We have hiked in the Marble Range many times and one of our favorite hikes is up Wild Horse Ridge.   The trail follows a creek valley to an old burn, then climbs into subalpine terrain.

Along the way bladder campion (Silene vulgaris) was in bloom on disturbed soil next to the trail.  It is edible;  it was introduced to Canada from Europe.

Yellow agoseris (Agoseris glauca) was abundant in the open fire-burned forest.   The terminal yellow flowers have composite heads and ray flowers with toothed ends.

The understory in the black forest is gradually filling in with fireweed, perennial and shrub succession growth.

On the upper slopes of the blackened forest were Northern bedstraw (Galium boreale) with its white, showy and scented blossom in clusters.    It grows from rhizomes, but dies back each winter.

In wet areas fringed grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia fimbriata) were in flower, with their showy distinctive inflorescence.   The hairs on the petals distinguish it from northern grass-of-parnassus.

On the upper dry slopes subalpine spirea (Spirea densiflora) was in bloom.   It is similar to birch-leaved spirea, but has pinkish colors and grows at a higher altitude.

In the subalpine karst meadows fireweed covered the dry ground.

Not far away were low-growing four-parted gentians (Gentianella propinqua).   Northern gentians are more common in our alpine areas, but the isolated, remote karst environment may account for its frequency in this area.

In the alpine meadows on the way to the peak were many field chickweeds (Cerastium sp) in bloom.

Most of the white mountain-avens (Dryas octopetala) had finished blooming and the achenes were spiralling above the evergreen semi-shrubs which covered much of the rocky ridge.

Lance-leaved stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) was in flower on the rocky, open karst slopes.    Were the orange-red colors due to the karst environment?

Red paintbrush (Castilleja sp.) was abundant in the upper black forest and in the meadows of Wild Horse Ridge.

We have hiked this trail several times and at different months, the wildflower display is different, but it is always a rewarding (but difficult) hike in the Marble Range.