Hiking Wasatch County Highpoint
Uinta Mountains
Overview
Mon 20 | 9 |
Tue 17 | 12 |
Wed 15 | 4 |
Thu 22 | 2 |
Fri 28 | 8 |
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Mon 20 | 9 |
Tue 17 | 12 |
Wed 15 | 4 |
Thu 22 | 2 |
Fri 28 | 8 |
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If it weren't for being a county highpoint, this is not likely a hike most would ever consider. For a short hike, it is surprisingly pretty with great views of Bald Mountain, and the surrounding high Uinta peaks. Technically, this is the highpoint of Wasatch county, though the high point is on the county boarder, and not the highest peak. Mt. Cardwell, an easy addition to this hike is the highest PEAK in Wasatch County and worth visiting. The truly obsessive may argue which counts as the county high point, the highest peak or the highest spot, so its probably best to bag them both while there.
Also, this hike has somewhat tricky navigation. Bring a GPS, solid map and compass skills, or be prepared to wander around a bit!
Getting There
The trailhead is at milepost 28.8 on highway 150. This is the highway between Kamas, UT and Evanston WY and called the Mirror Lake Highway. From Kamas, it is 28.8 miles. From Evanston, it is about 49.2 miles.
At mile marker 28.8, there is a side dirt road (road #462). Just north of it less than a hundred feet is a wide area on the west (left if coming from the south) side of the road that is the trailhead.
Route
Summit: 3238 m ( 10624 ft. )
Trailhead: 3113 m ( 10214 ft. )
From the trailhead, carefully cross the road. There is no trail, but head south and a little east up through the trees. You may pass an old overgrown road cut along the way. Keep going until you pass treeline onto the talus slope that forms the ridge up Murdock Peak. Continue until on the ridge line. The highpoint is marked with about a 6 foot tall cairn and generally easy to spot. It has trees to the east of it, but is on the edge of the talus field.
Bald Mountain is to the north west, with Murdock Peak being the peak directly to the north (and the ridge-line the highpoint is on). Due west are Mount Watson and Notch Peak, along with many stunning small lakes.
From the highpoint, Mt. Cardwell is visible to the south and marks the highest peak in Wasatch County. It is an easy ridge walk over to visit it. (Adding about an hour to the hike.) Return the same way.
Note: On our trip a very rambunctious German Wirehaired Pointer accidentally broke the summit register glass jar in her exuberance to visit the Wasatch County Highpoint. We replaced it with a Tupperware container and Ziploc bag, but a more durable register container would be appreciated.
Trailhead |
12T 508162mE 4503696mN N40° 41' 03" W110° 54' 12" |
Highpoint |
12T 508286mE 4503117mN N40° 40' 44" W110° 54' 07" |