Crane Flat Fire Lookout
Address:
Phone:
209/372-0200NileGuide Expert tip:
Great place to watch a sunrise or sunset. You can sometimes see Mt. Diablo near the Bay Area.Description:
Not many visitors find their way up to the fire lookout at Crane Flat, but it's a worthy destination for an easy 1-mile hike. Park at the Tuolumne Grove trailhead on the west end of Tioga Road, or at the paved pullouts west of there on Hwy. 120 marked for the fire lookout. Follow the ski trail markers to the lookout or go straight up the paved lookout access road. During the fire season the gate on the road may be closed to allow for emergency traffic, but if it's not, you can drive on up from 120 west. Do watch out for vehicles on the narrow road. As you near the top follow the signs that direct you to the trail off to the right, and take this around to the top - they don't want you walking into helicopter traffic.If they're not busy, the helitack crew can explain their work and their equipment. You'll enjoy a grand view from over 6600' of the western slope of the Sierra, with a bit of Yosemite Valley and the high country in sight to the east.
