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USUALLY OPEN

This category tells you when the trail is typically snow-free enough for hiking.

BEST TIMES

This is my subjective judgment of the time(s) of year when a trip is at its best for hiking. In general, it will be when the flowers are at their peak, the fall colors at their best, the wildlife most abundant, and so on.

TRAIL USE

This category describes the uses for which the trail is suited, including backpacking and mountain biking, whether the trail is a good choice for kids, and whether dogs or horses are allowed on the trail.

AGENCY

This refers to the government agency that manages the area covered by the hike. It never hurts to call ahead to the appropriate agency for the latest information about trail conditions, closures, regulations, etc. See ssss1 for a complete list of addresses and phone numbers for each agency.

DIFFICULTY

This category lists an overall rating of how difficult this trip is relative to other hikes with the following four designations. In general, each higher level represents a doubling of difficulty level. On average, “Moderate” trips are twice as difficult as “Easy” trips, and so on.