Expect to spend a couple hours a day splitting huge rounds of firewood with a huge axe maul. Not for the weak or dainty. If you don't have wood that will fit in the woodstove, the wood splitting and hauling will keep you warm.

We have been to this lookout twice now and both times the hike got a little harrowing towards to top (VERY windy). Be sure to check the weather forecast and plan to head out on trail earlier in the day! The lookout is well stocked with supplies and we were very cozy 🤗

Challenging to get to but worth the effort.

The facility is pretty good, but there are a couple of deficiencies. There are no chairs. The propane lantern above the sink could not be turned off. There is no snow shovel, a necessity in winter. Also, ther is no poker or shovel for the wood stove.

Let me start off by saying don't miss a chance to eat at Cowboy Dinner Tree while you're in the area. We stayed at a cabin there the night before we headed up Hager. It was amazing. It's a good thing I had been in the gym prepping for this. I don't think we used the official trail but more of a forest service road. We followed our phones directions up until the truck couldn't safely make it any farther and then walked about 2-2.5 miles up. The path/road was easy to follow although there were no markers. It was grueling the last mile and we stopped frequently to catch our breath. When we got there the party before us hadn't left any chopped would or kindling. So we rested a bit and then chopped would and hauled it up. The fire was lovely and kept the lookout more than toasty, we actually slept with the window open. A couple suggestions, take a sheet to cover the mattress, they're old and sketchy but totally usable. Bring slippers for inside the cabin otherwise you'll be in a constant state of drying your socks off because of snow that gets tracked in. Bring a good camera or a newer phone with a quality camera. The views are worth every bit of the struggle. This is a trip that will set your soul on fire and I can't overstate how gorgeous the views are. The sky was clear at night and we could see every single star. Epic.