Alpine Lookout via Round Mountain Trail #1529

Wander down a rolling ridgeline through scattered wildflower meadows set against a marvelous backdrop of rugged terrain, glimmering lakes and vast forested valleys to reach a lookout cabin with panoramic views.

From the trailhead at the edge of a young forest still in recovering from being logged, the climb begins immediately, following the Round Mountain Trail #1529 as it ascends the shoulders of Nason Ridge. Here the trees are older, a mix of fir and pine that litter the dusty trail with needles and cones. The route is confined to the trees for the first half-mile or so, but soon enough the forest abruptly ends as you reach a decades old burn. Skeleton trees rise high above a brush-heavy infant forest, their bone-white trunks long ago stripped of blackened burn by the elements. Where there is a recovering burn, there are wildflowers and there are plenty here – with paintbrush and delphinium most commonly found along the trailside.

There's a lot more to Alpine Lookout, and you can learn all about it in Washington Wildflower Hikes: 50 Destinations. You'll find a trail map, route descriptions, history, and more for this and many other hikes throughout the State. Help support hikingwithmybrother.com and the work we do by picking up a copy!