Skyscraper Mountain, Skyscraper Pass — Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022

Fantastic hike! Sunrise is one of my favorite destinations, but Skyscraper Mountain has always eluded me. It seems like Burroughs and Fremont get all the attention, but for my money this hike is just as good.

Most of the hike isn't especially imposing (I logged under 1000 feet of gain between Sunrise and the base of Skyscraper Mountain), navigating through meadows and crossing a quaint stream (Lodi Creek, according to my GPS). The last stretch to the summit takes some energy though, adding more than 400 feet in a few tenths of a mile. The scramble isn't particularly difficult, but it feels like a steeper grade than it looks from a distance. 

The summit of Skyscraper offers some fantastic views in every direction, including a great look at Winthrop Glacier that you can't get from Fremont. That said, there's very little space at the summit- more than one party at a time and I expect it'll feel quite crowded.

Probably goes without saying, but this is a very exposed hike. Make sure you have adequate sun protection and water, especially if it's a hot and sunny day.

Road Conditions

Be advised SR 410 a few miles north of the park boundary is undergoing maintenance and resurfacing. The road was open but reduced to a single direction of travel at a time, and both coming and going I was stuck sitting idle for 15-20 minutes until they reversed the flow of traffic. Even beyond the stoppage area the asphalt was torn up, basically making for a few miles of gravel road. The good news is they seem to be working at a fairly rapid pace; there was noticeable progress even over the course of the day. 

Crowds

Arriving at around 8am on a Thursday, the Sunrise parking lot was still largely empty. I only sporadically encountered other hikers on the outbound trail, but was still somewhat shocked to find I had Skyscraper entirely to myself. Even after spending the better part of an hour at the summit, I never saw a soul.

Once I reached Frozen Lake on the hike back (around noon) though, the trail was more or less a continuous stream of hikers. By the time I got back to my car the parking lot was completely full, with new arrivals eagerly hunting for anyone pulling out. If you want tranquility, arrive early. 

Critters

Didn't see any big fauna like goats or bears this time around, but the trail was swimming in chipmunks and marmots. Bugs were plentiful at the summit of Skyscraper, but they never felt like they were swarming and they didn't disturb me or my lunch.