Little Summit Lookout Site
Lookout Elevation: 2,000+ feet
Hiking Distance: 0.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
Access: Paved
Located near the summit of Mount Constitution, Little Summit is another great vantage point easily accessed from the paved road. The short hike brings you to possibly the best picnic location in the park. The site is most notable for its use as a former fire lookout location. The footings, steps and other foundation work is still visible, right on the top inside the picnic area. Views extend south across the San Juan Islands to the Olympics. A short spur trail on the way up leads to another viewpoint looking east to the Cascades.
WillhiteWeb.com
Access
On Orcas Island, make your way to Moran State Park and drive up the Mount Constitution Road. At 1.5 miles from the end, just after the first views, the road levels out and a sign says Little Summit. There is parking on the right or on the left a bit further up the road.
Route
From the trailhead, walk 20 yards and hit a trail split. A good sign gives mileages to all the locations going left. Just follow the sign for Little Summit 0.1 miles to the right. Go up the hill and the trail splits making a small loop on top. If you go left, you'll notice the spur trail to the Cascades viewpoint as well.
Picnic spot
Compass
Views somewhat obstructed by smoke from spring grass fires in Siberia
From the eastern viewpoint toward the Cascades
Some sort of porch foundation. The four lookout tower corners are around the bench in top left
Two footings and a step
Road below is just below the lookout area
Standing in the center of the 4 footings
Mount Baker
Trail to Little Summit
Little along the road
Other options
Little Summit trail
Lookout History
In 1966, this lookout was built as a replacement for the stone lookout tower up on the highpoint that was being overwhelmed with bothersome visitors. The new tower was a 50-foot timber tower with cab on top. Dorothy Allan was the first observer in 1966. In 1988, a private party removed the tower and cab.
On the cover of the July 1966 Totem Magazine
Dorothy Allen (first lookout in 1966)
Dorothy Allen (first lookout in 1966)
From an airplane, 1966
From an airplane in 1966
1966 photo shoot at Little Summit
Dorothy Allen (first lookout in 1966)
Kid approved