We set out to hike to both Knarl Ridge and Elk Meadows and got to within about a 1/2 mile of Knarl Ridge before we gave up trying to locate the trail in the snowpiles. None of the flower fields up high are blooming yet but on the way we found the Newton Creek drainage to be full of both yellow and pink monkeyflowers. Along the trail up the switchbacks from the creek there are many things blooming especially tall bluebells, columbine, lupine, paintbrush, bead lillies and anemones. In Elk Meadows and around the perimeter trail there are lots of flowers especially notable were shooting stars, elephant heads, white bog orchid and green rain orchids. We counted 55 different flowers so there is a nice variety. Also notable were lots of beargrass in the open areas just after you leave the trailhead parking.
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