Sarbach Lookout Trail

Sarbach Lookout is a difficult out-and-back from Mistaya Canyon parking, about 10.6 km (6.6 mi) round trip with roughly 530 m of net climbing. Allow five to six hours. The route starts by dropping into the Mistaya Canyon area, follows the river and wet ground, then climbs to the former fire lookout. The payoff is a wide view toward Glacier Lake and Howse Pass. If the canyon is all you have time for, stop there; this is a much longer hike beyond it.

From the parking lot, follow the signed approach toward Mistaya Canyon and Sarbach Lookout. Cross the bridge, turn right up the bank shortly afterward, then take the southwest branch at the junction about 200 m farther on. The other branch heads toward the Howse River. Stay on the lookout route; Mount Sarbach itself is a separate, difficult scramble.

The trail descends into the canyon and follows the Mistaya River. Around 1.7 km in, it reaches a river viewpoint, then turns away from the bank and crosses about a kilometre of boggy ground. Expect this stretch to be wet, especially early in the season. After the bog, the route climbs steadily, gaining roughly 370 m over the next 2.5 km. The last 200 m is bordered by rocks, so save some attention for your footing as the view opens.

The destination is the site of an old fire lookout tower, abandoned in 1971. From the rocky end of the trail, the view takes in Glacier Lake, Howse Pass and the surrounding mountain valleys. This is the lookout walk, not the Mount Sarbach summit route; the summit approach is a different and much more serious undertaking.