Mount Elden Loop via Lookout Road

The Mount Elden Loop via Lookout Road is a full-day adventure that leads you through the Dry Lake Hills and past Elden Mountain, Little Elden Mountain, and T V Hill. Despite being a longer route, the gradual nature of the elevation gain on this hike makes it a good choice for intermediate hikers and better. You’ll have varied terrain to hike on and ever-changing scenery in this little mountain oasis right beside the city.

Parts of this hike can be hard to follow and users report relying on GPS navigation. Additionally, some trails required for this loop are subject to closure for environmental protection or in response to wildfires, so having an offline map and a charged phone can help you navigate should a section of the route be closed.

You can hike this loop clockwise or counterclockwise. Our route goes counterclockwise, which gets the least exciting portion of the trail (Lookout Road) out of the way first. If you’d rather have the road near the end of the hike to speed up your finish, you can go the other way.

From the trailhead, follow Lookout Road as it leads you up between the peaks. In the saddle between Little Elden Mountain and Elden Mountain, you’ll take Sunset Trail north to traverse the ridge between the two mountains. Continue onto Brookbank Trail to the lake, then take Little Gnarly Trail to the Schultz Loop Trail. Follow this as it leads you west, then south back to the trailhead.