Red Top Lookout — Attraction in Cle Elum

I’ll start by saying that pictures and descriptions do not do this trail justice! Important to know is that you lose cell signal so you should learn the directions before hand. Also when you reach the sign that says the trail is 5 miles away, the road is narrow and dirt with rocks. Depending on the kind of car you have it could take you up to 20 minutes to reach the trail head. We went carefully because some of the road goes along ridges. You pass another sign that tells you that the trail is a mile away. Once you reach the trail head you park in the large parking area. You then follow the road further. Note it may seem like you can park further but you should not otherwise you’ll be turned back by rangers and the like. When you reach the actual trailhead you’ll know because it’s leads right into a heavily forested area. For the next .5 miles it’s a strap uphill climb which starts covered by trees then reaches ridge edges that could be scary for those afraid of heights. Coming back down may be the scariest. Caution is needed. It is all worth it when you get to the top. If you are verrry brave there is a narrow ridge path, but the top allows you to experience breath taking views all around. There’s a fire lookout building that improves the experience ten fold! We were lucky to have a volunteer for the US forest service guiding us and allowing us into the lookout building. Definitely worth the nerve wrecking moments. Bring water and shoes with grip! Also there is pestering bugs through the forested part of the...

The lookout is closed but the views are amazing! Plenty of parking and no cell service; around 6 miles of gravel road with a couple of potholes but nothing too serious. Not many visitors at this point so make sure you have plenty of gas and emergency tires if your car isn’t All terrain. Bathrooms in parking and theres a letrina o couple meters under the fire lookout. There’s some shadow while climbing the forest and after the timberline is just sun exposed. Not a bad climb; but take in consideration that the terrain gets rocky and loose, wear proper shoes. Have plenty of water during the summer months, and TAKE YOUR TRASH WITH YOU. Make sure to go through the road by Mineral Campground so you don’t get lost, your GPS might send you through a...

Beautiful views at the top but not a hike for kids or people who don't like heights. A lot of the trail is right on the edge and narrow, and there isnt a ton of room to move around at the top near the lookout. Not a very long hike, although it is pretty steep. We went in mid-June and the top was very, very windy and cold with some of the bushes covered in ice yet. My husband climbs mountains and thought it was great, our kids and I can say we did it...but would be fine never going on...