Hunter Mountain Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek · Views · Waterfall

This is a loop trail that will take you to the summit of Hunter Mountain at 4,040 feet. There is a fire tower at the summit that allows for excellent views.

Part of this route follows the Devil's Path Trail which is known for some gnarly sections, but there was no scrambling required on the stretch used here. Parts are steep though.

You can follow this loop in either direction. One side is a forest road and the other a hiking trail. We went down the road and up the trail - this is the counter clockwise route.

Follow the trail southeast along the blue blazes to the beautiful Diamond Notch waterfall. Then join the red blazed Devil's Path Trail that ascends east and non-stop up to the ridge. The trail will loop south away from the summit before turning east again, gaining elevation the whole time. You should see the Devil's Acre lean-too. Look for the fork where a yellow-blazed Hunter Mountain Trail will branch off east and then turn north. If you stay on the red trail you'll begin descending the other side of the mountain.

Follow the Hunter Mountain Trail to the summit. At the summit there is a fire watchtower that you can ascend for the best views. There will probably be quite a few people here that were not on the trail up (many people take the road up and back down). If you fancy, you can take the trail back down, or continue onto the road and head down to complete the loop.

The road will be blazed blue, but is very obvious as it is an active maintenance road for the fire tower. Partway down you can take a spur north to the top of the Hunter Mountain Ski Area ski lifts. The mountain road does not quite return to the parking area at the Diamond Notch Trailhead so you'll have to hike along the road that you drove in on for a short distance.