Sunset Rock — Attraction in Town of Hunter

I think a lot of people are throwing around the terms "anyone" and "easy" a bit carelessly when describing this hike.

First of all, the trailhead is totally concealed behind a playground / grassy meadow. There is no sign whatsoever. I saw numerous groups set out for this very hike along the wrong path (rumor is they are still wandering aimlessly in the woods).

About ten minutes in, you are confronted by a "light scramble." To the person who said "anyone can do this hike", I don't know if you've ever met somebody younger than 5 or older than 60. I'm not saying it was a particularly perilous, but there were numerous dogs whimpering desperately at the base refusing to go up...

The second challenge is the precipice right before Artists Rock. While I know that the golden rule of internet commentary is "kids are off limits / don't talk about my parenting," I found myself anxiously watching all the pre-pubescent boys compete to see who could get closest to the sheer drop. I get that, at some point, children need to be trusted and set forth to see the world, but children are also very dumb.

What most reviews don't say is that the first lookout that you reach (relatively quickly) is the aforementioned Artists Rock. This is not what you came for. Sunset Rock is quite a bit further. When you think you're lost and you should give up because the rest of the group who turned around at the light scramble hate you by now, you actually need to go like 500 feet further.

The last challenge before reaching Sunset Rock is the literal chasm you need to vault over to get to the viewing point. Looking down, all I saw was darkness, which was then subsumed by feelings of doubt, which was then subsumed by feelings of despair. As if that wasn't enough, the final step required heaving yourself up with arm/shoulder strength with the spectre of the chasm right behind you. Not "easy" stuff. Luckily, being the industrious mountain gerbil that I am, I found another way that required weaving through shrubs and branches but no gaping crevasses.

The views...

Beautiful views, fun rock scrambles, just a perfect hike really. We stayed at a campsite in Loop 4 and had two different groups of people come up to us asking how to get here. I don't know what info they were relying in, but you can't get there from the campsites! There is no trail and you will face a sharp drop right before getting there. Instead, drive down the road to the North Lake parking area, and then walk back up the road maybe 50ft to the trailhead on the west side (opposite side from from the lake). There is a short yellow trail that takes you past some old campsites, and soon you come to the blue trail. Take that to the left and now you're on the path to Sunset Rock. Follow the signs from here on out. You'll actually pass the rock as it looms above you and then double back after 0.2 miles past that point. Total distance is about 1 mile out, same distance back. Please wear appropriate footing - you will be near a cliff edge for some of the hike (great views!) so please be prepared. You can also continue this hike to North point and down to Mary's Glen for a...

Stunning hike! Dog friendly and pretty easy out and back hike- a few steeper areas but not bad at all. Mostly shaded too. A lot of bugs but also went after it rained.

Beautiful views to see the sunset. Well marked but note that the blue markers continue further to another trail when the sunset and artist rock ledge loop a little.

$10 parking fee to get into park. Park by the lake and there’s...