Cinnamon Mountain Out-and-Back

Getting to the trailhead is a bit of a gnarly drive. 4x4 is recommended but careful driving and AWD should be okay too if you choose to come from Washington Gulch. For Slate River, you definitely want a 4WD rig. The hike starts at 11,330 feet. Cinnamon Mountain is aptly named for its rich, reddish brown coloring that brings the smell of warm chai to your nostrils. The trail is short, sweet and steep. There is a well-defined path to follow for most of the hike. After you make the initial climb, the trail flattens out and follows the contour around the mountain, then begins to climb again through some loose rock before gaining the ridge for a short hike to reach the summit. There are a few different trail variations before you reach the ridge, so just do whatever floats your boat. It's a lovely ridge-walk to the summit! You may also be lucky enough to see some wildlife on the trail including sage grouse, other small birds, and deer. There is a RMBL weather station at the top, and the summit is at 12,290 feet. The views of the surrounding peaks and valleys are incredible. Route is a little over 2 miles long and about 1,000 feet of elevation gain.