Summary 
| Difficulty | 5 Advanced | ||
| Length | 19.0 miles round trip | ||
| Starting Elevation |
6200 feet | ||
| Cumulative Elevation Change |
+1850, -1850 round trip | ||
| Navigation | Road and map | ||
| Time | Very long day | ||
| Season | Mid-December through early April | ||
| Snowmobiles Use | Not permitted [Please report illegal use of snowmobiles in this area.] | ||
| USGS Topo |
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| Start | McGowan Road Trailhead on Highway 89, 2.0 miles north of the junction of Highways 36 and 89, and 3.5 miles south of the Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center. There is a turnout, parking space, and the trailhead on the west side of the highway. |
Description
Ski to Battle Creek Overlook to treat yourself to a bird's-eye view of Battle Creek Meadows. Although the route to the overlook via Viola Road is shorter, this route via McGowan Road is technically easier. Except for the last 0.5 mile it is entirely along snow-covered roads and the tour is entirely in an area closed to snowmobile use.
You can make a very interesting 15.9 mile, one-way tour by skiing to Battle Creek Overlook via McGowan Road as described here and ending the tour by skiing the Viola Road route to a Mineral ending.
Mileage Log
Numbers in parentheses
correspond to mileage points on map
Waypoint 1 to 2
Miles: 0.0 - 0.1
Elevation change: +0
Ski west on McGowan Road for 0.1 mile until you reach the junction with Christie Hill Road (2), which is on the south (left) side of McGowan Road.
Waypoint 2 to 3
Miles: 0.1 -1.0
Elevation change: +50
Ski generally west (straight) on McGowan Road for 0.9 mile until you reach the location where the road begins to descend (3). Beyond this point McGowan Road drops steadily for 1.9 miles and for beginners may be difficult when icy.
Waypoint 3 to 4
Miles: 1.0 - 1.2
Elevation change: -100
Ski northwest on McGowan Road for 0.2 mile until you reach the McGowan Lake turnoff (4), which is on the north (right) side of McGowan Road. The turnoff to McGowan Lake is easily missed if you are skiing fast.
Waypoint 4 to 5
Miles: 1.2 - 2.9
Elevation change: -450
Ski generally southwest (straight) on McGowan Road for 1.7 miles until you reach the junction with Nanny Creek Road (5), which is on the southeast (left) side of McGowan Road.
Waypoint 5 to 6
Miles: 2.9 - 3.9
Elevation change: +150
Ski generally southwest (straight) on McGowan Road for 1.0 miles until you reach a road junction (6). At the junction the fairly obvious road on the north (right) side of McGowan Road is part of the Plantation Ridge tour and the McGowan Lake and Plantation Ridge Loop tour.
Waypoint 6 to 7
Miles: 3.9 - 7.6
Elevation change: +400
Ski northwest (straight), north and then southwest on McGowan Road for a total of 3.7 miles until you reach a road junction (7). The major road on the north (right) side of McGowan Road is not especially interesting. The lesser road on the south (left) side of McGowan Road is the continuation of the route to Battle Creek Overlook.
Waypoint 7 to 8
Miles: 7.6 - 9.0
Elevation change: +400
Tum south (left) onto a lesser road and follow it as it snakes to southwest for 1.4 miles until you reach a logged area (8) on the south (left) side of the road. The location is not critical because Battle Creek Overlook is obvious to the south.
This point is about 0.2 mile past the point where the road levels. On the topographic map it shows the road ending just beyond here, but actually that is not the case; it continues.
Waypoint 8 to 9
Miles: 9.0 - 9.3
Elevation change: +250
Climb south, up the logged area, for 0.3 mile until you reach the ridge line (9).
Waypoint 9 to 10
Miles: 9.3 - 9.5
Elevation change: +50
Ski west for 0.2 mile until you reach the high point (10). Just east of the high point you will find an excellent perch to view Battle Creek Meadows below.
Return to trailhead
Miles: 9.5 - 19.0
Elevation change: +550, -1300
Retrace the route for 9.5 miles back to the trailhead (1).
