Mount Brown Lookout Trail in Glacier National Park

The Mount Brown Lookout Trail has been described as the most difficult ten miles section of trail in Glacier National Park. The trail has earned this moniker as it is 5.1 miles to the summit and hikers must endure roughly 4,300 feet of elevation gain in that 5.1 miles making an average of 840 feet of elevation gain per mile. In 2017 lightning sparked the Sprague Creek fire which burned much of Mount Brown. The regrowth has been amazing and affords excellent views on this hike. The Lookout at the summit was built in 1928 and is only manned part time - however we have been there several times and have never seen it manned. Views from the lookout itself are simply jaw dropping as you sit atop those beautiful mountains you see across Lake McDonald from Apgar Village. The descent is rough on the feet and knees as it is just as steep on the way down as on the way up. While this is not one of the longer day hikes in Glacier from a mileage standpoint - it is one of the more difficult ones. Not all trail miles are created equal - we call them Mount Brown Miles. The difficulty of the hike provides solitude as most people just can't do it - which is great for experienced mountain folks! On this day the park service had yet to clear the trail of downed timber over the winter - which added to the challenge and awesomeness of this trail.