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Washington is a hiking enthusiasts paradise. There are gorgeous national parks like Mount Rainier, the Olympic Peninsula, or the North Cascades, and also plenty of state parks or short jaunts into the Snoqualmie region. But if you’re looking to wake up early in the mountains for a sunrise hike, High Rock Lookout offers the most epic view for very little effort.
Here’s everything you need to know before you go.
Trail Info for High Rock Lookout
Length of hike: 3.2 miles total
Trail Type: Out & Back
Trail Difficulty: Intermediate. Only because of the steep incline and rock scramble at the peak.
Dogs & Kids not recommended at the peak. Dogs technically not allowed.
Location: Gifford Pinochet National Forest. Near Ranier National Park along the ridge of the Sawtooth Mountains.
Distance from Seattle: 2.5 hours drive from Seattle.
Best Time of Year to Go: All seasons!! Spring the mountain will be carpeted in wildflowers, Summer brings the best weather and lush green trails, Fall is crisp & cool, & in Winter the snowy peak is more difficult to summit–but the views are an absolute winter wonderland.
Hike Time: Only about 50 minutes to the summit. You don’t want to miss the sunrise though so give yourself 1 hour & 20 minutes if you’re worried.
Trail Conditions: The trail is super well maintained and well-trodden. On the weekends this can be a busy hike & the top can feel pretty crowded. We hiked it on Friday morning and shared the peak with only 10 other hikers for the big show.
The Lookout: For a truly perfect morning I recommend bringing up some instant coffee & hammocks. There are several hammock poles positioned at the very tippy-top of the lookout and are undoubtedly the best views.
What to Expect on High Rock Lookout
The trail winds you through the last patches of forest on the mountainside & is a fairly steep incline the entire 1.6 miles to the summit. The last push is a sloped rock face to the fire lookout & without proper hiking shoes, this can be a little slippery and tricky. Sunrise is spectacular here. The skies are awash in pale pink and warm yellows with the imposing Mount Rainer sitting right in front of your face. The views are epic and you’ll be surrounded by some of the most iconic Washington summits.
Sunrise is early here since you’re sitting on the highest peaks around. Whatever Google says the sunrise time will be make sure you’re at the summit at least 30-45 minutes before that time to watch the colors.
Where to Stealth Camp For Free
The biggest problem with sunrise hikes is finding a convenient place to sleep the night before.
On NF-8440, the road turns from pavement to dirt & pullouts are aplenty. This entire region is free dispersed camping and any open site is up for grabs.
Be warned that dispersed camping is bare bones. Just simple dirt pullouts that often can be a little steep or treacherous to get into. We nearly got our van stuck trying to navigate the tight space.
The most convenient free camping, however, if you have a van, is right at the trailhead. A small dirt-covered parking lot marks the beginning of the hike & you can park overnight and camp here. Not legally I’m sure, but stealth camping is a major part of vanlife, and as long as you are self-contained and don’t draw attention to yourself, you’ll save yourself the early morning drive.
High Rock Lookout is one of my favorite short hikes I’ve ever done in Washington. & for sunrise, you won’t find a view better. This was also the maiden voyage for our converted camper van and helped us figure out some things we had done wrong during our van build. If you’re interested in vanlife I recommend trying a short overnight in your car like this one to see if it’s something you’re interested in.
Because it’s not always as glamorous as you think.
Let me know if you hiked High Rock Lookout & loved the sunrise views as much as we did!
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