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Scenic Overlook by HAZ_Hikebot  Ledges Trail offers forest visitors an easy hike to a scenic overlook of Mormon Lake and the volcanic hills surrounding it. The route leads past a group of rustic summer cabins and then begins a gradual climb to the top of a rocky outcrop that gives the trail its name. Along the way, it passes through open stands of ponderosa pines punctuated with a few juniper trees and Gambel oaks. Small trailside meadows provide a chance to observe some of the area's resident elk and mule deer. The rock ledges at the overlook jut clear of the trees and provide an unobstructed view of the lake and the surrounding mountains and forests. Look closely here, it's a good place to see a hawk or bald eagle gliding on the wind, hunting the brushy flats along the shore. Check out the Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
One-Way Notice This hike is listed as One-Way. When hiking several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Reviews
Ledges Trail #138
I decided to take advantage of the recent storm and celebrate the first day of spring with a trip to higher elevations.
I was able to snowshoe right from my truck!
The south facing slope is a bit thin lower down, but once above the switchback the orientation got better and by 8000 feet there was a good winter snowpack. In general it ranged from 14"-20", but there were spots at the top where it was over 35".
I need to find places to snowshoe where I'm not the one breaking the trail. It's exhausting! When I topped out on the road, I was pleasantly surprised to see that a track vehicle had been by, presumably for maintenance on the tower farm at the summit. It was so nice to have a packed down trail to follow for a change!
I hit up the highest point, with great views of all the peaks to the north, before heading back down. The exposed spots had started to melt, and I opted to drop the snowshoes at about 7800 feet. A few patches had gone bare, and I was able to use my uphill steps to maneuver through the remaining deep snow sections.
Near the bottom, I checked out the Dairy Springs Loop and then headed over on the Ledges Trail for a view of Mormon Lake. All in all, a pretty good day!
I was able to snowshoe right from my truck!
The south facing slope is a bit thin lower down, but once above the switchback the orientation got better and by 8000 feet there was a good winter snowpack. In general it ranged from 14"-20", but there were spots at the top where it was over 35".
I need to find places to snowshoe where I'm not the one breaking the trail. It's exhausting! When I topped out on the road, I was pleasantly surprised to see that a track vehicle had been by, presumably for maintenance on the tower farm at the summit. It was so nice to have a packed down trail to follow for a change!
I hit up the highest point, with great views of all the peaks to the north, before heading back down. The exposed spots had started to melt, and I opted to drop the snowshoes at about 7800 feet. A few patches had gone bare, and I was able to use my uphill steps to maneuver through the remaining deep snow sections.
Near the bottom, I checked out the Dairy Springs Loop and then headed over on the Ledges Trail for a view of Mormon Lake. All in all, a pretty good day!
2018-03-01 chumley
Ledges Trail #138
Headed out on this short trail to the Ledges Vista Overlook from the Dairy Springs Campground. The trailhead is between campsites 27 and 25, which are at the back of the campground. If you are not camping, there is trailhead parking at the beginning of the campground. The trailhead parking is clearly labeled with a wood sign.
The trail is well defined, but in case you are blind there are metal arrow markers nailed into the trees surrounding the trail which point the way every 15-20 feet (at least for the ascent). A number of cabins are visible down to your right before the climbing starts.
The trail ascends gradually before leveling out for a while. Once you stop climbing, your first view of Mormon Lake is on your right. After a little while, the trail starts to descend, and the Overlook is right there. The Overlook is clearly labeled with a forest service sign. The view of Mormon Lake is beautiful, and right now there are tons of yellow wildflowers surrounding the meadows around the lake. There were a number of various colored wildflowers on the trail, as well.
This trail is easy and good for my very pregnant self as well as for my husband and 2 year old.
I considered submitting this as a hike summary, but the Forest Service description is pretty much right on. It does look like the trail continues down past the overlook, but we did go beyond the overlook itself. The sign at the trailhead listed the distance to the overlook as 0.6 miles, for a roundtrip total of 1.2 miles.
The trail is well defined, but in case you are blind there are metal arrow markers nailed into the trees surrounding the trail which point the way every 15-20 feet (at least for the ascent). A number of cabins are visible down to your right before the climbing starts.
The trail ascends gradually before leveling out for a while. Once you stop climbing, your first view of Mormon Lake is on your right. After a little while, the trail starts to descend, and the Overlook is right there. The Overlook is clearly labeled with a forest service sign. The view of Mormon Lake is beautiful, and right now there are tons of yellow wildflowers surrounding the meadows around the lake. There were a number of various colored wildflowers on the trail, as well.
This trail is easy and good for my very pregnant self as well as for my husband and 2 year old.
I considered submitting this as a hike summary, but the Forest Service description is pretty much right on. It does look like the trail continues down past the overlook, but we did go beyond the overlook itself. The sign at the trailhead listed the distance to the overlook as 0.6 miles, for a roundtrip total of 1.2 miles.
2008-09-15 Vashti
