The blue-green water of the South Fork of the Payette River can be enjoyed along the drive to the Grandjean Trailhead.
A hiker's bridge over Trail Creek is crossed early in the hike.
Trail sign at the South Fork of the Payette Trail and Trail Lakes junction.
The South Fork of the Payette River drainage is low enough in elevation to support some huge ponderosa pine trees.
A view of Point 7255 near the junction with the Baron Creek Trail.
Point 7255 contains some nice granite with potential for technical climbing.
Much of the South Fork of the Payette River drainage was burned in the Rabbit Creek Fire (1994), so the trail passes through large swaths of re-growth.
Ponderosa pine bark detail.
Trail sign at the junction of the South Fork of the Payette Trail and Baron Creek Trail.
Much of the lower Baron Creek drainage was also burned in 1994, so the trail offers great views and little shade.
Lower Baron Creek drainage was burned in the 1994 Rabbit Creek Fire.
Looking up the north face of Grandjean Peak.
Junction sign at the North Fork of Baron Creek.
Looking up the granite slabe of the northeast face of Grandjean Peak.
The north face of Tohobit Peak is occasionally glimpsed through the trees.
Looking back downcanyon on the east face of Tohobit Peak.
The east face and north ridge (right) of Tohobit Peak.
Another brief view into the hanging valley beneath Warbonnet Peak. Baron Falls Spire stands tall in the left side of the photo.
As the trail cimbs, hikers get better views into the hanging valleys that flank the Baron Creek Valley.
The massive north face of Mount Ebert towers over a heavily switchbacked section of the trail as it climbs into the Baron Lakes Basin.
Hikers are finally greeted with a view of Baron Falls as it cascades out of the upper lakes basin.
Scarlet paintbrush (Castilleja miniata) and white mariposa lilys (Calochortus eurycarpus) decorate the high alpine meadows.
Looking across the middle Baron Lake at the Monte Verita spires.
Contributor Matt Leidecker enjoys a veiw looking onto the Middle Baron Lake. Mount Ebert stands in the right center of the photo.
Middle Baron Lake.
Looking down onto the shoreline of Middle Baron Lake.
Middle Baron Lake.
Western columbine (Aquilegia formosa).
Baron Spire reflected in Upper Baron Lake.
The Monte Verita spires reflected in Upper Baron Lake.
Baron Spire (center) anchors a long ridgeline of beautiful granite towers above Upper Baron Lake.
Rydberg's penstemon (Penstemon rydbergii).
Shrubby or cliff penstemon (Penstemon fruticosus).
Sunlight on Baron Spire.
Looking down the Baron Creek drainage from a ridge above the lakes.
Baron Spire sunset
Sunset colors the sky behind Monte Verita to Baron Spire skyline.
The Monte Verita ridge at night.
Monte Verita (center) and Upper Baron Lake under a full moon.
Alpenglow lights up Monte Verita and Baron Spire above Baron Lake from near the Baron Divide.