Mt. Wire (Big Beacon)

Photo courtesy of Jared Winston

Mt Wire has many access points the trail we decided to hike I would suggest is the easiest to the top. The trail-head is located just off the Bonneville Shoreline trail (BST). Parking can be found along Colorow Rd. behind Fort Douglas near the University of Utah. (check the map for directions)

 The Trail has a few different sources that all stem from the BST. We accessed the BST just to the north of The Huntsman Corp. headquarters along a small creek bed for spring runoff there normally is not much water along the trail, be sure to bring plenty of your own. The trail heads to the East directly behind the Huntsman building. the first part of the trail has a gradual climb in elevation after about a 1/2 mile the trail makes a turn to the north and becomes more steep. The majority of the climb is along a canyon on the north west side of the mountain the trail is engulfed by scrub oak which can keep the trail nice and cool especially on a early spring morning. The top of the canyon is about 3 miles into the hike the trail then turns to the Southwest and climbs up the first of three ridges the third and final ridge is the top of Mt. Wire. At the top there are wonderful views of downtown Salt Lake to the West and South, Mount Van Cott to the Northwest, Emigration Ridge to the East, and Grandeur Peak to the Southeast.

For the hike down we choose to descend the Southwest side of the mountain. This route is much more steep and more strenuous. Beginning hikers should take caution, don't be in a hurry one false or rushed step could cause injury.  The trail down branches in many directions but by staying to the right at each fork you it will lead back to the BST not far from where the trail began.
Some of the Hiking Statistics:

Total Distance: 11.63 km (7.2 mi)
Total Time: 3:14:34
Moving Time: 1:42:53
Average Speed: 3.59 km/h (2.2 mi/h)
Average Moving Speed: 6.79 km/h (4.2 mi/h)
Max Speed: 10.80 km/h (6.7 mi/h)
Min Elevation: 1510 m (4955 ft)
Max Elevation: 2171 m (7123 ft)
Elevation Gain: 832 m (2730 ft)
Hike to Mt Wire (Big Beacon) 5-May-2011









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