Overview

The Bristlecone Loop Trail is a delightful, moderately strenuous 6-mile hike that can be done in either direction. Starting from the end of Lee Canyon Road (Upper Bristlecone Trailhead) or from near McWilliams Campground (Lower Bristlecone Trailhead), the trail winds around the upper reaches of Lee Canyon passing through Pine-Fir Forests, groves of Quaking Aspen, a Bristlecone Pine forest, and open sunny slopes with big views. There are great views of the surrounding mountain peaks, the ski area, and down Lee Canyon. Here, the hike is described as starting from the upper trailhead, passing through the lower trailhead, and ending at the upper trailhead.

Hiking the entire loop requires walking about 1 mile on Lee Canyon Road to close the loop, but steep use-trails can be used to short-cut the highway switchbacks.

Link to trail map.

The Hike

For details of the start of this trail, see Bristlecone Trail Loop, clockwise, Segment 1. The following two paragraphs are a synopsis of the first 2.5 miles of the hike.

From Upper Bristlecone Trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the fenced trail runs up the little ridge above the paved parking area back towards the ski resort. From there, the trail runs up and around the upper reaches of Lee Canyon for a total of about 1.75 miles to Highpoint Ridge (Wpt. 07), which is a good place to stop, rest, enjoy the views, and gaze in wonder at the ancient Bristlecone Pines.

From Highpoint Ridge, the trail continues around the upper reaches of Lee Canyon, eventually running into the end of an old road (Scout Canyon Road; Wpt. 10). Continuing north on the old road, at about 2.43 miles out, the Bristlecone Trail arrives at a junction with the Bonanza Trail (Wpt. 06). The trail junction is marked by two wooden directional signs and an information sign about rare butterflies.

From the Bonanza Trail junction (Wpt. 06), the Bristlecone Trail continues east down Scout Canyon Road (which has been closed to private vehicles for many years).

The trail runs east along the sunny, south-facing side of a long ridge with great views east down Lee Canyon and south to the ski slopes and the towering mountains above (Mummy Mountain to the east and Lee Peak to the west). A single convenient log provides a place to sit comfortably and enjoy the scenery, but several large Ponderosa Pines provide plenty of shade. Keep any eye out for Mt. Charleston Purple Sage (another special plant with purple flowers) and other flowering species (e.g., Arizona Skyrocket, Paintbrush, and various sunflower species).

The trail winds in and out of several shallow side canyons, and at about 0.99 miles below Bonanza Trail junction, Scout Canyon Road curves left through a road-cut (Wpt. 13) in the ridge. The old road bends back to the northwest while gently dropping into Scout Canyon.

On these shady, north-facing slopes where snow lingers into the spring, the temperature is cooler, and the soil moisture is higher. Hikers will notice more plant species growing in this area. The most noticeable species are the several species of conifers that now grow thickly and the Quaking Aspen. During fall, this can be a beautiful section of trail when the aspens turn yellow and red.

In the bottom of the canyon, the trail follows the road around a big hairpin turn (Wpt. 14) to the right and cuts back to the east running across steep sideslopes. Still running in and out of little side canyons, the old road bends more to the south and runs above Lee Meadow before finally arriving at Lower Bristlecone Trailhead (Wpt. 15) and the official end of the Bristlecone Trail.

For hikers who started at the Upper Bristlecone Trailhead (Wpt. 01), from Lower Bristlecone Trailhead (Wpt. 15), follow the gravel access road back to the paved Lee Canyon Road (Wpt. 16). Turning right onto the pavement (watch for cars), hikers follow the road all the way to the end of the pavement and Upper Bristlecone Trailhead (Wpt. 01).

Alternatively, hikers can short-cut the highway switchbacks by following Lee Canyon Road uphill, then through the round-about at the exit from McWilliams Campground, and up to the first hairpin turn (Wpt. 17) on the road. From the gully at the turn, use-trails climb the steep hillside back to Upper Bristlecone Trailhead (Wpt. 01) arriving in the helicopter landing zone area.