Loon Uphill Access: Loon Peak or South Peak?

Choose Loon Peak or South Peak from the current official route chain and planned descent, then verify the pass and armband process before starting. Uphill access is a policy-controlled activity, not an inference from open downhill trails.

Loon Peak chain

The prior route used components including Lower Picked Rock, Grand Junction, Upper Bear Claw, and Exodus. Confirm the publication-season sequence rather than assembling it from old names.

South Peak chain

South Peak identities include Escape Route, Upper Stinger, and Cruiser. Verify the legal start, finish, and return to the correct base.

Pass, armband, and descent

Use Loon's current uphill policy for eligible passes, ticket categories, armband pickup, equipment, hours, and closure messages. If a plan requires the White Mountain Express Gondola for descent, verify that rule and operation explicitly.

Before skinning

• Check the official uphill status.
• Carry the required pass and visible authorization.
• Use only the published route and direction.
• Confirm the descent and base return.
• Turn around if signs or staff close the route.

Data caveat

The Loon dashboard identifies components but does not establish uphill permission. No observation is converted into an opening decision or closure cause.

Choose by start and finish

Loon Peak and South Peak are not interchangeable trail labels. Parking, armband pickup, permitted start, and descent can make one route practical and the other impossible for the same morning. Build the transportation loop before choosing terrain.

Equipment and travel mode

Confirm whether the policy permits alpine touring equipment, splitboards, snowshoes, or other modes on each route. A pass that allows downhill skiing does not automatically authorize uphill access, and an Ikon product may have reservation or validation rules.

Descent is part of the plan

Identify the legal and ability-appropriate descent before starting uphill. Check whether gondola download is required or permitted for the chosen travel mode. If the descent dependency changes, turn around according to resort direction rather than improvising.

Morning checklist

• Official uphill status and hours.
• Valid pass, ticket, and armband.
• Published route and direction.
• Permitted equipment.
• Confirmed descent and return to the vehicle.