Trip Report
Day Hike - Mailbox Peak
Fun hike up the old trail and down the new.
Nancy Lloyd
- Sat, May 12, 2018
- Day Hike - Mailbox Peak
- Mailbox Peak
- Day Hiking
- Successful
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- Road suitable for all vehicles
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The old trail is in good shape, mostly easy to follow with some white diamond markers on the upper section before breaking out of the trees. Very steep with lots of roots, not as muddy as expected. No snow on the trail, a few flying things at the mailbox rocks but otherwise no bugs.
Got to the trailhead area about 8:00, parking lot was completely full and what looked like a hundred or more cars parked along both sides of the road in spite of no parking warning/tow signs. We found space and joined the throng. We didn't encounter as many people as expected along the old trail, so most were probably going up the new one. A constant flow of hikers coming & going from the top, have hiked this trail several times and have never seen such a crowd and huge number of cars.
Gorgeous sunny day, not too hot. Great views! A few wildflowers coming out. Even with all the people, we had a wonderful time. In the future, I'd get to the trailhead by 6 a.m. and hope for a decent place to park. The same probably applies to all the other popular trails.
The Mountaineers 'route/place' description for Mailbox Peak is incorrect. The high point is 4,842' and el. gain is 4,000'. The 4,926' and 4,100 gain describes Dirtybox peak to the southeast of Mail Box.