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Trip Report    

Day Hike - Skyscraper Mountain

Successful hike to the summit of Skyscraper Mountain via Sunrise.

Patrick Maes Patrick Maes
July 20, 2025
  • Road suitable for all vehicles

  • Trail was in excellent shape and totally snow-free. The route to the summit is listed as "unofficial and unmaintained" but was also in great shape, just slightly less used than the main trail. You can make out the myriad of tiny switchbacks to the top on the photo above. When within sight of the top, the trail kind of petered out, but was simple to reach the summit.

Group started around 6:30 with the Sunrise parking lot more than half full. The first part of the hike we were swimming upstream with scores of people who had gone up to see the actual sunrise now returning to the parking lot. We made our way to 5-points at Frozen Lake with some pretty consistent winds between 10 and 20 mph and temps in the upper 40s, which was expected. From there, most fellow hikers turned off to either  Fremont or Burroughs, as we split the two trails and headed onto the PCT. Once on that, we crested a ridge and Skyscraper Mountain came into view. Upon reaching Skyscraper Pass, we headed up the lesser trail utilizing all 837 switchbacks (or at least it felt like that many) to the summit, which we had totally to ourselves.

IMG_1294.JPGAfter a nice break at the summit (which was pretty wind-free, considering), we headed back to Sunrise. When approaching 5-points again, we could see the steady stream of hikers going to and from the more popular Fremont Lookout, but we were glad to not have to deal with the mass of people. The wind did keep the bugs at bay, but we were able to spot multiple marmots, ground squirrels, and even a pika made an appearance. The wildflowers were out in force, but there's still lots of time left before they peak. Back at the cars with a round-trip time right around 5 hours, a tad over 8 miles, and about 2,000' of elevation gain/loss.