Bull Mountain | Box Elder County Highpoint

Roadside Attraction Bull Mountain - Box Elder County Highpoint Roadside Attraction Bull Mountain

Box Elder County Highpoint

Overview

RATING: Easy
MAPS: Rosevere Point, UT; Standrod, UT

Sat

Sunny. High near 35, with temperatures falling to around 27 in the afternoon. West wind 6 to 10 mph.

35 | 20

Sun

A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 23. West northwest wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

23 | 18

Mon

A slight chance of snow showers before 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 16. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

16 | 11

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 18.

18 | 7

Wed

Partly sunny, with a high near 20.

20 | 9

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Summer, Fall (mid-July can be prime wild flower time)
WATER: None.
NOTES: Reaching the peak requires at least a high clearance vehicle. 4x4 recommended. There are several steep sections, and a few rocky sections that can be passed with a carefully driven high clearance, but are easy with a 4x4. There is good camping along the way.

Sat

Sunny. High near 35, with temperatures falling to around 27 in the afternoon. West wind 6 to 10 mph.

35 | 20

Sun

A chance of snow showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 23. West northwest wind around 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

23 | 18

Mon

A slight chance of snow showers before 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 16. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

16 | 11

Tue

Sunny, with a high near 18.

18 | 7

Wed

Partly sunny, with a high near 20.

20 | 9

View Full Weather Details
Lucy enjoying a mud hole along the way.

Lucy enjoying a mud hole along the way.

One of the great things about doing county highpoints, is seeing corners of the state you wouldn't normally visit. Bull Mountain, the Box Elder county highpoint, is an uninspiring small high spot on a ridge in the Raft River Mountains. Not a destination for most, other than the few ATV-ers, hunters, and campers that venture into the mountains, but a destination for the intrepid county highpoint hunter.

The peak can be visited via a somewhat strenuous hike from Clear Creek Campground, but most have reported it a bit of a bushwhack and not high on their list to repeat. It can also be visited as a roadside attraction via a bumpy jeep road that comes in from the north. This is the method I would recommend, as it replaces a potential bushwhack with a pleasant drive.

As an aside, to make the peak a little more sporting, Diane and I choose to bike the last 6 or 7 miles. It seemed like a good idea. Save a few bumpy miles on the car, get some exercise, wear out the dog, what could be better?!?!? Well, the road is steep, rocky, and not a fun mountain bike for the novice to intermediate mountain biker. Pushing bikes up the final incline to the ridge was especially not fun. Diane and the dog were both great sports in supporting my crazy idea, and we finished the peak strong. Odd how sometimes the easiest seeming of trips can become one of the most memorable.... Good times?!?!

The lofty summit of Bull Mountain

The lofty summit of Bull Mountain

Views along the ridge

Views along the ridge

Getting There

Getting to Bull Mountain starts from the small town of Snowville, in north east Utah. Take exit 5 off the highway, and head west on UT-30.

  • At mile 15.8, UT-30 goes left, stay straight, which becomes UT-42.
  • At 23.2 miles from Snowville, cross the board to Idaho.
  • At 24.6, go left onto 3600 S signed for Naf. This is also the road that goes to City of Rocks. This is a gravel road, but suitable for all vehicles.
  • At 34.6 miles, the road splits. Go left, onto 2000 E.
  • At 36.6 miles, go left toward One Tree GS (Guard Station.
  • Follow the road is it passed the Guard Station and Dripping Vat Spring to a 4-way junction in a saddle at 42.6
  • Go left, and follow the road as it begins climbing steeply. Though the road has been passable to all to here, the section from here to the ridge-line is the worst section, and has a few rocky and steep sections.
  • Stay on the main track as it climbs, levels out for a minute, then climbs steeply again for a long stretch. Once on the ridge line, it descends to the Meadows at mile 47.4 There are several good campsites here.
  • Stay on the main road as it heads south and begins climbing steeply. Though steep, this section of road is not rocky and relatively easy. At the top, take the left fork onto the ridge. (48.6 to the ridge.)
  • Once on the ridge, head east. The road quickly enters private property. There is an easement, but stay on the main road. Dunn BM and a small building are on the hill to the right, but stay on the road as it contours around Dunn, drops down, then makes a final climb up to a cattle guard and fence. (51.1 miles). The bench mark is the cairn pile and stick on the left a few hundred feet from the road.
The steep down.

The steep down.

Route

Summit: 3025 m ( 9925 ft. )

Your there! No description needed, just wander over to the cairn and (likely) wooden post sticking out. Being a drive up, this summit had a rather hefty register that made for interesting perusing. Return the same way. Dunn BM, the hill in the distance with the small building, seems taller, but is in fact not.


Maps

Printable Maps:

4-Way Junction

12T 294588mE 4645619mN

N41° 56' 09" W113° 28' 40"

Meadows

12T 299618mE 4643495mN

N41° 55' 05" W113° 24' 59"

Ridgeline

12T 300277mE 4642198mN

N41° 54' 23" W113° 24' 29"

Highpoint

12T 303773mE 4642638mN

N41° 54' 41" W113° 21' 58"

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