Visited Tuesday 7/21/2020, arrived at the TH (upper TH) at 2:20am, no other vehicles in the lot. Road up is good condition (some potholes and washboard, so take it slow in some areas) and a bit on the steep side, but all vehicles can make it. Road dead ends at TH, there is a red barn on the right. One vaulted toilet and one porta john. Parking enough for 5+ cars depending on how people park . Make sure you have a northwest Forrest pass ($30/yr), America the beautiful pass ($80/yr) or pre purchase a day pass ($5/day) there is no fee box here for a pass. No handicap parking, not handicap accessible and would not recommend for small children as it is steep with steep drop offs and sometimes rocky path. The loop would be a better option for small children. Please remember to pack it in, pack it out, leave no trace and leave the trails better than you found them, I found a lot of micro trash I packed out with me. There are no trash cans here.
We did iron mountain for sunrise then the iron mountain/Cone peak loop. Trails are in great condition, incline all the way to iron mountain. There is not a fire lookout here any longer but there is a deck built on the foundation of where the old fire lookout was. With seating all the way around and some information to read. Neat spot to take a load off.
There are wildflowers blooming and a ton of bugs, even in the early morning including biting flies and mosquitoes! They were a constant presence. Make sure you have a map of this area as there are other trails that intersect w/out information.
Beautiful area.
6.79 miles w/1641ft elevation gain.
Finished at 11:30am w/ 4 other cars in the lot. Saw 16 people and two dogs on the trails. Not many people wearing face masks here.
Road is not well marked from highway so start slowing down when Google gives you the warning.
Iron Mountain Sunrise/ Cone Peak Loop
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- adamschneider
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Re: Iron Mountain Sunrise/ Cone Peak Loop
Not officially, but people bushwhack up there all the time. It's surprisingly steep.
Might be a young grig.Solofemalehiker35 wrote: ↑July 24th, 2020, 7:16 amAnyone know what kind of bug this is, it was the size of a quarter or a little larger.