Summary 
| Difficulty | 3 Intermediate |
| Length | 7.6 miles round trip |
| Starting Elevation |
7350 feet |
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+1400, -1400 feet |
| Navigation | Road and marked trail |
| Time | Full day |
| Season | December through mid-April |
| Snowmobiles Use | High |
| USGS Topo | 7.5' series, Tragedy Spring and Leek Spring Hill |
| Start | Iron Mountain Sno-Park, 0.3 mile north of Highway 88 on Mormon Emigrant Trail. Mormon Emigrant Trail is located 4.9 miles east of Peddler Hill Maintenance Station and 7.0 miles west of the Silver Lake dam. A Sno-Park permit must be purchased in advance. |
Description
This is a variation of the Leek Spring Hill Via Leek Spring Road tour. What they have in common is the destination, the lookout atop Leek Spring Hill with its breathtaking views that include Pyramid Peak and the Crystal Range to the north, Thimble Peak and Round Top to the east, and Mokelumne Peak to the south. The main differences are that this tour via Plummer Ridge follows a groomed snowmobile trail the entire distance and it climbs an additional 300 feet. But it is 0.8 mile shorter.
Aside from the views you get from the lookout, you can enjoy the powder that is often found on the north side of Leek Spring Hill. The steep slope to the north will challenge your ability to control your speed while negotiating dense woods.
This tour can be combined with the Leek Spring Hill Via Foster Meadow Road tour to create a one-way trip or combined with the Leek Spring Hill Via Leek Spring Road tour to create a loop trip.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.8
Elevation change: +150, -100 feet
From Iron Mountain Sno-Park (1) ski west on Mormon Emigrant Trail for 0.8 mile until you reach the turnoff for Plummer Ridge (2). The turnoff is located where the groomed snowmobile trail leaves Mormon Emigrant Trail and climbs steeply.
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.8 - 1.3
Elevation change: +300 feet
Follow the groomed snowmobile trail as it climbs west onto Plummer Ridge for 0.5 mile until you reach a point immediately to the south of the highest point on the ridge (3).
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 1.3 - 2.5
Elevation change: -400 feet
Descend west along Plummer Ridge on the groomed snowmobile trail for 1.2 miles until you reach the junction of Foster Meadow Road and Leek Spring Road (4).
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 2.5 - 3.8
Elevation change: +400, -50 feet
Continue west on Leek Spring Road, which is groomed, for 1.3 miles until you reach the lookout atop Leek Spring Hill (5). Along this section you will pass two ungroomed roads on your left, but you will probably not notice them.
In this area the terrain allows you to leave the groomed road and pick your own route. Unfortunately snowmobile tracks often crisscross the slopes.
Return to trailhead
Miles: 3.8 - 7.6
Elevation change: +550, -850 feet
Retrace the route for 3.8 miles back to the Iron Mountain Sno-Park (1).
