Suntop lookout is out of service for the season!

After a great summer of operation, we put Suntop to bed last evening, closing the shutters and securing things for winter.  And not too soon: snow level is expected to drop to 4,000 feet later this week!  But not until our volunteers managed to spot and report 4 fires this summer, greet 6,000 visitors, and help make progress on the ADA accessible trail (still a bit more work to do!).

The gate is closed for the season, but you can still walk up for a little while longer (once the heavy snow comes, the road becomes a very dangerous avalanche path-- winter visitors are encouraged to take the trail up!

See you next summer!

Snoqualmie Fire Lookouts Association

www.snoqualmielookouts.org

Mushrooms galore!

I hiked the short trip up to Suntop and back and saw many, many kinds and colors and shapes and sizes of mushrooms popping up all over. Also saw pika, chipmunks, and Douglas squirrels.

This section of the trail doesn't have much deciduous foliage to change color, but the lookout had some nice reds and oranges starting in the shrubs. This section of the trail definitely sees mountain bikers, so be alert to not get run over!

Also, gunfire audible, so not quite the peace it could be.

The roads up to the second gate are typical gravel forest roads - some potholes, some washboarded spots, some rocky areas - but passable by any vehicle going slow. Past the second gate the road gets notably worse; I definitely recommend parking below the second gate.

Currently the second gate is open 8am-8pm, operated by the live-in person at the lookout.

Great to see they're working on ADA accessibility for the lookout.

In the summer time this is mainly an awesome drive. 

I made it up no problem with my mini van. The road isn't well signed so make sure you print directions ahead of time. 

The view at the top is spectacular! There is a privy and a ranger was staying in the lookout. There is a picnic table and compact gravel trails at the top. 

A beautiful area to bask in the views of Rainier.

We drove all the way up the the last gate for the lookout, then hiked up the trail to the station.

Not too difficult for us old folk.  We got to see the changes in the forest as the altitude changes.  Incredible 360 view even with a little haze (not sure if it was smoke of weather).  We missed the wild flowers but still worth the trip.

We walked back down the road to our car.  Easy 1/2 day excursion.

A clarification on the road and parking- close to the 5 mile mark the road turns to the right and there is a side road that juts straight and slightly left.  In between the two is where you need to park in a decent sized lot.  Walk up the road to the right and you will see the gate and trail to the left.  If you drive to the gate there is not a great place to turn around.  Of course you can keep driving to the top but that’s no fun! The volunteers manning the lookout were very nice and helpful. They are hoping the forest service will complete the ramp needed for ADA access next summer.