Skyscraper Pass

The trail to Skyscraper Pass makes an ideal dayhike to take you a little further from the popular visitor center at Sunrise, and the crowds that head to Dege Peak and the Burroughs. It's a bit longer, so you'll need to be ready for push. Particularly enthusiastic hikers can push onto Skyscraper Mountain via a bootpath.

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 the small pass at 3.4 miles. Here, look back at the ground you covered and then around you -- select an out of the way spot for lunch, or push on to the Peak directly north of you.