Skyscraper Mountain

From the north side of the parking lot at Sunrise, start out on the unmarked paved road/trail between the restrooms and the Visitor Center. Follow signs toward Frozen Lake to bypass the picnic area and then climb up rock and dirt steps to connect with the Sourdough Ridge Trail. Go left. At Frozen Lake, 1.25 miles from the trailhead, stay right to remain on the Sourdough Ridge Trail, coming to a five-way junction at 1.5 miles.

At the junction, follow the sign directing you, more or less straight on, to the Wonderland Trail. Begin a gradual descent through open rocky meadows. At 2.25 miles, stay left on the Wonderland Trail, passing the signed junction with the Northern Loop Trail that leads to Berkeley Park (and is a delightful, if shorter, option to the much more crowded Wonderland Trail).

The trail goes through some minor ups and downs then climbs steadily up to a small pass at 3.4 miles. The rest of the route is in sight now. Continue up to the top of the ridge at 3.6 miles, a popular resting place.

From here, leave the Wonderland Trail to follow an obvious path through gravel and rock that drops slightly then winds its way up the spine of Skyscraper Mountain. Once you leave the Wonderland Trail you will be on an unofficial, unmaintained trail. When snow-free, this is an easy scramble to the summit, elevation 7018 feet according to the Park Service, or slightly less than 7000 feet according to other sources. As with most scramble trails, this one is not for everyone. The scramble itself is moderately easy, but the summit is small, rocky, and exposed.

From the summit you get a full 360 degree panoramic view that will have your head bobbing. To the south, follow the tiers of Burroughs Mountain left to right, up to where the Inter Glacier and Steamboat Prow point to the summit of Rainier. Continuing clockwise, see the green meadows of aptly named Vernal Park, Winthrop Creek and the West Fork White River far below, the immense plateau of Grand Park, the Fremont Lookout, and finally Berkeley Park, below to the southeast.

Return the way you came, try this variation: At the five-way junction, you can take an alternate path back to Sunrise, but you should have a map and know how to use it; the network of trails around Sunrise can be quite confusing.