Sunset Mountain Road #316

Dogs Off-leash

Features Spring · Views

Steep sections make this a difficult run.

Park at the Moore's Creek Summit pull-out (bathrooms available). Begin the trek up the access road through towering fir trees. About a mile in, you'll be able to see the lookout on a distant mountain to the south.

There are two or three very steep inclines, and some shortcuts that are steep as well, but if you follow the access road you should do fine. This is a popular route for skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobile enthusiasts in the winter. There are spectacular views along the route, partly due to a recent fire that burned some of the evergreens.

At mile two (halfway point), there is a road that veers off to the right, informing you that the road ends in 0.3 miles. Continue on the path straight (the left) and do not detour to the right. There will be another side road to the right around mile 4, where apparently there is a spring at the end. Also, there are some mines marked on this road in the USGS quads, although we runed in the winter and did not see them.

The lookout allows for spectacular views from a veranda that circles the tower. You can see to the Sawtooths in the east (Steele Mountain), the backside of Bogus Basin in the south, and to Pilot Peak to the west.

We heard an owl, spotted a bird of prey, and saw a woodpecker, but could not identify them.