The trail starts out at the same place as the one to Cutoff Peak. In fact, the first mile to Smith Ridge (trail #17) is shared between the trails. At the junction with trail #18, where the Cutoff Peak trail heads right (south), the Triangulation Smith trail heads left (north) through the woods and uphill. The sign indicates 5 miles to Triangulation Smith, but the site of the former lookout tower is only 3.5 miles away.

It is immediately evident that this trail receives substantially less traffic than Cutoff Peak, it being a rather narrow single-track that is easily swallowed by large swathes of beargrass. At first the trail heads uphill to gain the ridge, then drops down the other side and skirts the Canyon Lake cliff. You’ll have to take a few steps off-trail to view the lake below; the best options are at the three-quarter mile mark from the trail junction and again at the one-mile mark, where there is a sizable bare section in the woods with decent views of the lake and the Parker Ridge to the east.

Immediately afterwards the trail climbs once again through the woods to the highpoint, then drops lower for about 1.5 miles to a saddle below Triangulation Smith. Then it’s just a short uphill stretch to the peak. That “peak”, more like an overgrown knoll, offers only limited views, the trees having reclaimed much of the site of the former lookout tower. It’s mostly grassy, and the mosquitoes are beastly. As a matter of fact, the mosquitoes are quite a pain throughout this hike, because much of the trail is slightly along the eastern flank (the Long Canyon side) and the breeze rises up from the Smith Creek side (the western flank).

We didn’t see any obligatory carcasses, nor grouses nor privies. Perhaps we were simply too tired, this being the last stretch of a 2-day, 45-mile hike. And we should mention water. Just 2 liters for both the Cutoff Peak and Triangulation Smith trails isn’t quite enough. Thank goodness for the 5 gallon water tank we keep in the car!

One last note: Don’t confuse Smith Mountain with Smith Peak. Both are part of the Smith Range, Smith Peak being the highest point and Triangulation Smith the lowest, most northerly knob. And both may be in Canada, according to Verizon, which charges international texting and calling rates on Triangulation Smith!

Alternate Routes

• A trail to Cutoff Peak, also a former fire lookout, starts at the same trailhead