Military Sinkhole Trail

We never get tired of a good viewpoint, and the Military Sinkhole Vista is one to add to your list. While you can drive to the viewpoint, we recommend taking the scenic route by foot and hiking the Military Sinkhole Trail. This route is well-signed, very pretty, and accessible for many skill levels. While this hike is always enjoyable, we definitely recommend visiting in the fall to appreciate the splendid colors of the forest if you can.

The route starts from the trailhead parking area. You’ll ascend up the wall of the mesa on a clear, well-marked trail. You’ll be hiking through the trees for much of this route, which is a relief on hot days. Climb steeply up to where the trail meets the creek, where you’ll cross over and begin a traverse east.

The traverse eventually begins to pick up a bit of elevation gain as it reaches the viewpoint, but the hard work is over after the first half of the hike. You’ll ascend gradually to the viewpoint, which is at the lip of the mesa. From here, you’ll retrace your steps.