Type: Road/Trail, Loop
Difficulty: 5 / 10
Altitude: 8,668 ft
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Unknown
Filed Under: Hiking, Running
This is a moderately strenuous, 6-mile loop trail (5 miles trail, one mile of paved road). Starting from the end of Lee Canyon Road or from McWilliams Campground, the trail winds around the upper reaches of Lee Canyon passing through pine-fir forests, groves of aspen, and a bristlecone pine forest. There are great views of the mountain peaks, the ski area, and down Lee Canyon from many places along the trail. This trail is also used by mountain bikers. Enjoy!
A description of this trail can be found at:
http://members.cox.net/jlboone2/MtCharlestonArea/Bristlecone/Bristlecone.htm
This loop trail runs on about 5 miles of trail and about 1 mile of road, and there are trailheads at both ends of the road section.
For both trailheads, drive north on Highway 95 to Highway 156, the Lee Canyon Road. Turn west (left) on Highway 156 and drive up into Lee Canyon.
One trailhead is located at the end of Lee Canyon Road. Drive up the road to the end of the pavement. Park here; this is the trailhead (but don't park in the loop at the end of the road because that is the landing zone for emergency helicopters).
The other trailhead is located about 1 mile before the end of the road. There are no signs for the turnoff; instead, watch for McWilliams Campground signs. After the campground ahead sign, but about 100 feet before the actual entrance to the campground, turn north (right) on a well-graded dirt road and drive about 100 yards to the big dirt parking lot at the end of the road
Comments
Gordon Blugis said ...
Hiked part of the Upper Bristlecone Trail this morning.\r\n\r\nA great experience but I wonder why there are no mile markers along the trail. A discrete 1, 2, 3, ... 6. would give an indication of where and how far to go.\r\n\r\nThat couldn\'t possibly distract from the unspoiled beauty of the trails.
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