Great website. Nice work. I look forward to visitiing often. Steve Hegji, author of Wasatch Wildflowers referred me to it.
[WasatchHiker Note] Greg is the author of a great Wasatch hiking book – 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Salt Lake City. It contains lots of background for these hikes with natural history, geology and the like.
Eric! The site looks great man. We are looking for a good one with a waterfall for the kids. We will be checking back often for the updates. Thanks and looks good.
Thanks! This time of year there are quite a few waterfalls. If you have younger kids, the hike to the falls in Battlecreek Canyon isn’t too bad. You should also be able to get to the 1st and 2nd falls on the Aspen Grove trail.
You could also type ‘waterfall’ into the search box on the botton right, and it would list all references on the site.
Eric, very good website! The pictures are excellent! I can’t wait to go on more of the trails this year. I like the trail ranking criteria. Maybe someday I’ll get my whole family to go with me.
Eric, it was nice meeting you just below the summit of Box Elder Peak yesterday. Hope you guys had a nice summit despite the wind, a safe descent, and a good hike. The site looks great. I’m going to utilize it for future hikes.
Hi Jake, it was good meeting you too. I couldn’t believe how windy it was up there. The last time I was on Box Elder, there was a 7 ft cairn at the top. As you know there is only a 1 ft remnant there now – I’m sure the first one was dismantled by the snow and harsh weather conditions.
Thank you for sharing your passion. I had the pleasure to meet you on my way to Lake Hardy, below Lone Peak. Thanks for your great web site and stories. Hopefully, we’ll meet on the mountain again. I’d like to hear some of those fire fighting stories.
Hi Dan, it was good to meet you and other Alpine neighbors too. I really enjoyed our time on the trail. I felt bad splitting off from the group, but the Sirens of Bighorn Peak were calling me and I couldn’t resist. I’ll be joining the traditional Lake Hardy hike again next year. Maybe I’ll make it all the way this time.
I am trying to find the current status of trails around here. Like how much snow they have or what not. I am not finding a place where people can post that type of data easily and quickly in a central place. Thoughts?
If you have access to Facebook, I’ve been posting trail conditions of the trails I’ve been on at the WasatchHiker.com FB page – go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/WasatchHikercom/138811969476059 or search for WasatchHiker.com from Facebook. Also, there’s a link on each area, trailhead, trail and destination page for people to submit notes on what they see. If everyone posts what they see on either the facebook page or the website page, we will all stay informed.
For the most part, trails are clear of snow until you get to the higher peaks and basins. North facing slopes have snow a bit lower. The problem I’ve seen the last few weeks is swollen creek crossings and water going down the trails.
I don’t see the Twin Peaks hike nor the one (don’t know the name) above Ensign Peak going North-East and ending up in NSL just above Eaglewood. Do you know about them?
There are 3 Twin Peaks in the Wasatch (that I know of) – American Fork Twin Peaks, which is above Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon and Broads Fork Twin Peaks, which is between Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons and can be seen from the Salt Lake Valley. If you type Twin Peaks into the search box in the upper right corner of WasatchHiker.com, it will give you information on those two Twin Peaks.
As for the trail above Ensign Peak and the Avenues Twin Peaks, I haven’t been able to get all Wasatch trails into the database yet – creating new maps, getting pictures and writing descriptions is a very time consuming process (and it’s not even my full time job). This past winter, I focused on getting every trail between Parleys and Provo Canyons. Even there I’ve missed a few. Sorry about not being able to get to your neck of the woods yet. If everything goes well, I hope to get the rest of the Wasatch trails entered in time for next year’s hiking season.
Awesome site, Eric! Thanks for compiling this info. Do you carry water purification? A friend carries a small bottle of bleach with an eyedropper on it. When he runs out of water he fills up at the nearest creek and drips some bleach in. He swears by it, but it seems risky to me. What do you think?
Thanks Joe, I appreciate the feedback. I usually carry enough water for a day hike, but if I think I might run out, I’ll carry a water filter bottle. Having said that, bleach is a valid way to purify water. This URL (http://www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/purify.htm) says to put 3 drops of bleach in a quart of water and let it sit for 30 minutes. While we’re on the subject, let me add a few more notes. Mountain water contamination usually comes from feces of animals living upstream. If you find a spring coming out of a hill, the water has already been filtered by mother earth and is Ok to drink. If you’re in a place where you know animals might be upstream, then it could be contaminated. However, if you have to choose between dehydration and getting sick from Giardia, drink the water. Your body needs the water to function properly, and the effects of water contamination usually don’t hit for a few days.
Hey there, great site! I have a couple questions. I am taking a group of high schoolers who are experienced hikers on a three day hike in the Wasatch. I was thinking about starting in little cottonwood and taking the ridge trail all the way down to Aspen Grove, just above sundance. I was wondering if you had any suggestions about routes we could take. We can start anywhere on Tuesday morning the only stipulation being that we meet the other groups in Aspen Grove on Thursday afternoon/evening. Any ideas, is this too much distance to try and cover in that allotted time frame?
Hi Josh, I sent you a more detailed email, but in summary, this hike can easily be done in 3 days. Start at either the Brighton (Big Cottonwood) or Catherine Pass (Little Cottonwood) trailhead. Follow the Great Western Trail (GWT) to the Alpine Loop Summit, then follow the ridgeline trail into Primrose Cirque to meet up with the Aspen Grove trail. Or you can continue on the GWT to meet up with the Timpanooke trail, which you can follow to Emerald Lake and then down to Aspen Grove. The whole hike is 20 to 25 miles.
I am looking for a diagram showing the names of the mountain peaks on the Wasatch Front and the Oquirrh mountains. I would like something that shows the mountains from the side (not looking down on top of them from an aerial-type view). Do you know where I can find that?
Thanks!
Has anyone actually found a trail to church fork peak (millcreek canyon) heading east from the grandeur peak trail? It is supposed to be after the 7th switchback. I could only find a short spur heading east much further along the grandeur trail. I headed east and upward toward the peak. Never found a trail and did not make it to the peak. Next time I will approach from Burch hollow.
The maps show there is a trail below the rocks at the last switchback before heading west to the pass. I talked to a guy on the trail who said it was much lower. I posted a picture of the place he mentioned on the site facebook page (link below). Peaks that aren’t visited very often, like Church Fork Peak, don’t have established trails. You just have to get close, then bushwack the remainder of the way. I’ve found it’s easier to do that along ridgelines. http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=325996617424259&set=a.221376777886244.63540.138811969476059&type=1&ref=nf
Eric,
Great website. Nice work. I look forward to visitiing often. Steve Hegji, author of Wasatch Wildflowers referred me to it.
[WasatchHiker Note] Greg is the author of a great Wasatch hiking book – 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Salt Lake City. It contains lots of background for these hikes with natural history, geology and the like.
Eric! The site looks great man. We are looking for a good one with a waterfall for the kids. We will be checking back often for the updates. Thanks and looks good.
Thanks! This time of year there are quite a few waterfalls. If you have younger kids, the hike to the falls in Battlecreek Canyon isn’t too bad. You should also be able to get to the 1st and 2nd falls on the Aspen Grove trail.
You could also type ‘waterfall’ into the search box on the botton right, and it would list all references on the site.
Eric, very good website! The pictures are excellent! I can’t wait to go on more of the trails this year. I like the trail ranking criteria. Maybe someday I’ll get my whole family to go with me.
Eric, it was nice meeting you just below the summit of Box Elder Peak yesterday. Hope you guys had a nice summit despite the wind, a safe descent, and a good hike. The site looks great. I’m going to utilize it for future hikes.
Hi Jake, it was good meeting you too. I couldn’t believe how windy it was up there. The last time I was on Box Elder, there was a 7 ft cairn at the top. As you know there is only a 1 ft remnant there now – I’m sure the first one was dismantled by the snow and harsh weather conditions.
nice info, good photos, and I like the map. I especially like the bit about the “Sleigh Runner” on Box Elder. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for sharing your passion. I had the pleasure to meet you on my way to Lake Hardy, below Lone Peak. Thanks for your great web site and stories. Hopefully, we’ll meet on the mountain again. I’d like to hear some of those fire fighting stories.
Hi Dan, it was good to meet you and other Alpine neighbors too. I really enjoyed our time on the trail. I felt bad splitting off from the group, but the Sirens of Bighorn Peak were calling me and I couldn’t resist. I’ll be joining the traditional Lake Hardy hike again next year. Maybe I’ll make it all the way this time.
I am trying to find the current status of trails around here. Like how much snow they have or what not. I am not finding a place where people can post that type of data easily and quickly in a central place. Thoughts?
If you have access to Facebook, I’ve been posting trail conditions of the trails I’ve been on at the WasatchHiker.com FB page – go to http://www.facebook.com/pages/WasatchHikercom/138811969476059 or search for WasatchHiker.com from Facebook. Also, there’s a link on each area, trailhead, trail and destination page for people to submit notes on what they see. If everyone posts what they see on either the facebook page or the website page, we will all stay informed.
For the most part, trails are clear of snow until you get to the higher peaks and basins. North facing slopes have snow a bit lower. The problem I’ve seen the last few weeks is swollen creek crossings and water going down the trails.
I don’t see the Twin Peaks hike nor the one (don’t know the name) above Ensign Peak going North-East and ending up in NSL just above Eaglewood. Do you know about them?
There are 3 Twin Peaks in the Wasatch (that I know of) – American Fork Twin Peaks, which is above Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon and Broads Fork Twin Peaks, which is between Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons and can be seen from the Salt Lake Valley. If you type Twin Peaks into the search box in the upper right corner of WasatchHiker.com, it will give you information on those two Twin Peaks.
As for the trail above Ensign Peak and the Avenues Twin Peaks, I haven’t been able to get all Wasatch trails into the database yet – creating new maps, getting pictures and writing descriptions is a very time consuming process (and it’s not even my full time job). This past winter, I focused on getting every trail between Parleys and Provo Canyons. Even there I’ve missed a few. Sorry about not being able to get to your neck of the woods yet. If everything goes well, I hope to get the rest of the Wasatch trails entered in time for next year’s hiking season.
Awesome site, Eric! Thanks for compiling this info. Do you carry water purification? A friend carries a small bottle of bleach with an eyedropper on it. When he runs out of water he fills up at the nearest creek and drips some bleach in. He swears by it, but it seems risky to me. What do you think?
Thanks Joe, I appreciate the feedback. I usually carry enough water for a day hike, but if I think I might run out, I’ll carry a water filter bottle. Having said that, bleach is a valid way to purify water. This URL (http://www.doh.wa.gov/phepr/handbook/purify.htm) says to put 3 drops of bleach in a quart of water and let it sit for 30 minutes. While we’re on the subject, let me add a few more notes. Mountain water contamination usually comes from feces of animals living upstream. If you find a spring coming out of a hill, the water has already been filtered by mother earth and is Ok to drink. If you’re in a place where you know animals might be upstream, then it could be contaminated. However, if you have to choose between dehydration and getting sick from Giardia, drink the water. Your body needs the water to function properly, and the effects of water contamination usually don’t hit for a few days.
Hey there, great site! I have a couple questions. I am taking a group of high schoolers who are experienced hikers on a three day hike in the Wasatch. I was thinking about starting in little cottonwood and taking the ridge trail all the way down to Aspen Grove, just above sundance. I was wondering if you had any suggestions about routes we could take. We can start anywhere on Tuesday morning the only stipulation being that we meet the other groups in Aspen Grove on Thursday afternoon/evening. Any ideas, is this too much distance to try and cover in that allotted time frame?
Hi Josh, I sent you a more detailed email, but in summary, this hike can easily be done in 3 days. Start at either the Brighton (Big Cottonwood) or Catherine Pass (Little Cottonwood) trailhead. Follow the Great Western Trail (GWT) to the Alpine Loop Summit, then follow the ridgeline trail into Primrose Cirque to meet up with the Aspen Grove trail. Or you can continue on the GWT to meet up with the Timpanooke trail, which you can follow to Emerald Lake and then down to Aspen Grove. The whole hike is 20 to 25 miles.
I am looking for a diagram showing the names of the mountain peaks on the Wasatch Front and the Oquirrh mountains. I would like something that shows the mountains from the side (not looking down on top of them from an aerial-type view). Do you know where I can find that?
Thanks!
Hi Paula, If I undersand you correctly, I have 3 suggestions. All can be purchased at REI. The first map shows the Wasatch Mountains from an angle: http://www.amazon.com/Wasatch-Front-Panoramic-Hiking-Map/dp/1887489061
The second is an ariel photo that shows peak names – “Wasatch Touring Maps1 and 2″: http://www.wasatchtouring.com/store/maps.html. The third is a new book showing the 3 Salt Lake canyons in 3-D (glasses included): http://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Salt-Lake-Valleys-Tri-Canyon/dp/B003230M3W. I don’t have any recommendations for the Oquirrh mountains – I don’t get over that way much.
Has anyone actually found a trail to church fork peak (millcreek canyon) heading east from the grandeur peak trail? It is supposed to be after the 7th switchback. I could only find a short spur heading east much further along the grandeur trail. I headed east and upward toward the peak. Never found a trail and did not make it to the peak. Next time I will approach from Burch hollow.
The maps show there is a trail below the rocks at the last switchback before heading west to the pass. I talked to a guy on the trail who said it was much lower. I posted a picture of the place he mentioned on the site facebook page (link below). Peaks that aren’t visited very often, like Church Fork Peak, don’t have established trails. You just have to get close, then bushwack the remainder of the way. I’ve found it’s easier to do that along ridgelines.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=325996617424259&set=a.221376777886244.63540.138811969476059&type=1&ref=nf