Winchester Mountain

This trail starts at Twin Lakes Road (4x4 access only; other cars can park farther down the road). Follow the signs that will point you up the steep trail, making a left turn at the High Pass trail junction. You'll take on a couple dozen switchbacks up a mostly open mountainside that bursts with wildflowers in summer. Enjoy views over the Twin Lakes and Goat Mountain's twin peaks. Once on top, you'll find the Winchester Mountain Lookout, a fire tower that dates to 1935 and is maintained for overnight use. In theory you can bring supplies and spend the night on beds inside the lookout, but it's first-come-first served, so no guarantee of finding it unoccupied. Bring a tent as a backup. The route up Winchester Mountain is easy to find during snow-free conditions. When there is snow (often well into July), that is a different story. You need to use a GPS and have experience in route finding. You may also need crampons and ice axes. You basically follow the snow field up across the switchbacks about a thousand feet. After that, follow the trail as best as possible, but be prepared to navigate steep and firm snow that poses significant fall hazard. Remember: each season will be different, so there is no definitive way to climb this mountain during the snowy season.