North Sevier Plateau, Utah

 ⦁ CREST ROAD - the Saul Meadow Rd runs east out of Annabella and goes to the crest then the crest road runs south to highway 62 just east of Kingston. Several major roads drop off the crest. The one down to Monroe was good enough for a car. Another goes down Pole Canyon and one down Dry Creek but it wasn't dry. It had a little stream and no sign of cattle even at the mouth. These roads are maintained but get bumpy due to embedded rocks. If 4wd is ever needed it would be easy. There's a cell signal most of the time. A Verizon tower may be on Monroe Peak. Posted 2021.

⦁ SIGNAL PEAK el 11226 - the trail is about 20 miles out of Annabella along the crest road at N38 37591, W111 59094 el 10150. A stream and room to camp is there and no cattle. The trail generally follows the topo and bends right onto the bald summit plateau and fades then there is a minor trail at N38 37470, W112 00804 that helps for the last tenth mile. 3 hours, 1200 gain. Posted 2021

⦁ MONROE PEAK el 11227 - a main road forks off the crest road and goes down Monroe Canyon to Monroe town. Before it drops off the rim there is a decent road going 3 miles to towers on the peak. The topo shows these roads. I could have drove a car up from Monroe. Posted 2021.

⦁ MARYSVALE NORTH SUMMIT el 10900+ is what I call the one next to Marysvale Peak. The crest road runs south past Manning Meadow Reservoir. Shady camps and a restroom are at the south end. A mile beyond that is FR156 forking right. In a third mile it turns into a smooth OHV trail and I went on another 2 miles to a clearing at N38 28841, 112 05819 el 10400. I walked to the end of that then went left thru trees to an elk trail at 28860, 05952 el 10550 then up to 28918, 06062 then another tenth mile to  the reg el 10900+, placed a year earlier. Short hike. Ebikes should work on the OHV trail. Posted 2021.

⦁ BEAN HILL, BIG TABLE - turn off the crest road at N38 2593, W112 02955 el 9200. The road soon turns into a decent ATV trail and ebikeable. Proceed to a fork at 24755, 04139 el 9700 and go left to a fence. To stay out of a burn area, I walked level around the right side of the peak to 24609, 03689 then on to a bald slope then up to the reg el 10055. Short hike, some light brush. I kept going on the ATV trail and stayed left at forks and it took me around Big Table then up to el 10050 where I had a short stroll to the reg at 24055, 04589 el 10086. Bad views but the ride up has good views. Posted 2021.

⦁ LANGDON MOUNTAIN el 10323 - turn off the crest road onto FR82 at N38 23225, W112 01798. Stay left at a fork to the end at a fence el 10000. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable. Walk along the right side of the fence to the reg and witness BM at 23467, 01175. Short hike. Posted 2021.

⦁ MALMSTEN PEAK el 9793 is at the south end of the range on Forshea Mountain.  The topo shows a road running south from the crest road along the east side of the peak. It's easy 4wd but closed at el 9500. I walked from there and soon went right on a  fork and when that bent left I walked a clearing to another clearing at N38 15186, W112 05152 then the BM is at 15235, 05212.  Short hike. I had 2 bars of Verizon there. Posted 2021.

⦁ PEAK 8582 is on  the west side of Forshea Mtn. The topo shows a road from the crest road running south of a dry lake for a bit over a mile to a fence el 7700. It's easy 4wd. A trail goes along the left side of the fence making it easy to get to the SE saddle el 8100 then up the ridge. I took a direct route down to the east and walked back on the road. Driving around to the NE side would be 200 feet higher but it's a crappy road. 2 hours, nearly 1000 gain, some light brush. I didn't see anything blocking a side trip to peak 8382. Cattle were thick here once but long gone now. Posted 2021.

⦁ PEAK 7381 is along the crest road half a mile north of highway 62. The whole route up the north ridge comes into view upon approaching it on the crest road. Posted 2021.

⦁ STEENS CANYON is at the south end of the range. I went up canyon and back on the west rim. It's the best hike I found in the range. I parked on highway 62 at mp 7.9 where two canyons come in from the north. The left one is Steens. I strolled up the creekbed past Dripping Spring, which had a drip, then checked out Blind Spring but found nothing there. I went on up to Blood Mine Spring at N38 13886, W112 05420 el 7700 and found a tiny flow. I made a U-turn there and took an east angle up to the west rim and hit an ATV trail next to peak 8257 at 13914, 05953. I walked it over that peak then left it and went down the rim to 13510, 06289 el 8000. I then came to a minor hill and went right of center over it then came to peak 7905 and went right of center over that then made a hard left to stay on the rim. I went down to a point at 11954, 06472 el 7400 where a path led down thru a cliff then had easy slopes down to 11725, 06023 where a decent route gets down to the creekbed. That took 5 hours, 11 minutes with around 2000 gain but it's all easy, especially the 1300 up the creekbed. No cattle and nearly zero brush. Good pj forest. PHONOLITE PEAK el 7915 is at the mouth of the canyon. A road goes up along the east side to get close to the north saddle but it's washed out. Maybe it gets fixed. Posted 2021.

⦁ MONROE CREEK TRAILS - these trails show on the topo and may all still exist because I saw new signs at trail junctions. I hiked up the Shingle Creek trail and down the Second Lefthand Fork trail. Main St in Monroe bends into Monroe Creek and goes thru a narrows where FR162 goes left up the First Lefthand Fork. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable to the end at a TH el 7600. The Shingle Creek TH is along the way at el 7000. I walked it to Washburn Reservoir el 9200 then across the dam and on to a fork at point 9738 that isn't on the topo. The right fork is a shortcut to the Second Lefthand Fork trail. I took that and it got fuzzy as I came to that trail. The correct trail goes down slope at N38 35449, W112 01532 el 9400. I walked it down to Monrovian Park. That took 5 hours with 2700 gain. I didn't have a shuttle so I had another hour of road walking back. I did this in shorts but was rubbing against scrub oak on the descent. These trails can get rocky. Shingle Creek was the only good water and easily jumpable. MONROE CREEK TRAIL - this one follows the creek from Monrovian Park for a mile and half. There are 2 DIY bridges then a third crossing with no bridge where the stream forks. I jumped that then hit brush right away and turned back. I spent 80 minutes. It's a nice gorge. An old topo shows this trail went on up creek and was the original Third Lefthand Fork trail. But the new topo shows it had to be detoured over an 800 foot high ridge. Forget that one. Posted 2021.

Pahvant Range, Utah

Beehive Peak is reportedly risky class 4.

The ATV trail on the north rim of Willow Creek Canyon

 

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• The main attraction in this range is the long canyons that drain toward Richfield. The rims and creekbeds are easy to walk. Some have century old logging roads. Posted 2021.
• CREST ROAD- a 4wd vehicle could easily run the crest from Willow Creek to Richfield as of August 2021. Take US 50 north from Salina for 8 miles to a big green sign at mp 151 where an improved road goes 3 and a half miles then the remaining mile to the mouth starts getting tricky for cars. Another good road starts at mp 149 and merges in. Some sunny camps are at the mouth but some shady ones start a mile up canyon. The stream was tiny in August but Pharo Canyon had a much better one for filtering. A high clearance road runs along the base for a mile to a trail at N39 59990, W112 04668 el 6750 that accesses that stream. The road up Willow Creek is wide high clearance for 6 miles to FR96 running along the crest. It goes north a dozen miles to a dead end at the Scipio Pass TH. Coffee Peak el 10005 is an easy hike along there but not a good view. Going south on FR96 it's a dozen miles or so to the road down to Richfield. These roads are ebikeable but bumpy. It's 33 miles from the mouth of Willow Creek to Richfied with no side trips. The last 10 miles smooths out but has some short sections of loose little rocks. I didn't see any good water along the road in late August. Cell phones work on the crest. White Pine Peak el 10215 must have a Verizon tower because I was getting 5 bars around there. Posted 2021.
• FILLMORE LOOP - an easy 4wd loop of just over 40 miles can be done out of Fillmore with some spectacular views into deep canyons. The Sandrock Ridge Rd goes from town to FR96 on the crest in about a dozen miles. It's steep but in good shape. FR96 goes north for 10 miles to  FR100 and that goes 20 miles back to town. That road bottoms out at the shady Pistol Rock picnic area along Chalk Creek. That was the only water I saw in late August 2021.
• PHARO CANYON has a shady trail to el 8000+. A high clearance road runs north for a mile from the mouth of Willow Creek to the mouth of Pharo el 6800. The trail stays on the left bank to a meadow with a good stream at N39 59487, W112 05598 el 7300. At 59490, 06388 el 7650 there is a short trail dropping to the stream. No point going beyond there as the  trail fades at el 8100. 1 to 2 hours, easy. No recent cattle. Posted 2021.
• RED CANYON has a nice little stream and falls near the mouth. Take US 50 north from Salina for 8 miles to a big green sign for Willow Creek at mp 151. Go west on a good graded road for 1.8 miles then go south on road #394. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable. Follow it for 4 and a half miles then go right on a short road to the mouth el 6900. A trail goes up canyon bank to bank but it's frequently easier using the creekbed. The stream shrinks to nothing but it's still a pleasant walk to N38 56789, W112 04405 el 7800 where cattle are stinking it up. But they can't come down canyon. 2 hours, 900 gain, easy. This would have more water in May. Posted August, 2021.
• PEAK 8080 is 2 and a half miles SE of Beehike Peak on the same ridge. A decent ATV trail goes to el 7650. I rode my 125 north along power lines on the west side of I-70 and merged with a good road that took me to Mud Spring. I went left there on trail #436 and followed the topo up to ponderosa pines then had a short hike to the summit. That's the only peak on that jagged ridge that I could see a way up. Posted 2021.
• NORTH CEDAR RIDGE CANYON is one of the long ones on the east side. I went up it and made a loop by taking the Trough Canyon fork then crossing back at the saddle on Nightgown Ridge between the two peaks el 8005. It's easy walking on the main canyon floors. Take highway 24 to mp 23.5 and turn on a paved road and go over I-70. Turn right on the first graded road going north. Cars make it 1.3 miles then it's high clearance for a half mile then the last quarter mile is an ATV trail on the far right bank. Stroll up canyon about a mile to the first cottonwood. 200 feet past that is a big log on the right bank where a trail helps out. It goes back into the creekbed then in another 250 feet a trail resumes on the right bank again. When that fizzles it's best to stay in the creekbed to a trail on the left bank at N38 53620, W112 02812 el 6400. It will cross to the right bank then back in the creekbed and in another quarter mile is where Trough Canyon comes in on the left at el 6500. I went up that then took a side canyon at 53990, 04692 el 7300. I went 400 feet up that then climbed up the right slope to get on the rim and walked into the saddle el 7650 between the two peaks 8005. I dropped down to a gully at 54152, 04429 el 7600 to get in the main drainage and went down it. Several minor drops got in the way. I bypassed all on the right until the last one just a few feet before North Cedar Ridge Canyon where I went left. A small stream was running and easy to step over and I just strolled on back out sometimes using more logger trails and one on the left bank that I came to pretty soon runs a long way. The stream disappeared at el 6800. That took 6 hours on the only strenuous gain is the 400 to climb over the rim. No brush and Trough has a good pine forest. Loggers were in there decades ago but I don't see how they got the logs out. If I'm backpacking, I would set up base camp along the stream and see if I could get up canyon and find an easy way into Trough and loop back. Posted 2021.
• SOUTH CEDAR RIDGE CANYON has a trail but half of it is just a rocky creekbed. A great one way hike can be done using the ATV trail on the north rim of Willow Creek Canyon then a foot trail drops in. Drive north out of Richfield on highway 118 to Farm Rd. Take that paved road to I-70 then over on a good dirt road that bends left to the mouth of the canyon. Leave a car or ebike there then go back over I-70 then right on Substation Rd and go 1.1 miles to a fork. Go right then left at the next fork and on another .8 to 1605 North. Take that road under I-70 then another .8 mile to a corral at a fork, but that's not the turn. Drive on another 50 feet then go right on easy 4wd for a fifth mile to a fork el 5700 where #622 goes right. Walk it to the peak at N38 51221, W112 06447 el 8000+. A foot trail does go west over the peak like the topo shows but doesn't drop down until 51183, 06921 el 7800. It switches down and gets hard to see. It switches left at 51272, 07007 and is easy to see the rest of the way down. The creek was dry there but started flowing at el 6850 and ran almost to the mouth. Strawberry Canyon was dry and just after that there is a tricky area but the trail is high on the left bank. 6 hours, 2300 gain up the ATV trail. I zigzagged along that trail in a nice forest and it was super easy. Backpackers could go up canyon and set up at the mouth of Strawberry and see if they can get up that fork then come down Newts Canyon. It seems to have a trail. Cars can do the 8 mile shuttle. Posted 2021.
• SOUTH CEDAR RIDGE CANYON SOUTH RIM - loggers worked the rim maybe a century ago and two of their roads can be used to connect a loop but they're bad ATV trails now. Trail #622 goes up the north rim of Willow Creek Canyon to el 8000 and the other goes to peak 7780. Drive north out of Richfield on highway 118 to mp 17.4 and turn on 2330 East. The underpass will come into view so drive under I-70 then another .8 mile to a corral at a fork, but that's not the turn. Drive on another 50 feet then go right on easy 4wd for a fifth mile to a fork el 5700 where #622 goes right. Walk it to the peak at N38 51221, W112 06447 el 8000+.  To walk the rim east, use a topo on a phone to walk it to peak 7789. Loggers worked the whole route. A pail hangs from a branch at 51347, 04548 then initials carved in a dead tree in the second to the last saddle before peak 7780. On the peak is a 10 foot wide fire pit at 51223, 03485. An ATV trail leads down from there to the road shown on the topo but that's just more bad ATV trail now. It goes down to the flats then it's a bit over a mile along the base back to the start. 6 hours with 2400 gain to the peak on the rim but not steep. The rim is gently rolling and easy to walk. No brush anywhere. Posted 2021.
• WILLOW CREEK CANYON has a trail and intermittent stream. I made a loop up the south rim over Table Mountain el 7351 then down into the canyon and back. Drive north out of Richfield on highway 24 to mp 17.4 and turn on 2330E. The underpass will come into view so drive under I-70 then another .7  mile to a gravel pit. A car could make it. I walked the flats to ATV trail #452 at N38 48746, W112 04161 el 5600. It goes up to a tricky fork at el 6600. I stayed right and the trail ends at the NE ridge el 7000. I went up a little and found a faint trail to get me around to a better ridge pointing north then up that to the summit. I dropped off at 49448, 06195 el 7300 and walked to the rim of the canyon then west down a ridge at 49671, 06806 el 6900. I went down to 49660, 06878 then below that I came to a minor cliff. I went left around that then down thru the last cliff band at 49674,07053 el 6300. A tiny stream was flowing and I just walked on out using the old trail on the low banks and sometimes the rocky creekbed. 5 hours, nearly 2000 gain. Nice forest, no brush and no recent cattle. I posted a track on peakbagger.com. Posted September, 2021.
• COTTONWOOD CANYON has one of the better streams. Take Main St out of Richfield and under I-70 to a gravel road. Go left half a mile then the road bends right into the canyon and becomes high clearance. It ends at washouts in half a mile el 5600. Stroll on up a good narrows to a main fork el 6200 where the left fork is dry and the last chance to get on the south rim for a loop back. I stayed along the stream in the right fork to el 6600 barely avoiding wading and almost needing long pants. There are potholes in bedrock along there.  The south rim is nearly vertical so I found a complex route up the north rim and walked back on an ATV trail. But I saw a better route so next time I'll reverse this loop now that I know the canyon is easy. The next canyon north of the underpass has a trail. It goes bank to bank and at N38 48159, W112 05168 it goes up the right bank to skirt a big fall. It comes back and crosses to the left bank to pass another fall. At 48543, 05790 it goes up the right bank to pass a fall then soon meets the ATV trail el 6350 shown on the topo. That trail splits and there is an option to walk half a mile to an overlook. At el 7250 is when to veer left off the trail and cross a drainage at 48186, 09681 el 7250 then on to the rim at 48013, 09673 el 7200 where I would have a better than 90 percent chance of making it straight down a wide drainage. I would take long pants, wading shoes and have an ebike to save a mile and half of walking along the base. I think I could do it in 6 hours with nearly 2000 gain. Just walking up canyon where potholes start at 47875, 08695 el 6400 then retracing back would be the easy option to suit most hikers. Posted 2021.
• MOUNT CATHERINE el 10020 has a trail to el 9600 but the one on the topo is way off. Take crest road FR96 to FR397 and drive on easy for a mile and a half to the end where there are camps under aspen at the TH el 9650. The trail runs along the south side of Pioneer Peak then down to a fork at N38 59134, W112 10840 el 9500. Go right and the trail goes straight to the saddle between the peaks. Don't get tricked by elk trails dropping lower. The trail goes up the east ridge of Catherine and fades at el 9600 left of center. Move to center and follow open ground to the south side of the summit at 59578, 11734 el 9950 then go up to the survey junk on the top. It's easy to detour up the bald SW ridge to Pioneer on the return. 3 or 4 hours to do both peaks with around 2000 gain. I did Catherine in shorts. Posted 2021.
• MINE CAMP PEAK el 10222 has several ways to drive in but the road out of Fillmore is the best. It's so steep that 4wd will be needed. It crosses a cattleguard el 9900 next to the peak. A hiker trail starts on the west side of the cattleguard and crosses a saddle the up the SE ridge. Short hike. WHITE PINE PEAK el 10215 is nearby and the topo shows the road up that. Posted 2021.
• SUNSET PEAK el 10088 has a rubbly jeep road up it. I didn't even make it on my cycle. Posted 2021.
• JOSEPH PEAK el 9325 is on private land in the southern part of the range. A road to the top has a locked gate at el 9000, but it didn't have a sign against walking so that's what I did. A good hard packed road goes up from the  I-70 exit at Joseph for nearly 10 miles to a fork at N38 40419, W112 18610. The gate is in view shortly up the right fork. Another option is to park on the east side and use the cell signal there to navigate brush. Hunting is allowed so the owner might not get bent too far out of shape over hikers.  I followed the main road north down to Elsinore. This is a good cycle ride with about 25 miles of dirt total. Posted 2021.

Valley Mountains, Utah

Firefighters must have made that at Basin Peak.

This is the reason the road to Stevens BM is in such good shape. But those days are gone.

Aborted benchmark on MW Peak

Register on Basin Peak el 8025

 

 

⦁ Hayes Canyon has a good road that accesses the northern peaks. Take highway 28 north from Gunnison for about 4 miles and turn at a sign for Fayette. Go a few feet on a paved road then left and follow the main dirt road. There are some private roads in the range but I didn't have to deal with any except at Stevens BM. It's easy to spot the public roads. They're the ones lined with beer cans. Posted 2021.

⦁ BALD KNOLL el 6682 is at the south end of the range. It seems the only named summits are a few minor knolls. Take the Redmond Lake Rd out of Redmond to a canal on the edge of public land where 3 crude roads go west. Take the far right one on the high ground for 3 miles to Bald Knoll. The road is good high clearance and ebikeable. The wuss route is to walk a shady drainage along the west base to a saddle then up. Nice hike but short. SALINA BM is nearby. Drive on up the road to a divide el 6450 then go left on an ATV trail to the summit. PEAK 7335 has an ATV trail to the summit. Drive back toward town to some metal tanks near point 5969 then go north. At el 6600 it will merge with the jeep road shown on the topo which is how I rode up. At el 6800 it got too rocky so I chickened out but 4 wheelers can make it. Posted 2021.

⦁ MW PEAK el 8319 is what I call the one just south of Stevens BM. It's the best hike in the range. A secret road then ATV trail goes up to the south rim of May Hollow. Take a topo app like peakbagger or similar. Take the Redmond Lake Rd out of Redmond to a canal on the edge of public land where 3 crude roads go west. Take the far right one on the high ground past Bald Knoll then over a divide el 6450. The road is good high clearance and ebikeable to there. Go right just past the divide on easy 4wd to el 6750 where an ATV trail goes on up to the rim el 7100. I walked up the rim and stayed right around the first bump to a saddle then walked level into May Hollow then up to a right fork that took me to the saddle west of peak 7685. Then it's an easy ridge walk to the summit at N39 03249, W111 59965. A no name witness BM there implies that the surveyors aborted this peak in favor of Stevens. MW 20 inscribed on a rock might be a logger a century earlier. I followed the ridge back down using the topo on my phone. 4 hours and nearly 2000 gain but hardly any is steep. This pj forest is as good as it gets. I can do the whole loop in shorts. I could have gone on to Stevens then down the east ridge to an ebike stashed there. Posted 2021.

⦁ STEVENS BENCHMARK el 8436 is the high point of the range. The easiest route is out of Redmond Canyon on a logging road to the west ridge el 8000. Go north from Redmond on highway 256 to 1100 North aka Sheep Lane. Go west to the end of pavement then go north along a fence for 50 feet then go left to power lines. Go north for .9 mile to pole #112 then go left into the canyon and on to a locked gate el 7150. There was no sign or tire tracks so I walked on up the main road to el 8000 on the west ridge. I went up the center of the ridge and over the west summit then to the reg at N39 03615, W111 59855. I went down the east ridge then dropped north at 03596, 59306 and down to 03715, 59251 then straight down to the road and back to the start. 2 hours, 10 minutes, 1400 gain. I wore shorts to the top and could have made it down in them. If the absentee landowner decides to start using the property, then the east ridge would be the best route. Posted 2021.

⦁ STEEP PEAK el 7354 is what I call the one at the head of Steep Canyon. The SW ridge looks to be the easiest. Drive north from the Cedar Pass road on the Japanese Valley road to a faint road at N39 10321, W111 58849. Go east on that to a fence in a fifth mile. I stepped over then went left into a canyon and soon came to a main fork. I went up between the forks and stayed along the right one. When that got too tilted, I moved to the right bank and walked cow trails to a road at 10209, 58231 el 6400. I walked on it to a T then left onto the SW ridge then zigzagged up to 10522, 57310 el 7150 where I turned toward the peak. The high point is at 10754, 57195. 3 hours, 1200 gain, good pj forest. Posted 2021.

⦁ BASIN PEAK el 8025 is what I call the one at the head of Basin Canyon. Elk and fire trails go up the north ridge. I followed the road out of Hayes Canyon then to Chris Hollow and then there's just one road going on to the saddle el 7550 a mile NE of the peak. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable. An elk trail goes level out of the saddle and on to N39 14257, W112 01638 el 7600 then onto the ridge. At the final ridge the trail splinters. A path at 13668, 01748 el 7700 leads to more trails then for the last tenth mile I stayed left of center to the reg at 13512, 01953. It needs a book and pencil.  2 hours with maybe 600 noticeable gain. Some light brush. SEVIER BENCHMARK el 8011 can be done on the drive out. The road makes a hairpin turn just south of it and an OHV trail goes up to the east saddle el 7600. I walked a trail thru scrub and drifted right of center to 16455, 01483 where I turned left on a faint path and on up to 16421, 01534 then at 16410, 01559 I angled back to the right and topped out then on to the summit at 16413, 01622. I only had to deal with light brush. Short hike. Posted 2021.

⦁ FAYE BENCHMARK el 7479 has a good road along the west side out of Hayes Canyon. Any route along there would work but I like the south ridge. It's the unsteepest and has a perfect pj forest and an ancient trail. Follow the road out of Hayes to a faint road at N39 13520, W111 58622. It ends in a fifth mile then just walk to a saddle el 6400 on the south ridge. Go up to el 6900 then skirt left around the only bump on the ridge. I got back on the ridge at 14308, 57843 el 7050 and went up steeper ground to the BM at 14677, 57782. The high point is another 300 feet. Cut trees indicate that the surveyors considered putting the BM there. I thought I was seeing a manmade trail on the ridge but couldn't find any cut wood until 14125, 57885 el 6950 on the descent where an axe was used. The trail descends east at 13788, 58025 el 6600. Maybe it was a horse trail for the whole ridge to Red Canyon. It's hard to see now. Some trees on the ridge have 4 foot trunks. This took 2 and a half hours with 1500 gain. Posted 2021.

⦁ RED CANYON PEAK el 7052 is what I call the twin peak on the north rim of that canyon. A good road runs north out of Hayes Canyon to a cattleguard el 6300 on the SW ridge. I followed the fence up to el 6600 then angled left to the saddle on the main ridge at N39 18353, W111 58147 el 6900. I walked north on the ridge to peak 7052 then south over the southern peak to 18180, 58142 el 7000 where I descended back to the start. 100 minutes, nearly 1000 gain, good pj forest the whole way. The road down Red Canyon goes to a hilly power road along the base. The main road goes on to I-15 but I didn't ride it. A local told me he got his car on thru to I-15 but that was years ago. Posted 2021.

Wasatch Plateau, Utah

A sign on Skyline Drive 7 miles south of highway 31

Black Mtn el 10782

The southern tip of Ferron Mtn. A trail runs on that.

Marys Nipple

The rim of South Horn Mountain is infested with fissures. A cow perished in one.

 

⦁ SKYLINE DRIVE runs 100 miles along the top of the plateau. Highway 31 is the best paved access. The section between highway 31 and highway 6, which departs 31 at mp 8.5, is graded with a lot of shady camps and some with a Verizon signal but not much hiking potential. The section running south from highway 31 at mp 13.5 goes for 75 or 80 miles to either I-70 or Salina and is mostly easy high clearance with just a few easy 4wd spots along the way. Cars can do the first 7 miles. The best plan is to take a week or two of dry weather and run the whole southern section in a 4wd. Utahmountainbiking.com has details about how to ride the route. An ebike with a spare battery might make it. A shorter ride would be to go down Ephraim Canyon. It's paved to el 8294. The first good water I saw on Skyline was passing under the road at the Cedar Creek tunnel near Lowry Top. Posted 2021.

⦁   SKYLINE DUAL SPORT RIDES - I rode my cycle north from 31 for 20 miles to a sign for Scofield. I took that road, which turned out to be easy 4wd, down to the town. It has a store with gas. Another ride I did was south from 31 on Skyline Drive which departs at mp 13.5. The first 7 miles is improved and good for cars then it's in the hands of a timber company that was grading from there. At about 28 miles or so from 31 I turned down a good road to Joe's Reservoir then took the good Miller Flat Rd back to 31 and then back to the start. That was about 70 miles. Posted 2021.

⦁ LOWRY TOP el 11136 has a trail, formerly a wagon road. Take Skyline Drive south from highway 31 for about 15 miles to a crappy road at N39 26722, W111 20377. Take that for half a mile to the end at the TH el 10600. A good spring is there and two trails. The correct one is to the left above the spring. It goes to el 10900 then it's an easy stroll to the reg at 25655, 19232. It's easy to walk the main ridge for a mile and a half to a cairn on the north summit at 26745, 19954 el 11101. Then retrace back to 26409, 19883 el 10950 then down to an elk trail at 26306, 19977 el 10650 that leads to the start. 2 hours, nearly 1000 gain, all easy. I could do this route in shorts. Posted 2021.

⦁ SOUTH TENT MOUNTAIN el 11285 is the high point of the plateau.  An ancient road up North Tent makes for an easy loop to both peaks. The road up Ephraim Canyon is paved to the Lake Hill Campground el 8294. A hiker drove a car on up to Skyline Drive then on to the peaks. Another way in is to come south from highway 31 on for 21 miles. A car could make the first 8 miles then ebike the rest. The old road up North Tent is at N39 24001, W111 22607 el 10750. It shows on the sat image and there is a Verizon signal there. It goes for 200 feet then angles to the right then back to the left and tops out  at el 11200 between the twin summits. I saw no reg or tent. It's easy to walk the main ridge to South Tent at 23529, 21458. Then retrace to the main saddle and drop to an elk trail at 23791, 21979 el 10650 that goes down to Becks Ditch. I filled at a good spring there reading 23763, 22045 el 10500 then walked the ditch back out. 2 hours, 11 minutes with 1200 gain, all easy. Some light brush. SANPETE BM el 11018 is not far south along Skyline. It's a short walk to the reg at 22455, 24260. Posted 2021.

⦁ WAGON ROAD RIDGE is one of the longer ridges branching off Skyline Drive. Turn onto FR2 at N39 17613, W111 26656. It goes 10 miles to a good view at the end of the ridge. 4wd is needed and it's mostly ebikeable. Posted 2021.

⦁ LAKE MOUNTAIN el 10560+ has an OHV trail to the top. Turn off Skyline Drive onto FR2328 at N39 14848, W111 27188. It ends in a third mile at a camp area then the OHV trail follows the ridge up. Easy hike. Posted 2021.

⦁ COVE MOUNTAIN el 10666 has a crappy road. I turned back in a mile. Posted 2021.

⦁ HELIOTROPE MOUNTAIN el 11130 is an easy hike one way from the north down to Skinners Reservoir. Take the good road from Twelvemile Campground and leave a vehicle or ebike on the west side of the reservoir where FR2265 forks left. Then drive north on Skyline Drive from the campground for .8 mile then go right on easy 4wd for a half mile to the end el 10450. It's easier footing to walk the base to a wooded slope then go up and walk easy tundra to the reg at N39 06983, W111 27232. Then walk a game trail on the main ridge to Heliotrope Point. It goes along the left side of peak 11009 then stays low on a wide open shelf along the right side of peak 10840+ then on to a safe looking pipe spring at 05970, 26650 el 10700. It's another third mile to Heliotrope Point then retrace a quarter mile and go down the big drainage toward the reservoir on a game trail. At bottom, go right along the base to a bulldozer track at 05753, 26772 el 9950 then to a game trail at 05738, 26885 el 9900 that leads a few feet to an old road that goes to a huge clearing. Just go down the clearing to the second vehicle. 3 hours, 20 minutes, maybe 600 strenuous gain. There is a tenth mile of light brush near the end. This is the best hike I found on the plateau. It's nearly pristine.  Running the crest to Ferron Mountain then down that trail looks feasible. The real trail drops down a canyon at 06700, 21743 next to point 10331 and meets FR2267. The topo shows a fake trail in the next canyon to the west. It would be an easy 12 mile shuttle on FR43 with an ebike when dry. Posted 2021.

⦁ FERRON MOUNTAIN el 10720+ is  covered with trails. Take FR43 along the south side to FR2267 at N39 05997, W111 21812. Go about 1.2 miles on easy 4wd to the end el 9800 at a canyon. A good trail goes up the left side of the canyon to the crest then cow trails lead to a trail at 06971, 22002 el 10500. It goes along the 10550 level to a hidden fork. The left fork reading 07163, 22530 is the fastest way. Leave that trail and go into a saddle at 07353, 23288 el 10650 and then it's another fifth mile to the high point where I found a rock chair but that's it. One option for the return is to run the crest to the south point using a manmade trail. Go over the top of peak 10567 then on to the trail at 05813, 20543 el 10450. It's easy to follow to the point at a cattleguard on FR314. An ebike there makes for an easy ride back for 3 or 4 miles. It's a 3 hour hike with 1000 gain to go up the peak and back the same way. Returning on the crest is about 5 hours with a shuttle which I didn't have and so it came out to 6 hours. Cattle, fences and terraces are eyesores that plague this hike. FR43 is a good road but for one 4wd spot north of Blue Lake.  Posted 2021.

⦁ MOUNT BALDY el 10918 is an easy one. Take Skyline Drive south from Twelvemile Campground for half a mile then turn on FR2257. That road ends in a third mile at el 10300 then go up an obvious elk trail angling up to the right then head for a better trail at N39 07111, W111 30059 el 10650. It goes up the south ridge then it's a stroll on a pristine plateau to the reg at 07578, 30608. 2 hours, 700 gain. Posted 2021.

⦁ BLOCK MOUNTAIN el 10782 is an easy one. FR2255 departs Skyline Drive on the west side of the peak. It goes half a mile to the SW saddle el 10500. Game trails at N39 04273, W111 29435 el 10550 go up to the summit plateau then it's a stroll to the summit at 04194, 29306. I couldn't even find a cairn. I took a direct route back down. 1 hour, 300 gain. Posted 2021.

⦁ WHITE MOUNTAIN el 10825 is miles long and who knows where the high point is. Leave Skyline Drive on FR161 at N39 03273, W111 30766. It's a decent road for 4 miles then it goes left up a short hill that needs 4wd. It goes on to a sharp right turn where a closed road heads toward BLACK MOUNTAIN el 10782. Walk that then move left across the drainage to a trail that makes it easy to get to the east side of the peak. Start up to the cliffs at 00605, 29450 and walk the base up to a class 2 gully that tops out at 00652, 29477. Then go left to the reg placed a year earlier. 80 minutes and about 300 noticeable gain. The road goes on to a closed right fork on the south rim that runs 2 miles nearly level to the east point of the mountain at 00573, 27057 el 10700. Great views there. Point 10825 at N38 59845, W111 29412 is what peakbagger has as the summit. A short spur road goes within 400 feet of it. Survey junk is there but no other sign of humanity. The 5 and and half miles of road here are ebikeable and that's half the fun. PEAK 11071 can be done on the drive out. Return to Skyline Drive and cross over it to FR1271. That road soon ends then it's a short hike to the summit. A new book and glass jar is needed for the reg. This has gotta be the easiest 11000 footer in the state. Posted 2021.

⦁ MARYS NIPPLE el 10984 has a popular trail up the north ridge. I used FR9 coming in from I-70 at the exit near mp 74. It's a decent road that runs north from I-70 for 13 miles to a T at FR1 which is Skyline Drive. A free campground el 7300 is about 5 miles in with a gushing spring. Cars can make it there then ebike the rest. I went right on FR1 for about 5 miles to a secret road at N39 03520, W111 33235. It's easy 4wd for a third mile to where the trail forks left at el 9800. The summit is at 02184, 34668. Just before there is a 6 foot high class 3 move. A narrow crack next to it might work for some. 3 hours, 1300 gain, the last 400 goes parabolic. BULL VALLEY  MOUNTAIN el 9318 can be done on the drive out. Drive back to FR9 but stay on FR1 another 4 or 5 miles to FR4, aka Water Hollow Rd, at a restroom. It's a decent road for a dozen miles to I-70. Along the way at N38 57062, W111 38979, next to peak 8336, is a smooth ATV trail that goes a mile and a half to a fence on the south ridge el 9000. A trail goes up along the left side of the fence to a log fence el 9150. An ancient road follows that fence to a gate and elk trail at 03153, 33833 el 9050. The trail goes up to a clearing then head for a gap in the scrub at 57905, 37264 el 9300 and the BM is another 200 feet ahead. 1 hour, a bit over 300 gain, some light brush. The ancient road connects to FR4 a mile north of the ATV trail and might be walkable. STEVES MOUNTAIN has an ATV trail too but I didn't have time this trip. Posted 2021.

⦁ ORDER MOUNTAIN el 9574 has a decent ATV trail switching up the west ridge by way of point 7610. Take Canyon Rd from the post office out of Mayfield for 1.7 miles to a sign for Twelvemile WMA then go south on a formerly graded road but now rutted. At N39 02961, W111 41710 el 6550, go left then take the next left to a fork at 03088, 40651 el 7000. Go right and then on to within a fifth mile of the summit. Ebikes could get to el 7000 but then it steepens and gets iffy. Posted 2021.

⦁ BEAVER CREEK ROAD - this 4wd road departs the Twelvemile Creek road near Mayfield. I rode my 125 up it past Woods Lake to Skyline Drive then went north to FR13 where I dropped down to Blue Lake then on to Henningson Reservoir and back up to Skyline Drive then down Twelvemile Creek road back to the start. The Beaver Creek road is the only one needing 4wd. Blue Lake is the best looking lake. FR32 is a jeep road that departs the Twelvemile Creek road at Spring Hill. I rode to Birch BM with no problem but the road up to Black Mountain is terrible. Posted 2021.

⦁ BLACK MOUNTAIN el 10900+ is on the north rim of Twelvemile Creek. An OHV trail runs the length of it but it's hard to get up the rim, so few do.  I could have drove a car out of Twelvemile on FR47 into the east saddle el 10132. That's too short a hike so I made a loop down the Black Hole. I started out on a faint logging road at N39 09165, W111 29975 el 10200. It goes along the base at 09155, 30301 then ends at el 10400. I then zigzagged up 400 feet to the main ridge then to the east point where the OHV trail ends. The high point is around there but I couldn't even find a cairn, likely because this peak isn't on any trendy lists. I walked the trail a bit over a mile then dropped to game trails in the Black Hole at 10080, 31761 el 10550. I stayed far right on the unsteepest trail. They all lead down to a murky lake at el 10200 where sheep graze. I walked the main trail on down to el 10000 then stayed on the right side of the drainage and soon FR1149 el 9400 came into view. I went down that to a T el 8950 where there could be two options. I could stay right on FR1149 a short way to the main road on Twelvemile Creek if I had an ebike stashed there. But I didn't so I went left at the T on FR1150 and on thru the Grove of the Aspen Giants. I've seen groves that good without the graffiti. Soon it opened up and I could see the Twelvemile road and I turned left going cross country for less than a fifth mile to a game trail at 08677, 30404 that goes level to FR47. I walked back on that then at el 9800 I shortcutted a switchback on an old road. That took 4 hours with about 2000 gain but the 400 near the top is the only strenuous part. There are some itchy plants but it's 95 percent shorts. FR47 goes on down Sixmile Canyon to Sterling but it's iffy for cars. Posted 2021.

⦁ BALD MOUNTAIN el 8461 has an OHV trail to the top. Take paved Ephraim Canyon road to FR51. A car can make FR51 to the east side of the peak where the trail is obvious. FR51 goes on to Camp Utibaca then branches off to the left where it becomes 4wd. It can be followed to Manti Mountain el 9275 but I was stopped by a quagmire where FR1092 forks north. I made a  U-turn and rode into the north fork of Manti Canyon and on up to Skyline Drive but hit a lot of bumpy little rocks on FR1115. Ebikes should make it to Manti Mountain. Posted 2021. 

⦁ HELL HOLE RIDGE - I took the Ephraim Canyon road to FR114 el 9000 then followed the topo to the north tip of the ridge. Then I came down the good but steep New Canyon road. This is all ebikeable with good brakes. No cattle is this area. Posted 2021.

⦁ HAYSTACK MOUNTAIN el 10381 - FR350 departs the Ephraim Canyon road at el 9950 and goes past Haystack then past MIDDLE MOUNTAIN and ends at the west tip of SOUTH MOUNTAIN. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable. Posted 2021.

⦁ MILKY FALLS el 8400 is in the south fork of Manti Canyon and shows on the topo. A trail along the main road at N39 14615, W111 31377  leads a tenth mile to the falls. No big deal but it's an excuse to take an ebike ride from Manti. Posted 2021.

⦁ MONUMENT PEAK el 10452 has a road all the way. Take highway 264 to mp 10.7 at the county line. Turn south on a graded FR18 and go about 8 miles to a 4wd road on the left that cuts back a third mile to a repeater on the summit at N39 36872, W111 10579. FR18 goes on 2 miles then an easy 4wd road continues for 2 and a half more miles to the end at peak 10185. I rode back to the highway and down to mp 15.3 where highway 96 goes to the town of Clear Creek. At the edge of town I turned on graded Barn Canyon Rd and that took me to Nuck Woodward Canyon. I followed a good high clearance road down that to highway 31. Posted 2021.

⦁ CANDLAND MOUNTAIN el 10367 has a good trail from the north. Take highway 31 to the TH el 8950 at mp 21.2 then walk it to a saddle a quarter mile before the peak. Get off that trail and follow a game trail up the ridge to the reg at N39 33841, W111 12542. 3 hours, 1400 gain, good views. Posted 2021.

⦁ EAST BENCHMARK, SEELEY MOUNTAIN - these peaks have trails within 400 feet of the summits. The Horse Canyon Trail runs between them and connects highway 31 to the graded Miller Flat Rd. I used the latter TH because it's 1200 feet higher. It's near where the topo shows at N39 29300, W111 14440 el 8800. It goes to the main saddle el 9600 between the peaks. A secret trail then runs north and splits. I stayed right because it's the most used. At 30138, 13052 el 9950 I left the trail and went up an open slope and angled left then right and on to the summit at 30331, 12889 el 10360. I retraced to the main saddle and followed the trail south to a fork at 29198, 13127 el 10000 then stayed right. The trail fades at el 10400 but not needed to the BM at 28526, 13019 el 10743. That took 4 hours, 41 minutes with 2800 gain. The only water was a stream crossing the trail at el 9200. I could do this in shorts. The trail is open to mtn bikes but only the first mile is easy. I saw a couple at el 10000 riding south but that's out of my league. Posted 2021.

⦁ SOUTH HORN MOUNTAIN el 8665 is south of Joes Valley Res. Drive south on a paved road along the west side of the reservoir. It turns graded then keep going on it for 11 miles or so to FR21 reading N39 11265, W111 14319. There is just one main road going south to the rim in a bit over 5 miles to a stand of pines that make for outstanding camping. It's easy 4wd and ebikeable but for a half mile or so of sand. The road goes along the rim for half a mile then fades and it's an easy stroll for half a mile to the south point. A 1921 marker is there at 07064, 12334. The high point is the other direction. It's an easy rim walk to it at 08071, 11399. I couldn't find anything. The best part is to keep walking east a half mile toward peak 8575 to a flat with the best views. A cow went out there but never returned. I saw a skeleton in a fissure at 08092, 11027. NORTH NORN MOUNTAIN el 9665 has a logging road up the west rim of The Cap that makes for an easy loop. Stay on the main road for 1.3 miles past FR21 to FR20. Go left on smooth 4wd that ebikes should make. The road tops out at a T el 9050 in nearly 2 miles. I parked there but should have turned west for another fifth mile. I walked from the T for .6 mile to FR2133 then went up that and got on the logging road at 12918, 13758 el 9250. It goes under Cap BM then north to get on top. I then came back to the west rim and walked to the BM at 13016, 14359 el 9630. I then had the easiest rim walk under the sun for a mile to the reg at 13092,13181. I dropped off to the east and back to the start. 2 hours with 600 noticeable gain. A detour to the north point el 9550 of The Cap would be a mile and a quarter each way. The main road goes on east 5 miles to towers on the rim with great views. Posted 2021.

San Pitch Mountains, Utah

Crest road and Big Baldy

Big Baldy summit

Maple Canyon

M

 ⦁ The best way to see this range is to run the crest road with a 4wd or dual sport  cycle. The road is easy 4wd when dry except for a rubbly section north of Wales but that can be bypassed. Use an app like peakbagger to view topo maps. There is a Verizon signal and so sat images are available too. Part of the southern section goes thru private land but passage is allowed. It's all cattleguards but for one gate on the whole crest road. Get cracking before the land owners change their minds. Wales has no gas but Levan and Fountain Green do. Posted 2021.

⦁ CREST ROAD -  I got on it just north of Gunnison at mp 1.2 on highway 28. At 3.3 miles in there is a crude road going left to the NE saddle el 5900 of THE CATERPILLAR. It's a short but steep walk to the summit at N39 13085, W111 48622. A higher summit NE of the saddle might also be a part of The Caterpillar. Another 1.3 miles up the crest road is a main fork that leads to Mellor Benchmark el 6672. Go right and stay on the main road for 1.7 miles then an easy 4wd road goes up the south ridge for nearly 2 miles to survey junk at 14160, 45936. The crest road took me thru private land to a fork at 22641, 45514 el 8300. Left is the crest road and it goes about 11 miles to the main road connecting Wales to Levan. It's easy 4wd. Going right at the fork takes you into the southern Maple Canyon and down to the west side road. Near the mouth there are power lines going up a side canyon. A good road goes up that canyon  for about 7 miles to towers on Barton Peak el 8457. A gate at 20194, 46257 el 8100 might be locked but there were no signs against walking the last mile. Some of this goes thru private land but that wasn't gated. That road also goes thru the Maple Canyon WMA where an easy 4wd road goes NE for a bit over a mile to peak 7008. There is a camp spot there with a hell of a view. The crest road goes on north less than a mile to the south ridge of BIG BALDY el 8775. It's an easy walk up the ridge. The next peak of interest is BIG MOUNTAIN el 7900+. Mostly smooth FR1024 departs the crest road at 28518, 41948 and goes nearly 5 miles to it with shady camps at the end.That's a good looking grassland out there with no cattle. A white point below the end of the road has a view into an abyss. Another road departs the crest road at the same spot as FR1024 and it goes 2 miles to peak 7775. Both roads are good for ebikes. Next, the crest road comes to FR101 that connects Wales to Levan. The crest road continues north as FR69 but 8 miles north of FR101 is a rubbly stretch that's tricky for two wheelers. It's better to bypass by dropping to Wales and coming back up in Maple Canyon on FR66. That's better scenery anyway. There is a safe looking pipe spring along FR101 at 29031, 40813 el 6850. The crest road goes past MORONI BENCHMARK then peak 9548 also has a road. The crest road goes on to the east ridge of the SALT BENCHMARK el 9997. It's a short walk to the reg at 39886, 44590. Then retrace nearly 5 miles and go down Log Hollow. The best water I saw is Cool Spring there at 37071, 42501 el 9050. The road goes on down to highway 28 at mp 44.8. Posted 2021.

⦁ MAPLE CANYON is a mecca for climbers and it's hard to find a camp spot. The trails are shown on the topo and there is a map at the TH. I hiked up the middle fork then came down the left fork but that fork is overgrowing at the upper end. I made it in shorts OK but take a machete and chainsaw to be on the safe side. It took 3 hours. There is a parking fee but it ain't used for trail maintenance. BOX CANYON is another attraction here but I skipped it. Posted 2021.

⦁ HORSE HEAVEN MOUNTAIN el 8475 has a fire break and game trails up the NW ridge. Take 100 South out of Levan to a dam a half mile downstream from the Chicken Creek Campground. Walk across the creek below the dam and then up an ATV trail for half a mile into Maple Hollow. Start up the ridge at N39 31832, W111 46829 el 6300 and keep going up the ridge to 30757, 47753 el 8200 where you stay low left of center to avoid a thicket. Return to the ridge at 30670, 47620 el 8400 then on to the cairn at 30671, 47500. Nearly 5 hours, 2500 gain, rarely steep. Some light brush for now. But like rust, brush never sleeps so get cracking while you can. The campground is free but covered with cow shit. PIGEON CREEK is the next canyon to the north but it's sunny and boring and even more cow shit. Posted 2021.

⦁ PEAK 8360 is SW of Horse Heaven Mtn with towers on it. Take highway 28 south from Levan to mp 26.3 and follow a smooth road for nearly 6 miles to the summit. Cars make it half way then it's too steep. DEEP CREEK is on the north side of the peak. A good road starts at mp 26.5 and goes 4 miles then it's an ATV trail on to the crest. Some good camps are along the road and no cattle. Posted 2021.

⦁ CEDAR HILLS HIGH POINT el 8040 has an easy 4wd road to the east saddle el 7260. Drive out of Fountain Green on the graded Big Hollow Rd to the 4wd road at N39 39529, W111 33281 el 6500. It goes 2 and a half miles to the saddle and is ebikeable. Then hike up the east ridge staying left around some scrub. It tops out then go left 300 feet to survey junk at 37874, 32600. 90 minutes, 800 gain, some light brush near the summit. Posted 2021.