Fairview Peak Out and Back

Dogs Leashed

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This is a very tall peak with an historic fire lookout tower right on top. Unique, remote, with a high likelihood of solitude.

Fairview Peak is the highest fire lookout in North America, standing at 13,214 ft; it was built in 1912. Getting here isn't the easiest, first drive to Pitkin, then turn left on the 3rd street in town. After about 100 meters, there's a dirt road on the right that goes up a hill, turn here. Then continue up, the drive is long but it's a nice woods cruise; a 4x4 is recommended. Follow road 770 at the junction and cross a rocky section. There are pull offs and primitive camp sites along the way, and some cabin developments as well. Drive as far as you feel comfortable, then hoof it from there. From where I stopped, the trail was 7.45 miles with 2,233 feet of elevation gain.

Find Terrible Mountain Road and continue along it or near it and hike up. There's an option to snag an easy two-fer and walk over the summit of Terrible Mountain (12,100ft) along the way up or down. Once you cross the open field, a trail in the rocks can be pretty easily found on the right side that will zig zag its way all the way up to the summit.

Enjoy the views of the surrounding landscape and all the sweet little scurrying pikas at your feet.

Dry mixed forest. Deer, elk, moose and mountain goats are common in this area.

The fire lookout tower on the summit is the highest in North America by a thousand foot margin. Built in 1912, it is also among the oldest.