The Soldier Trail

Beautiful day for a short yet challenging hike in the Pusch Ridge Wilderness—the Soldier Trail—named for the canyon it parallels. This is the second time I've hike this trail, the first being in December of 2019. It is only a little over five miles round-trip, more if you explore the canyon and falls, which we did, yet the first mile is steep enough to keep casual hikers at bay. The nearly 2,000 feet of elevation gain make it workout-worthy for such a short hike.

Note: Make sure you scroll down to see the mini-waterfall video clip.

Lots of talus and small boulders starting out.

Hard to tell because of the camouflage of rock strata, but Soldier Canyon is pretty sizable.

The beautiful canyon brought out both our cameras.

After about two miles in, the clouds started to dissipate.

Looking down on the prison camp. Prisoners were used to build roads in the area in the 1930s. Many of the prisoners, ironically, were Japanese Americans protesting the internment camps.

Entering the canyon, a prime destination for rock climbers, a few of whom we saw today.

This beautiful waterfall, with it's water burbling over striated rock, was so captivating I took a short video.

Look closely to see the rock climber working his way up.

Rock climbers. Unfortunately, this particular cliff wall was littered with climbing devices and apparatuses pounded into the face to aid newbie climbers. So much for leave no trace.

The ridge trail that follows the canyon is pleasantly grassy and smooth, unlike the rest of the trail, which is quite rocky and steep.

Addendum: We had to bushwhack out of the canyon to rejoin the trail.