About

Moderate • 2.5 miles • Loop • 60-90 minutes

A 2.5-mile loop from the Mt. Elden trailhead off Highway 89 that crosses a 500,000-year-old lava flow covered in boulder formations. The famous tight squeeze between two rocks is what gives the trail its name, and it's the kind of built-in challenge that makes hiking feel like an expedition for elementary-age kids and tweens. Rated moderate: about 613 feet of elevation gain on a rocky surface, with only partial shade, so this is not a gentle meadow walk. Plan 60 to 90 minutes. Free parking in the lot off Highway 89. Open dawn to dusk year-round, and it's free. Best for kids who already like a little scrambling — the lava and boulders are the point, and they also mean the tread stays uneven underfoot.