn left again on the Equestrian trail and travel a half mile to the East Hardy Ridge trail.
This side of the park is open to horses and cyclists, so it is mostly gravel road in the forest:
At the end of the dirt road, the well established single track up to the top of the ridge begins:
The top:
The wildflowers are pretty good right now. Although it doesn't have the spectacular displays of balsamroot and lupine you would find further east, there are many little meadows peppered with a rainbow of dainty red, blue white and yellows:
A trail traverses north to the true summit of the ridge gives great views of the Gorge, Table Mountain and Hamilton. It was pretty cloudy today, but warm, a slight breeze, no bugs, and absolute solitude, so after my lunch on top, I had a short nap before heading back down.
The west side connector trail is new and has not been used much:
Except by this critter( I saw about five piles like this):
A great day- wildflowers, solitude, a nap , and I found 5$ in the parking lot on my return!
More pictures here
