Grandeur Peak (from the west)

I have hiked Grandeur Peak many many times over the years but always from church fork. This time we attempted to access it from the west side. There are 3 main trails approaching from the  west. All three options start from the Bonneville Shoreline trail.   The option we choose starts up the ridge further to the north and closest to I-80.  

View of I-80 from along the trail.

Once the trail reaches the top of the ridge it makes a very steep climb to the south where it joins the middle trail. From the trail merge the peak is in view and the climb is very steep. Overall the trail is much more difficult than the Church Fork route. Due to the fact that I need to take too many rest stops we didn't make it all the way to the summit this time. We will have to return later to finish the job.

Beautiful wildflowers along the trail.

Joel pretending he is fat.

After making the decision to turn around we decided to come down the middle trail. This option appeared to be a little more steep and also a little shorter. I can tell you honestly me knees and thighs were quite sore after this decent.

View towards downtown Salt Lake from where we turned around

Getting There:
 From the stop light at 3300 South and Wasatch Boulevard head east to stay on Wasatch Boulevard.   Wasatch Boulevard immediately turns north and parallels I-215.  Follow Wasatch Boulevard to its end where there is plenty of parking.  From the end of Wasatch Boulevard walk up the dirt road and take the first right fork.   The dirt road heads towards the mountain.  To the left (north) is the first ridge from Parleys Canyon.  In the gully formed by the first and second ridge south of Parleys Canyon, there is a well-maintained trail leading up the bottom of the gully.   This is the best route for climbing the West Ridge.  The trail follows the gully and than cuts left to the ridge top and a view of Parleys Canyon.  From the Parleys Canyon viewpoint the route is a well-used hiker made trail which follows the steep ridge to the summit.


View Grandeur-west in a larger map

Jack's Mountain Mailboxes

 In 1995 Jack Edwards died of leukemia. His parents went to a peak above Salt Lake and scattered his ashes. There are two mailboxes that mark the site, with a notebook that begins with a letter from Jack’s mother: "Please take a moment to say hello to Jackie Jack and write a little (or long) note." The mailboxes now contain several journals (we counted 14) filled with personal and poignant entries by visitors from the past.

A view to the south as we head up the rigeline

The trail starts at the Bonneville Shoreline trailhead on Lakeline Drive, southeast of the “H”Rock. Take the Shoreline Trail west about 0.3mile, just past a brown post, to a footpath that goes north into an oak grove and makes a short, steep climb to the top of the H Rock. There are several trails to the ridge above; the easiest continues northeast 500 feet to a hard right turn. Go another 500 feet to the ridge trail. Go left along the ridge to the communication tower. There, the trail goes downhill briefly and then up, up, up northeast. Jack’s Mountain peaks 1.6miles from the trailhead. The mailboxes are just north of the summit. 

A view back down the trail                                              Skittles

Writing in the journals.

Please, do not disturb the memorial except to read and write in the notebooks.

This hike offers wonderful views of the city

For directions to the trailhead click here.

View Larger Map

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









View Mt Wire Hike

Mount Van Cott loop hike

       We did this hike on April 28th it was a fairly cool day but warm enough for this nice spring hike. The trail-head is located on the North side of Red Butte Gardens near the University of Utah.  Parking can be found on the south side of Red Butte Canyon Rd. right before the gate.
      The trail-head is across from the parking area on the north side of the road. the first part of the trail can be a little confusing because there are many trails along the foothills. If you stay to the right at each fork you will continue up the canyon parallel to Red Butte Canyon Rd. (behind the gate) After about 1/2 mile the trail veers to the left and starts a steeper climb up the mountain. The climb is still fairly easy. There are 2 gradual switch backs on you way up the trail, after the second you approach a false summit. After the false summit the climb to the top of Van Cott is a little more difficult but manageable (even for a beginner or out of shape hiker). Once reaching the top the views are wonderful. To the West and South is downtown and the whole Salt Lake Valley, to the North is Grandview Peak and to the Southeast is Mt. Wire and Mount Olympus.

       At the top there a many intersecting trails don't forget to head to the right (NE) where there is a pile of rocks marking the highest point of the peak. Instead of heading back the way we came we opted to head down the west side of the mountain, This gave us some different views and some better looks at Downtown Salt Lake and the University of Utah. The trail down was a little shorter and offered a little more shade which I'm sure would be nice on a hot summer day. After reaching the bottom of the mountain head Southeast along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail for a little less than a mile back to the trail-head and parking area. The total 4.7 mile hike took us 2hrs 15min. at an average speed of 3.4 MPH. The hike can be done much quicker, but I figure it's better to take your time and enjoy the hike.

For more information and a trail map click on the link below.

View Mount van Cott 4-28-11 in a larger map
Mount Van Cott loop hike

Created on Apr 28 - Updated Apr 28 By http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=214274234490526228173.0004a1fe5bf1686c80e03 Total Distance: 7.61 km (4.7 mi) Total Time: 2:15:38 Moving Time: 1:32:50 Average Speed: 3.37 km/h (2.1 mi/h) Average Moving Speed: 4.92 km/h (3.1 mi/h) Max Speed: 9.00 km/h (5.6 mi/h) Min Elevation: 1524 m (5000 ft) Max Elevation: 1928 m (6325 ft) Elevation Gain: 531 m (1741 ft) Max Grade: 0 % Min Grade: 0 % Recorded: Thu Apr 28 06:54:03 MDT 2011 Activity type: -