Lookout Peak | Emigration Canyon

Hiking Lookout Peak - Emigration Canyon Hiking Lookout Peak

Emigration Canyon

Overview

RATING: Moderate Hike
MAPS: MOUNTAIN DELL, UT

Thu

Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind around 3 mph.

46 | 27

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 43.

43 | 24

Sat

Sunny, with a high near 45.

45 | 23

Sun

A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

39 | 27

Mon

A chance of snow before 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 31. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

31 | 18

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SEASON: Late Spring through Fall
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: None

Thu

Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Northwest wind around 3 mph.

46 | 27

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 43.

43 | 24

Sat

Sunny, with a high near 45.

45 | 23

Sun

A chance of snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. New snow accumulation of around one inch possible.

39 | 27

Mon

A chance of snow before 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 31. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

31 | 18

View Full Weather Details
Killyon Canyon and the Salt Lake Valley

Killyon Canyon and the Salt Lake Valley

Lookout Peak overlooks Emigration and City Creek Canyons. The Lookout Peak hike is a moderately strenuous hike, with about 2700 feet of elevation gain to the summit, but much of the hike has outstanding views of the Salt Lake Valley and surrounding mountains. If you like ridge hikes with expansive views, I highly recommend this one.

The route is commonly done from either Killyon or Affleck Park. The Affleck Park route is shorter than the Killyon approach, and in my opinion quite a bit better. It is a quick climb to the ridge and start of the excellent views. The downside to Affleck Park is dogs are not allowed in Mountain Dell Canyon, and thus not on that section of trail. The Killyon Canyon approach is longer and has more of a grunt to the ridge where it and the Affleck Park routes join, but since it is not in a watershed, dogs are allowed from the Killyon Canyon approach.

Either way, this is an excellent spring or fall hike. The south and west facing slopes will be passable earlier in spring, and later into the fall when other higher elevation hikes around the Wasatch are still muddy or snow covered. It is also routinely done in the winter from Killyon Canyon.

Note: The road to Affleck Park is closed from about November to May, depending on snow levels.
Ridge to Lookout Peak - The summit is beyond the highest summit in the photo.

Ridge to Lookout Peak - The summit is beyond the highest summit in the photo.

Getting There

Killyon Trailhead
The trailhead is up Emigration Canyon on the east side of Salt Lake. From downtown Salt Lake, travel east on 800 S. This becomes Sunnyside Avenue. Follow Sunnyside Avenue which turns into Emigration Canyon Road at the mouth of Emigration Canyon.

From the mouth of Emigration Canyon, continue up the canyon for 6 miles. When the canyon makes a sweeping bend to the right, stay straight on Pinecrest Canyon Road. 0.3 miles after turning onto Pinecrest Canyon Road, a small parking area on the right is the trailhead. This is currently signed Killyon Trailhead Parking. If you reach a juction in the road, you have gone 0.1 miles too far.

Affleck Park Trailhead
From Salt Lake City, travel east about 6 miles on I-80 to exit 134 (East Canyon / Little Dell). From exit 134, travel north on UT-65 for 5.3 miles to Affleck Park on the left.

Note: Affleck Park requires a reservation to enter. Park along UT-65. DO NOT ENTER AFFLECK PARK WITHOUT A RESERVATION EVEN IF THE GATE IS OPEN! Several groups have been locked in, making for a bummer of a day!
City Creek, Grandview, and the Salt Lake Valley

City Creek, Grandview, and the Salt Lake Valley

Route

Killyon Canyon Approach to 4-Way Intersection (about 2 miles)
From the parking area, follow the road up the canyon. In just a couple of minutes, at the junction, go right on Killyon Road. It turns to dirt after a few minutes as it winds its way through a neighborhood. About 0.5 miles from the parking area, the road ends, and the trail begins.

Note: For the first part of the hike, the stream is followed closely and dogs can have access to water if needed. During the rest of the hike, water is not available.

About 0.6 miles from the end of the road, a signed junction is reached. Left goes to the Left Fork of Killyon. Stay right at the intersection, on the marked path toward the ridge.

From the Left Fork junction, the trail begins climbing a bit more steeply, then turns east and rises steeply through aspen to a 4-way intersection on the ridge.

Affleck Park Approach to 4-Way Intersection (about 1.2 miles)
From the gate, walk down into the campground. Follow the road across the stream, then turn right and continue along the campground road to a pit toilet and gated road on the left. The gated road is the trail you want.

Follow the trail as it climbs up, past Birch Spring, and to a 4-way intersection on the ridge.

Both Routes From the 4-way Intersection (about 3 miles)
Go north along the ridgeline. The path is easy to follow and climbs somewhat steeply to the ridge. When the trail reaches the high ridge, a short side trail to the right offers excellent views.

Catch your breath, and continue up along the ridge. At the next junction, stay left. Right goes over to the Great Western Trail. After this final junction, the trail climbs steeply to a summit, then continues over a minor summit to the true high point of Lookout Peak.

The views are excellent, overlooking City Creek Canyon, Emigration Canyon, and the Salt Lake Valley. The hillside to the north with a cliff and talus slope is the seldom visited Grandview Peak, the high point of the Sessions Mountains that is part of the ridgeline of upper City Creek Canyon.


Maps

From Affleck TH / 8.06 miles / Elevation Range 6,190 - 8,968 ft.
From Killyon TH / 10.07 miles / Elevation Range 5,899 - 8,968 ft.
Printable Maps:

Affleck Trailhead

12T 442801mE 4517833mN

N40° 48' 34" W111° 40' 41"

Trail

12T 442597mE 4518325mN

N40° 48' 50" W111° 40' 50"

4-Way Jct

12T 441730mE 4518015mN

N40° 48' 40" W111° 41' 27"

Ridge and Overlook Side Trail

12T 441619mE 4519561mN

N40° 49' 30" W111° 41' 32"

Jct - Straight

12T 440721mE 4520123mN

N40° 49' 48" W111° 42' 11"

Summit

12T 439501mE 4520625mN

N40° 50' 04" W111° 43' 03"

Killyon Trailhead Parking

12T 439827mE 4515753mN

N40° 47' 26" W111° 42' 48"

End of Road

12T 440088mE 4516565mN

N40° 47' 52" W111° 42' 37"

Jct - Stay Right

12T 440685mE 4517311mN

N40° 48' 17" W111° 42' 12"

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