Take I-80 toward Tooele, get off on exit 99 to Grantsville,
go until you get to the Grantsville exit ( Highway 138 ) take
a right. Go toward the end of Grantsville ( 11 miles ) turn
south at the sign "Wasatch National Forest"
Take a right down South Willow Canyon, from here it turns
into a bumpy dirt road. This road is riddled with pocketed
limestone rock climbing. Drive to the end of Loop Canyon.
After hiking for about 3/4 mile you will come to a stream
crossing, go LEFT, soon after, you will reach another fork,
with a sign, go LEFT again. The trail meanders far out of
the way through Mill Fork. And it feels like you are going
away from Deseret Peak but keep going, it seems like the trail
makers were looking for more of a scenic route, than a direct
approach. Once you reach the saddle, you continue right up
the trail to the summit.
Going down, I would suggest taking the loop north, everybody
went down the first saddle (the one that has a sign that says
"Trail" and points north toward the second saddle)
They said it was good the whole way. Doug and I took the tough-guy
scenic trek around the next mountain, and through Dry Lake
Fork. It took us about 45 minutes longer than if we would
have taken the first descent.
(I was following the route descriptions from two guidebooks)
Suggestion (But don't blame me):
You should be able to summit by gaining the first saddle on
the north side of Deseret Peak. In this case you would want
to take a RIGHT when you get to the sign (it tells you to
go LEFT to get to Deseret Peak)
Go up Dry Lake Fork Don't follow it past the stream, as it
goes backwards and around an unnecessary mountain, there should
be a trail the whole way.
From the summit of Deseret Peak - 11,031' looking north.
From Mill Fork Meadow looking south.
The trail over-switchbacks through here.
Mormon Cricket
Looking west at the two Sub Peaks north of Deseret Peak.
Looking north at the two Sub Peaks north of Deseret Peak.
Shane on the saddle east of Deseret Peak
Denyse, Ruojia, Nick and Shane on the summit of Deseret Peak
From the summit looking southwest.
Looking north toward the Salt Flats with evil storm clouds brewing
above.
Waiting to be struck by lightning.
Large Raptor
Looking east at Bald Mountain.
Looking south towards Vickory Mountain and the Onaqui Mountains.
Looking south towards Vickory Mountain and the Onaqui Mountains.
Looking southwest at a dust storm in the Great Salt Lake Desert
near the Fish Springs Range.
Looking northeast toward the Grantsville Reservoir,
The Great Salt Lake, and the Northern Wasatch.
Looking west toward the Cedar Mountains
Majestic rays of light that prove whatever you believe is true.
Slow motion explosion
Jared in the Wind Shelter, Denyse looking west.
Stansbury Island to the north, connected by muddy salt bars in the
Great Salt Lake.
Looking west to the Oquirrh Mountains, Low Peak and Flat Top Mountain.
South Mountain is in the middle by Rush Lake, at the base of Deseret
Peak is Bald Mountain.
Looking northwest across Skull Valley toward the north end of the
Cedar Mountains.
Behind that is the world famous Bonneville Salt Flats Race Track where
all land-speed records are made.
It is used because it is the flattest, and longest section of land
in America,
100 miles long and so flat that the Earth's curvature is visible.
Ground is made of salt, up to 4 feet deep.
Hiking down around the north ridge looking west.
Looking southeast toward Deseret Peak
Big crew today
Shane, Nick, Jared, Denyse, Ruojia, Bob and Doug.
Decending the north route.
How many hikers can you see?
Looking west at the stratafied quarzite and limestone,
below are glacier remnants.
Looking west at the Cedar Mountains.
Deseret Peak 11,031
Looking south from along our lengthy decent trail.
Looking west over the Cedar Mountains and into Nevada.
Cedar Mountains
Looking northwest toward the Oquirrh mountains,
with Kennecott's Copper Smelter on its tip.
Special Thanks to Jared, Denyse, Nick, Ruojia, Shane, Bob and Doug
Special thanks to Micah Goodman for use of his camera.
Message Board
Page Posts: 3
NAME
CITY
DATE
Greg
Portland
2008-06-08
I have been very blessed by your photography. Can an arrangement be made to use one of your light rays images on our nonprofit calling card (CRUSADE FOR AMERICA)?
Sakari Ylinen
Payson, UT
2007-05-16
The best, and the most beautiful photos and the most knowledgeable captions.
Doug Owen
Phoenix AZ
2006-12-05
I have climbed almost all of the ranges shown, as I lived in Salt Lake from89 to 94. Although I continue to climb in AZ I miss Utah and wish I was there and not in this dirt hole. Thanks for the memories
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