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Twin Creek - Blind Hollow, 15 June, 2025

Nine hikers set out on a warm late spring morning for a point-to-point hike from Twin Creek to Blind Hollow: Brent L, Dave P, Dave W, Deb, Jane, Kamren, Sue, Teresa, and Ralph (leader). Two of the hikers set out early to get a head start and arrived at Bubble Spring at about the same time as the other seven. This was a car-shuttle hike, so we left a car at our end point at the Blind Hollow trailhead on our way to Twin Creek. We started out on the Twin Creek road from the highway, as the winter closure gate had not quite opened yet (scheduled for June 15) and the cattlemen prefer cars are parked outside the gate.

We were thankful the livestock had not yet arrived. The first mile and a quarter of hiking on the road was relatively easy with an elevation gain of about 275 feet. This section of the hike was almost fully in the sun. After the first stream crossing, the grade increased until we reached the ridge above Bubble Spring. Over that 2-mile section we gained about 1300 feet of elevation as the temperature warmed as we hiked up the road surrounded by aspens. We made frequent stops in shady areas as we ascended. Along the way, we saw frequent patches of Lewis flax, sticky geraniums, mule’s ears, mallow, Woods rose, larkspur, large-flower triteleia, paintbrush, and others. There were several downed trees along the way which were easily passable.

We gathered at Bubble Spring and observed a few bubbles emanating from the spring. We decided to take a break for snacks and cooled off in a small grove of aspens just above the spring which provided some welcome shade. We continued down the Bear Hollow trail through fields filled with larkspur, cut-leaf balsam root, and a great view of Mt. Elmer and then up through aspen groves until we reached the turnoff to Hansen Pond. We stopped for lunch in an aspen grove adjacent to a meadow filled with forget-me-nots just above the trail to Hansen Pond.

After lunch, we descended the Hansen Pond trail into Long Meadow filled with forget-me-nots and the Blind Hollow trail intersection. During the descent, a large tree blocked the trail, one that will need to be cleared before the Bear 100 in the late fall. We descended the Blind Hollow trail through lush greenery and wildflowers with several small stream crossings and a fair number of trees fallen across the trail. Some wildflowers observed during our descent were bluebells, red elderberry, and blue columbine among others. On the descent through the narrow canyon, there were firs on the right and more open meadows on the left. Finally, the tired and hot hikers entered the open sagebrush area and down to the Blind Hollow trailhead at US-89, arriving at about 3:00 PM.

At the trailhead, the shuttle car driver took the other drivers to their cars at Twin Creek, who then came down to pick up the rest of the hikers. Hikers returned to the Smith’s parking lot on Main Street about 3:45 PM.

Trip Summary:
  • Nine Cache Hikers: Brent L, Dave P, Dave W, Deb, Jane, Kamren, Sue, Teresa, and Ralph (leader)
  • Started on Twin Creek trail about 8:45, lunch from 12:00 to 12:45, at the Blind Hollow trailhead around 3:00 and Logan a bit after 3:45
  • Sunny and hot, with an occasional light to moderate breeze and blue skies.
  • Hiked about 9  miles with about 2100 feet of ascent

Thanks to Ralph for the narrative, photos and GPS data, and Dave P, Dave W, Jane and Sue for photos.


Six (of nine) Cache Hikers, at the beginning of the hike
 Beehives, located near the beginning of the road
 The Twin Creek road was still closed to vehicles

Water was flowing in Twin Creek A woodpecker tree along the road


Mount Elmer
 Approaching Bubble Spring


At Bubble Spring
 A few bubbles occasionally surfaced

Leaving Bubble Spring and heading to Bear Hollow


A shady lunch spot near the Hansen Pond Trail
 The Hansen Pond Trail sign

Hansen Pond has recently been improved
 Large trees were down over the Hansen Pond trail

Hiking down the Blind Hollow Trail
 Approaching the Blind Hollow trailhead on US-89


Mule ears
 Bigleaf balsamroot


Sticky geranium
 Lewis flax

Baneberry
 Blue columbine

Bluebells
 Red elderberry

Serviceberry
 Red sand spurry, an invasive non-native plant

Valerian
 Larkspur
Stickseed
 Hoary cress ("whitetop"), an invasive non-native noxious weed


Little sunflower
 Red clover (an invasive non-native plant)

Two species of onion


Wild sweet pea
 Paintbrush


Western salsify (an invasive, non-native plant)
 Snowberry

Wild hyacinth
 Oregon checkermallow

Woods rose
 Long-horned beetle

Our GPS track shows about 9 miles and 2100 feet of ascent.
You can look at our route using Google Earth or download our GPS file.