josephine peak

We started the hike from the Colby Canyon trailhead off the Angeles Crest Highway, early in the morning. The trail leads you past a nice swimming hole fed by a terrific little waterfall in the first quarter mile (or less). I spotted quite a few larkspur on the switchbacks leading up the canyon. The trail has had a lot of work done recently and it is in terrific shape. We were impressed! Climbing out of the shade we followed a humps and ridges up to Josephine Saddle where you can head west toward Josephine Peak or east to Strawberry Peak. The section connecting Josephine Saddle to the Josephine Fire Road is level, shady, and very pleasant. Once at the fire road, it was a quick mile up to the last few hundred yards of trail to the summit.

We opted to take the fireroad back down which was really hot. I mean - HOT and exposed. Plenty of lovely flowers blooming along the entire hike: chia, baby blue eyes (pictured here), indian paintbrush, scotch broom, penstemmon, gilia, larkspur... From the end of the fireroad, we followed the shoulder of the Angeles Crest (not recommended) back to where we started. People drive rather poorly on this road.