California · Hiking · Near Silver City

Lookout Peak

1.2 mi
round trip
493 ft
climb
8,516 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Lookout Peak open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Sequoia National Forest. It doesn't name Lookout Peak, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Sequoia National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Lookout Peak is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 1.2 miles in Kings Canyon National Park, within the Hume Lake Ranger District of Sequoia National Forest in California. The National Park Service manages the land, and the trail starts at the Don Cecil - Upper Trailhead, which is open year round. The climb runs from about 7,995 feet to about 8,516 feet, with a one-way elevation gain of roughly 493 feet. The trail surface is natural, and horses and bikes are both allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. At the Huntington Lake weather station, about 42 miles away, typical July and August highs average around 74°F with lows near 49°F and only one or two wet days a month. Winter there is cold, with typical highs in the low 40s and lows around 24°F. That station sits roughly 1,500 feet lower than the peak, so temperatures on top run cooler. Nearby, Deer Cove and Lightning Creek are hikes about 2.4 to 2.5 miles away. The Kings Canyon climbing area is about 2.6 miles off, and Sentinel Campground, with saltwater fishing, is about 2.9 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Summit Meadow/Lookout Peak

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Cedar Grove Grill

    Fast food

    On your way back · 3 mi · Open after 6
  • If it rainsDavid Fulmer, CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

    Giant Forest Museum

    Museum

    On your way back · 14 mi

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: David Fulmer, CC BY 2.0 (commons)

More in Silver City

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Lookout Peak

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      43° / 24°

      11 wet

    2. Feb

      44° / 23°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      46° / 26°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 29°

      8 wet

    5. May

      56° / 36°

      6 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 42°

      3 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 49°

      2 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 49°

      1 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 44°

      2 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 37°

      4 wet

    11. Nov

      49° / 31°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      44° / 25°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Huntington Lake, CA, 42.2 mi away at 7,020 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Lightning CreekPhoto: Genista, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lightning Creek

~4 min drive

0.68-mile out-and-back trail in California's National Park Service system with 53 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Lewis Creek Trailhead

~4 min drive

This trailhead orientation panel shows a map and images of the Lewis Creek Trail area. Lewis Creek Trail is a 9.8 miles one-way trail at a difficult incline. This can be a hot and dusty climb, and the trail becomes difficult to follow north of Kennedy Pass. The trail offers…

Lower Lewis CreekPhoto: jimmyharris, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Lower Lewis Creek

~4 min drive

1.92-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,222 ft gain and 5,782 ft max elevation.

Hotel-Lewis ConnectorPhoto: jimmyharris, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hotel-Lewis Connector

~4 min drive

1.4-mile out-and-back trail in California with 210 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Don Cecil Trailhead

~5 min drive

The 4.4 mile one-way (8.8 mile round-trip) Don Cecil Trail is a steep climb along the north-facing slope of Kings Canyon. If you're looking for a shorter hike, Sheep Creek Cascade is about a mile up the trail and offers a shady spot to sit and relax. This historic trail was…

Hotel-CreekPhoto: NPS staff, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hotel-Creek

~6 min drive

3.02-mile out-and-back trail in California with 1,404 ft gain and max elevation 6,191 ft.

Cedar Grove OverlookPhoto: jimmyharris, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Cedar Grove Overlook

~5 min drive

0.46-mile out-and-back trail to Cedar Grove Overlook in California's National Park Service system.

Happy GapPhoto: Tom Hilton, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Happy Gap

~9 min drive

8-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,742 ft of elevation gain.

Upper Lewis CreekPhoto: jimmyharris, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Upper Lewis Creek

~6 min drive

4.07-mile out-and-back trail in California with 2,096 ft elevation gain.

Cedar Grove Bike PathPhoto: NPS staff, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Cedar Grove Bike Path

~5 min drive

0.56-mile out-and-back bike path in California with 43 ft of elevation gain.

Route details

Distance
1.2 mi round trip
Climbing
About 493 ft
Starts at
Don Cecil - Upper Trailhead (about 8,002 ft)
Summit
8,518 ft
Difficulty
Easy

Season

Season: Year-round.

Other routes up Lookout Peak

Questions about this route

How long is the Lookout Peak on Lookout Peak?

About 1.2 mi round trip from Don Cecil - Upper Trailhead (about 8,002 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Lookout Peak?

About 493 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Lookout Peak?

It is rated easy.

Where does the Lookout Peak start?

Don Cecil - Upper Trailhead (about 8,002 ft).

When is the best time for the Lookout Peak?

Year-round.

How many routes go up Lookout Peak?

2: Lookout Peak and Don Cecil Trailhead.

Conditions and forecast on Lookout Peak

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.