If you have the opportunity to claim this lookout for an evening the experience will be simply astounding, well worth the climb and the fight through the Forest of Flies.
Arrived at the trail head Saturday night, and car camped with the plan to leave early in the morning. Alarms did not cooperate as we started our hike to the lookout at 8am Sunday morning. Parking at the trail head can accommodate perhaps as much as 15 cars. On this morning we woke to 8 other cars. The climb is relentless as it makes it way through forests and meadows, one of which is a gauntlet of overgrown plants while the other will expose you to the sun. Fallen trees are few and easy to navigate. Minding the heat we paced our selves to reach the lookout by noon.
On the way we observed two campsites with no fire rings, just good locations to set up tents along the trail. The first is approximately at two miles but has no flowing water near by. The next is shortly before the Monogram Lake connection near the Lookout Creek crossing at approximately 3 miles. Neither of these sites require a permit.
Once we reached the first meadow, flies became an absolute nuisance, driving us to make a breaks shorter. At least there are nearly no mosquitoes. The fly harassment may not end until reaching the lookout where mountain top breezes should blow away all the bugs.
We were fortunate enough to claim the lookout and had no challengers. Explore the grounds around the lookout to discover a privy hidden within a grove of evergreens back along the trail. Also bring extra water as no flowing water is near the lookout as well. Enjoy the views, sunset, sunrise, possible lightning storms, bear sightings, and stars!
On the way back the next day we visited Monogram Lake. The trail to the lake also makes its way through forests and sunny meadows, and is also home to swarms of flies. The lake water is freezing cold still in August, but can certainly provide relief from the summer heat as well as a small respite from the flies by washing off all your sweat. The flies at the lake were not as numerous as in the woods. Multiple camp sites are available at the lake, all of which require a free permit that can only be acquired at the Marblemount Ranger Station the day of your stay. While hiking back on a Monday we passed only one other hiker.
Note, dogs are allowed at the lookout, but not Monogram Lake.
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