Dec 2025 Update: Access road to the Woodpecker Trailhead is now open. This road passes right past Forest Road 035 which is the turnoff described in the original trip report (http://www.pnwsota.org/node/681). Road 035 has been cleared of all large deadfall, but does narrow in places so suggest you walk this if you don't want paint scratches on the vehicle.
There is a large amount of deadfall from what used to be dense forest, but the GPX route I’ve posted to SOTAMaps traverses around that and is a pathway using the meadows. The Manzinita is only about 4 inches high (12/2025) so what will eventually be a more challenging bushwhack is not a problem right now. It's steep but very doable.
This summit has been radically transformed by the massive forest fires that ripped through this area. Completely burned out. Still lots of char on the ground so you’ll likely get sooty, in Dec it was black muddy mess on the summit. Burned stags to set up HF, plenty of room on summit since hardly any vegetation. Great views since all the trees are gone :-o (Pics posted to SOTA Atlas).
