Jardine Juniper from Cottonwood Canyon

Dogs Unknown

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

The bottom portion of this trail has been recently renovated (summer of 2015) and is in great shape, with long switchbacks and low grades that make progress very easy. To get to this trail, you'll need to park at the unmarked Cottonwood Canyon trailhead and go up Cottonwood Canyon for about a quarter of a mile where you'll see a fork in the trailhead going off to the left.

From the fork that leaves the Cottonwood Canyon trail, the trail ascends through the forest that covers the bottom of Cottonwood Canyon and crosses some fallen trees (that have been notched to make them easier to get across) and eventually leaves the forest for a rockier, more exposed patch.

Once the trail reaches this point, it starts to ascend ever more steeply until you reach portions that require scrambling. This portion of the trail was not renovated in the recent work, which means it is a little less distinct, but still not very hard to find. After some steep climbing, it reaches another small set of steep switchbacks that lead right up to the old juniper, along with a small overlook and benches and a sign with information about the amazing tree.