Hiking with Joel and Joeh: Emigration Ridge Line Trail

Click Image for panoramic view

Although the original intent was to climb to the top of Perkins Peak starting from the West and following a small and poorly marked ridge-line trail, our plan was spoiled by the abundance of "no trespassing" signs and "intruders will be prosecuted" signs found at what we thought to be a perfectly good trail head. We instead drove to the summit of Emigration canyon and started the trek from there. The trail starts from the south side of the road and when you get above the dirt parking lot you are able to see two of the higher points along the ridge-line trail. This hike was much different than any of the previous hikes in that the beginning seemed to have as much down hill as it did up hill as the trail made its way along the ridge. after the first few peaks and valleys the trail turns from an old double track jeep trail to a progressively steeper single track game trail. after you reach the top of the first large summit "the beast" (informally named by me) the second is a much more manageable climb to the top.

up "the beast" the first of two large summits

The trail has a continuous view of both Parleys canyon and Emigration canyon and there is a constant hum of the distant traffic from I-80. When you reach the higher of the two peaks there are 360 views to Salt Lake City, Mt. Wire, Mt Olympus, Grandeur Peak, and panoramic views to the surrounding snow topped mountains.