McGregor Mountain is a fine choice if you desire to gain some elevation for a grand view. This 8129′ mountain had a fire lookout at one time and you can be sure that wherever you find an old lookout site you will find a magnificent 360 degree view.

There are some great shorter options for those that want a little elevation without taking on the whole mountain. These are outlined in the article for Howard Lake.

It is 6.8 miles from High Bridge to Heaton Camp which is the only campsite on the mountain. Heaton Camp is a great final destination spot in and of itself, with sweeping views to the south. For those that want the full 360 view, keep reading.

From Heaton Camp, the trail takes you about another quarter mile to where the trail ends and a rock scramble begins. The scramble is just under 1 mile in length. While this is not a technical climb it does have a high degree of exposure so use good judgment on whether or not you want to continue from this point.

If you do decide to continue, do not head straight toward the peak which has the repeater antenna on it. If you are standing at the bottom of the scree slope, you should see a BIG rock up at the top of the scree. Carefully make your way to this huge rock and then look to your left on the face of the cliff walls. You should see painted blazes to mark the route.

The route will take you through a notch a couple hundred yards to the left of the summit and from there you will gain the peak from the backside. We highly recommend visiting the NPS rangers at the Golden West Lodge for a picture and explanation of the route, or talking to some locals who have done the hike and can explain the route.

To find the trailhead, go to High Bridge. The trailhead is located behind the horse corrals there. You will essentially start by going to Howard Lake, and then continuing on up the McGregor Mountain trail. For more info about this first part of the hike, see the article on Howard Lake.

Alternatively, you may continue another 1.5 miles past High Bridge, and use the trailhead there. Make sure you take the first right (approx 500 yards in) to head towards Howard Lake. You will then look for the trail heading off to the left about 1 mile in. If you reach Howard Lake, you have gone just a little bit too far and missed the trail to McGregor Mountain.

NPS trail description