Lookout Mountain and Sierra Blanca Peak in Lincoln National Forest, NM

Hike Lookout Mountain and Sierra Blanca Peak Lincoln National Forest, NM

Class 2 8.2 miles 3000 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Apr 25, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Lookout Mountain and Sierra Blanca Peak GPX Track

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Take the Crest Trail from the large Ski Apache parking lot. On the way, the Crest Trail  passes through burned forest and has views of eye-sore ski routes on the adjacent mountain slope, but it's a pleasant trail walk. The trail asends to the junction with the Lookout Mountain Trail, which will eventually take you south along the ridge to the summit of Lookout Mountain. I left the trail briefly to summit White Mountain Wilderness High Point before heading south on the Lookout Mountain Trail.

From the summit of Lookout Mountain, you can see the route up to Sierra Blanca Peak, as well as the ridgeline leading to Nogal Peak, Valley of Fires and the Capitan Mountains in the distance. Continue briefly on a dirt road to the saddle between Lookout Mountain and Sierra Blanca Peak. The trail disappears, but the ridgeline is obvious to the summit of Sierra Blanca Peak, with low Class 2 scrambling and a really nice rocky ridgeline.

After summiting, from the bump between the two peaks, head down a dirt road that leads past multiple ski lift gondolas to make the route a loop.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
White Mountain Wilderness High Point
11300 ft
180 rise
2
Lookout Mountain
11580 ft
380 rise
3
Sierra Blanca Peak
11973 ft
5533 rise

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Starting up the Crest Trail.
Starting up the Crest Trail.
Image 1 from gallery
Image 2 from gallery
Lookout Mountain is somewhere above those eye-sore ski slopes. Sierra Blanca peeking out on the left.
Lookout Mountain is somewhere above those eye-sore ski slopes. Sierra Blanca peeking out on the left.
Burnt trees.
Burnt trees.
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Image 6 from gallery
Ski Apache slopes.
Ski Apache slopes.
Looking back toward Buck Mountain, covered in radio towers.
Looking back toward Buck Mountain, covered in radio towers.
Summit of Lookout Mountain that little bloop on the top right. This was taken at the base of White Mountain Wilderness High Point.
Summit of Lookout Mountain that little bloop on the top right. This was taken at the base of White Mountain Wilderness High Point.
After White Mountain Wilderness High Point, continuing along the Lookout Mountain Trail. Lookout Mountain on the left, Sierra Blanca on the right.
After White Mountain Wilderness High Point, continuing along the Lookout Mountain Trail. Lookout Mountain on the left, Sierra Blanca on the right.
Almost at Lookout Mountain.
Almost at Lookout Mountain.
Lookout Mountain summit looking northeast. Nogal Peak on the far right.
Lookout Mountain summit looking northeast. Nogal Peak on the far right.
Heading down from Lookout Mountain toward Sierra Blanca Peak.
Heading down from Lookout Mountain toward Sierra Blanca Peak.
Saddle between Lookout and Sierra Blanca, looking toward Lookout.
Saddle between Lookout and Sierra Blanca, looking toward Lookout.
Starting up Sierra Blanca Peak, no obvious trail.
Starting up Sierra Blanca Peak, no obvious trail.
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Pretty ridgeline. Looking toward Lookout Mountain, Nogal Peak in the distance on the right.
Pretty ridgeline. Looking toward Lookout Mountain, Nogal Peak in the distance on the right.
Image 21 from gallery
Image 22 from gallery
View west just before the summit.
View west just before the summit.
Sierra Blanca peak summit, looking north.
Sierra Blanca peak summit, looking north.
Sierra Blanca peak summit, looking southwest.
Sierra Blanca peak summit, looking southwest.
Heading down some dirt road from the saddle.
Heading down some dirt road from the saddle.
Image 27 from gallery
Image 28 from gallery
Image 29 from gallery

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!