Mount Brown Lookout Trail
This is a hand tinted photograph taken from the Mount Brown Lookout in 1935
Mount Brown Lookout September 2008. | |||
The first overlook on the Mount Brown Trail provides a good resting spot with a view of Edwards Mountain. It also marks the end of the steepest part of the ascent. The ridge shown in this picture is the right hand ridge forming the cirque of Snyder Lake. Edwards Mountain is to the south of 'Little Materhorn' which is shown on the Snyder Lake page. I hiked the Mount Brown Trail on Sunday July 13th, no snow on the trail. I didn't make it to the lookout this time but did hear that glacier lilies were blooming up on the plateau before Mount Brown lookout. This is a very steep trail, especially for the first five trail segments! On the downward journey these now, last five trail segments, can be treacherous!!! The downward journey on this trail is a real thigh burner. This is a good trail to bring hiking poles. I was very lucky to pick up a hiking stick at the start of the trail left by another hiker with a note to take me back to Sperry Chalet! Well I took it to Mount Brown Trail instead and was very grateful to have it! Bring extra water. Hiking in the mountains I figure one mile an hour up and two miles an hour down. For this trail on the first steep part it drops dramatically to one-half mile an hour up! Allow extra time for the ascent.
The second overlook on the Mount Brown Trail provides a great resting spot at 6,600 feet. Altitude wise you have just completed at this point the equivalent of hiking from Lake McDonald to Logan Pass. Similar view point looking towards Edwards Mountain which is 9072 feet in elevation. This view point is a thousand feet higher then the first view point. Edwards Mountain is the southern edge of the cirque forming Snyder Lake with Mount Brown forming the northern edge of that cirque. The Snyder Lake Trail is a pretty hike and a good conditioning hike for Mount Brown.
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![]() Horses on the shared portion of trail are a regular occurrence. ![]()
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