Tipsoo Peak Hike

In the Diamond Lake area, there a several nice trails to explore, the most prominent one being the strenuous hike up to Mount Thielsen. For those looking for an easier trip that still has great views, the Tipsoo Peak hike is a great choice. Marked only by a tiny sign with parking along the dirt access road, this hike is likely to be quite solitary, and the views at the top are worth the effort. From the trailhead, the route climbs continuously through dense forest with a few long, arcing switchbacks up to the point where the trees start to thin out. The last mile or so is in open country, and it is fairly easy to lose the faint trail, especially if there is still a lot of snow on the ground, which is likely even into July. With a GPS or topo map and compass, finding the peak is pretty simple in spite of losing the trail. Once up on the top, the views in all directions are spectacular, particularly the great view of Mount Thielsen and Diamond Lake to the south and southwest.