clairev - Aug 3, 2020 11:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2020
360 View of Every Range in the Area!
What an amazing hike! I vow to never hit the same peak/lake/etc twice because there are too many in the world to do one again, but this one I would just to see and share the astounding view of the Pioneers, White Clouds, Sawtooths, Lost River Range, etc.
A few corrections/specifics I would add to the post:
- The trek to the summit and back is closer to 11 miles round trip (I mapped the hike from the Rough Creek Trailhead up/back using the recreation tracking app Strava)
- The Rough Creek bridge is fairly obvious. I restarted my odometer turning left towards Challis in Stanley at the stop sign and it was roughly half a mile further than noted in the directions.
- You will hit the first trail intersection at approx. 2.8 miles in. That is the point where you will take a left onto FS trail 617
- You will then hit the second intersection at 3.6 miles and take the left onto 647 towards the summit you can see (so close!)
Thank you for creating this page, this was well worth the 6 am wake up and drive up from Boise to hit this in a day!
Some steep sections of trail but good trail nonetheless the whole way and beautiful forests (with many, many picturesque little wooden bridges over boggy sections) on the way up. Views were a little hazy from the late season wildfires, but still a great viewpoint of the Salmon River peaks, fellow White Clouds, and Sawtooths! Aspens on the road in were just starting to turn and very pretty.
Note that there are some odd parking rules at the trailhead about where they want you to park as a passenger car (not very well explained on a confusing sign by the trail register), and if you innocently miss this sign and park in what seems like a normal spot because there is literally no one else there, on the way back you will find multiple notes on your dash including "Nice Park Job Ass Hole" (two words, obviously) because you apparently were in a horse trailer turnaround area. Be warned.
sjaxon16 - Aug 21, 2016 2:00 am Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2016
Lookout Mountain!
Great hike!
mjholmes - Oct 15, 2015 12:17 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2015
Hazy View
Climbed the trail with high hopes of a fantastic view, but smoke made the sky pretty hazy. Still a great hike.
Wow sorry I did not see this until now. It is definitely a class 1 since a trial is located all the way to the top
Mlasky - Mar 28, 2015 5:58 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2014
Fall IdahoSummits Outing
This peak was chosen to make it easier for spouses and kids to attend...so they get an idea what their quasi-absent family member does when they say they are "going mountaineering." I was with the various other log signatories... :-)
Deltaoperator17 - Oct 7, 2014 5:53 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2014
IDS Group Outing
26 humans, 5 dogs. I love this group!
boisedoc - Oct 5, 2014 10:18 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2014
busy summit
there were at least 20 of us on the trip- almost felt like I was in Colorado. Very nice maintained trail. Beautiful early fall day
Super Dave - Nov 30, 2011 12:59 am Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2011
Snowy
Had been wanting to hike up Lookout Mountain for a quite a while. Did this after an early October snowstorm, which meant our three peak day was a pretty soggy. The views from Lookout were a definite highlight. Trip Report
I love this peak. It was my second peak ever and holds fond memories. I've introduced friends and family to the mountains of Idaho on this peak. I first climbed it in 1999 and have made it back in 2000, 2004, and 2005.
clairev - Aug 3, 2020 11:29 am Date Climbed: Aug 2, 2020
360 View of Every Range in the Area!What an amazing hike! I vow to never hit the same peak/lake/etc twice because there are too many in the world to do one again, but this one I would just to see and share the astounding view of the Pioneers, White Clouds, Sawtooths, Lost River Range, etc.
A few corrections/specifics I would add to the post:
- The trek to the summit and back is closer to 11 miles round trip (I mapped the hike from the Rough Creek Trailhead up/back using the recreation tracking app Strava)
- The Rough Creek bridge is fairly obvious. I restarted my odometer turning left towards Challis in Stanley at the stop sign and it was roughly half a mile further than noted in the directions.
- You will hit the first trail intersection at approx. 2.8 miles in. That is the point where you will take a left onto FS trail 617
- You will then hit the second intersection at 3.6 miles and take the left onto 647 towards the summit you can see (so close!)
Thank you for creating this page, this was well worth the 6 am wake up and drive up from Boise to hit this in a day!
Annalikeslenses - Sep 30, 2019 12:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 9, 2018
Fourteen bridges and one beautiful summitSome steep sections of trail but good trail nonetheless the whole way and beautiful forests (with many, many picturesque little wooden bridges over boggy sections) on the way up. Views were a little hazy from the late season wildfires, but still a great viewpoint of the Salmon River peaks, fellow White Clouds, and Sawtooths! Aspens on the road in were just starting to turn and very pretty.
Note that there are some odd parking rules at the trailhead about where they want you to park as a passenger car (not very well explained on a confusing sign by the trail register), and if you innocently miss this sign and park in what seems like a normal spot because there is literally no one else there, on the way back you will find multiple notes on your dash including "Nice Park Job Ass Hole" (two words, obviously) because you apparently were in a horse trailer turnaround area. Be warned.
sjaxon16 - Aug 21, 2016 2:00 am Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2016
Lookout Mountain!Great hike!
mjholmes - Oct 15, 2015 12:17 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2015
Hazy ViewClimbed the trail with high hopes of a fantastic view, but smoke made the sky pretty hazy. Still a great hike.
GODisaRefuge4Us - Apr 25, 2016 9:10 am
Re: Hazy ViewHello. What is your estimate of the class rating for Lookout Mountain? Class 1 or class 2? Thank you.
sjaxon16 - Oct 14, 2018 7:27 pm
Re: Hazy ViewWow sorry I did not see this until now. It is definitely a class 1 since a trial is located all the way to the top
Mlasky - Mar 28, 2015 5:58 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2014
Fall IdahoSummits OutingThis peak was chosen to make it easier for spouses and kids to attend...so they get an idea what their quasi-absent family member does when they say they are "going mountaineering." I was with the various other log signatories... :-)
Deltaoperator17 - Oct 7, 2014 5:53 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2014
IDS Group Outing26 humans, 5 dogs. I love this group!
boisedoc - Oct 5, 2014 10:18 pm Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2014
busy summitthere were at least 20 of us on the trip- almost felt like I was in Colorado. Very nice maintained trail. Beautiful early fall day
Super Dave - Nov 30, 2011 12:59 am Date Climbed: Oct 10, 2011
SnowyHad been wanting to hike up Lookout Mountain for a quite a while. Did this after an early October snowstorm, which meant our three peak day was a pretty soggy. The views from Lookout were a definite highlight. Trip Report
Scrambling Man - Feb 17, 2006 5:22 pm
What a View: I've gone back 7 times.I love this peak. It was my second peak ever and holds fond memories. I've introduced friends and family to the mountains of Idaho on this peak. I first climbed it in 1999 and have made it back in 2000, 2004, and 2005.