Red Trail Loop
3.4 miles, elevation gain/loss: 515 feet
Lowest point at 3,090 feet
Highest point at 3,360 feet
The Red Trail Loop, named for its more sun-exposed pathways, is 3.4 miles long. Located entirely on the east side of Payne Hollow Road, it offers stunning vistas of the 1,000-feet-deep South Touchet River Canyon and some of the highest peaks of Washington’s Blue Mountain Range, including Deadman Peak and Griffin Peak, both nearly 6,000 feet high. Snow covers these peaks most of May and sometimes into early June during cooler spring seasons.
The Red Trail starts at the parking area/trailhead and initially shares 0.3 miles with the Black Trail by crossing Payne Hollow Road through small gates. Then, the trail takes a 250-foot descent into the canyon on sun-exposed, arid ridges typical of the Blue Mountain eco-region, then transitions to a forested uphill section with majestic old-growth Ponderosa Pines and Douglas Firs. This shaded section is named the “Trail of the Old Giants.” After the steep uphill, the trail turns right into dense forest with lush vegetation and deciduous trees, a stark contrast to the sun-exposed ridges. If you want to avoid descending and ascending 250 feet of elevation on the Red Trail, a shortcut offers an easier route with only 50 feet of elevation change while still providing stunning views and proximity to old-growth trees .
Once back on the East-plateau of Jasper Mountain Reserve, the Red Trail heads north along the rim of the South Touchet River Canyon. About a mile in, you reach the “Little Prairie” before looping back through more forested areas and around “Cedar Waxwing Pond”. Named for these stunning birds that frequent its waters, you can witness their acrobatic insect hunting above the pond's surface during the hot summer months. This second half of the trail features gentle, rolling hills and a mix of forest and meadows, making it enjoyable for both trail runners and nature hikers. Before finishing the trail at the parking area, you’ll cross Payne Hollow Road and enjoy a final view of the canyon and Blue Mountain peaks.
