Strawberry Peak Via Red Box Truck Trail

4.5 stars for the terrain, beauty, difficulty
This hike is 7 miles round trip with 1,800′ elevation gain/​loss.
The trail starts just north and across the street from the parking lot. It is single file with some loose rocks under foot. The first 2,5 miles or so are pretty tame, with mostly a gentle ascent. There is no overhead shade, so you will be exposed to the elements the entire route. I would avoid this hike during the height of the summer. Views and scenery are quite nice along the way.
At about 1 mile before the destination, there will be a choice to go right or straight and up. Take the trail up. This is where the climbing really begins. It’s a pretty tough hike at this point. There will be a series of hills and some very, very steep inclines and rock maneuvering until you reach the peak. The terrain is pretty rugged and rocky. However, you will be rewarded with gorgeous 360 degree views.
Why do they call Strawberry Peak? I’m not really sure, but if I were to guess, it’s because the difficulty of the last mile will cause your face will turn red like a strawberry while trying to reach it :)
tip — look for mile marker 38.38 and parking is on your right
coordinates: 34.2 583 421 146, –118.105 215 378
parking — an adventure pass is required to park in the lot