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Mayook Lookout
Cranbrook, B.C.
September 16, 2026
Distance: 6.3 km (3.9 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 200 m (656 ft)
After driving to Cranbrook from Calgary, Dinah and I had time for a brief hike to Mayook Lookout, located east of the city. The low elevation and scattered trees didn’t permit remarkable views, but the trails were easy and enjoyable with enough sights to hold our interest. The area was named in 1906 after “a local Kootenay Indian family of some means.”
The Cranbrook Community Forest features a vast network of trails. We started on Forest Grove and followed other trails to reach the lookout. Signposts help hikers stay on course. For variety, we ventured onto side trails but came back more directly after reaching the lookout. We started in a quiet forest but soon entered grassy meadows with scattered trees.
Eventually we joined Big Tree Trail, which leads to Mayook Lookout. The view was somewhat restricted, but that’s not unusual on hikes in Interior B.C. We followed the trail to a power line right-of-way where it ends, but there was nothing noteworthy to see. We turned around and continued back along Big Tree Trail, past the lookout, and came to a magnificent tree, a towering ponderosa pine known as The Big Tree. After admiring the tree, we sauntered back to the parking lot.
Starting up Forest Grove Trail
A few minutes later, Dinah stopped to look at the trail map (mouse over)
Following the trail in the forest
Red-naped sapsucker
We took a side trail that runs through a meadow
before returning to Forest Grove
Meadowhawk dragonfly
We left Logger's Trail and briefly followed
Arbour Trail
We passed a tree that appeared to be growing out
of a rock
The trail crosses a huge meadow
Dinah looks at a dead tree on Big Tree Trail
while heading to Mayook Lookout
Standing by the dead tree
At the lookout
Sylvan Lake is partly visible from the lookout
A painted stone on the lookout. A local hiker who
frequents the trails said he has seen over 100.
We walked 30 m to the end of the trail, but there
was little to see
Coming down, we found The Big Tree
Dinah stands beside The Big Tree
