neotoma - Jun 4, 2020 10:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2020
Great route to Lookout
Hiked this on a hot, sunny Thursday and only saw seven other people on the route (mostly on the ridge trail.) Summit had bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds fluttering about the riot of wildflowers. Only snow clumps left were near the top on the NE aspect of the mountain, trail was bone dry. Amazing views in every direction. Total hiking time was just over five hours, but I lingered at the summit and did a little wandering on my descent. I'll definitely be doing this one again!
Some notes on finding the trailhead, from my accidental bonus hiking to start my day:
- The Burnt Flats Trail (the one you take from Affleck Campground up to meet the Lone Peak Trail at the 4-way junction) is in reservation area #3, behind the toilet between sites #35 and #36 -- NOT site #6 as the route description says. The jeep road is completely over-grown in knee-deep grass but the red gate is still there. You'll see an obvious footpath worn in the grass winding behind site #35 and then quickly turning west and going uphill.
- Just past site #36 there is a gravel road that leads to site #37 and a promising looking trail which shortly reaches a branch; the very nice, newly maintained trail that switchbacks to the left (and heads south) is a mountain bike trail but will not go where you want -- it just heads south to the other end of the campground. To the right over the bridge is another trail that goes south on the other side of the creek. Neither of these trails are on the posted campground maps, and are not the ones you want... unless you plan to get in some mountain biking :)
- The Burnt Flats Trail will quickly intersect the new mountain bike trail as you're ascending; continue ascending the Burnt Flats Trail, don't turn left or right.
- Affleck Campground was still closed as of 6/4/2020; the http://www.keepitpure.com website for reservations says it's still closed due to COVID-19 with no estimated re-opening date. You can't park at the closed gate on route 65. The vault toilets throughout the campground were all open. The only two people I saw in the campground were riding mountain bikes.
- There are several side-of-the-road parking spots along route 65 just north and south of the park entrance. About half a mile south of the campground entrance on route 65 there's a vault toilet and six car parking spot by the trailhead for the Mormon Pioneer Trail (I parked there.) Watch out for cyclists!
BKiser90 - Oct 28, 2017 6:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 28, 2017
Easy Route to Lookout
This seems to be the shortest route up to Lookout. Perfect for a short day hike. We parked by the historical marker on the highway and walked into the campground to the trailhead.
neotoma - Jun 4, 2020 10:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2020
Great route to LookoutHiked this on a hot, sunny Thursday and only saw seven other people on the route (mostly on the ridge trail.) Summit had bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds fluttering about the riot of wildflowers. Only snow clumps left were near the top on the NE aspect of the mountain, trail was bone dry. Amazing views in every direction. Total hiking time was just over five hours, but I lingered at the summit and did a little wandering on my descent. I'll definitely be doing this one again!
Some notes on finding the trailhead, from my accidental bonus hiking to start my day:
- The Burnt Flats Trail (the one you take from Affleck Campground up to meet the Lone Peak Trail at the 4-way junction) is in reservation area #3, behind the toilet between sites #35 and #36 -- NOT site #6 as the route description says. The jeep road is completely over-grown in knee-deep grass but the red gate is still there. You'll see an obvious footpath worn in the grass winding behind site #35 and then quickly turning west and going uphill.
- Just past site #36 there is a gravel road that leads to site #37 and a promising looking trail which shortly reaches a branch; the very nice, newly maintained trail that switchbacks to the left (and heads south) is a mountain bike trail but will not go where you want -- it just heads south to the other end of the campground. To the right over the bridge is another trail that goes south on the other side of the creek. Neither of these trails are on the posted campground maps, and are not the ones you want... unless you plan to get in some mountain biking :)
- The Burnt Flats Trail will quickly intersect the new mountain bike trail as you're ascending; continue ascending the Burnt Flats Trail, don't turn left or right.
- Affleck Campground was still closed as of 6/4/2020; the http://www.keepitpure.com website for reservations says it's still closed due to COVID-19 with no estimated re-opening date. You can't park at the closed gate on route 65. The vault toilets throughout the campground were all open. The only two people I saw in the campground were riding mountain bikes.
- There are several side-of-the-road parking spots along route 65 just north and south of the park entrance. About half a mile south of the campground entrance on route 65 there's a vault toilet and six car parking spot by the trailhead for the Mormon Pioneer Trail (I parked there.) Watch out for cyclists!
BKiser90 - Oct 28, 2017 6:44 pm Date Climbed: Oct 28, 2017
Easy Route to LookoutThis seems to be the shortest route up to Lookout. Perfect for a short day hike. We parked by the historical marker on the highway and walked into the campground to the trailhead.