The valley opens above Gladys Lake en route to Grand Pass

The trail weaves up narrow ridges in the upper valley

The trail crosses the ablation zone of a glacier on the final approach to Grand Pass

The trails drops 1,680' in just 2.1 miles to Grand Lake from Lillian Ridge

Grand Lake is the first of three main lakes and countless tarns in Grand Valley

Rural urban legend states that if you smell a tiger lily, you're bound to get freckles

Lupine envelops the trail in the upper valley

View from Grandview Peak (6,701')

'Edible thistle' was consumed by early tribes, but has little modern appeal

The trail moderates for .1 mile between this tarn and the pass

The Lillian Ridge Trail runs above several glaciers on the routes highest points

Moose Lake from its open west shore

You may find up to 4 types of lupine in any given area within Grand Valley

Gladys Lake (5,375') is more aptly described as a large, shapely alpine pond

Wildflowers generally peak in mid-July and linger in abundance through late August

The view from Grandview Peak (6,701) over Grand Pass (6,488')

Paintbrush, thistle, lily, and lupine are the four most common flowers in Grand Valley

A tarn is formed by glacial melt and typically has no outlet

The barren descent is in sharp contrast to verdant, glacier lined slopes just across a gulch

Gladys Lake lies on the edge of open alpine where backpackers will enjoy lighter crowds

Looking down the precipitously steep Cameron Valley side of Grand Pass

The level tundra extends for miles from Obstruction Point

At first narrow and wooded, Moose Lake expands with large meadows on its west side

Grouse are common but difficult to see in tall grass meadows

View down the Lillian River Valley from Grandview Peak