Overview
Distance: ~7 miles round trip
Elevation: 7200 ft to 9600 ft = ~ 2400 ft
Time: 3-5 hours (round trip)
Date: June 7, 2012
How to get there from BYU:
Trail:
Description:
This is a continuation of my Rock Canyon hike from the last post. This hike presents great views of the tallest mountains over Provo. It is exhilarating as you make it over the crest and can finally see over to the other side of the mountain. Once reaching the ridge you can keep going up to the nearest peak, Shingle Mill (that funny pyramid looking peak), which will take you over the 10000 ft elevation mark.
To save some time you can reach the trail head by taking Squaw Peak Road from Provo Canyon. If you have more time though the Rock Canyon trail is a great addition. The trail is not terribly steep but steadily increases elevation nevertheless. Found a sign warning of bears though they are not often reported in the area -- still pretty close to civilization.
The trail starts off going through a pleasant tree filled area. The entire trail is very well kept and easy to follow. There are a few points where the trail comes out of the trees enough to present great views looking back down the canyon as well as further up the mountain.
There weren't tons of wildflowers along the way -- perhaps I haven't found the right season for them -- but I captured a few of the more common types I found
Further up the trail there begin to be more meadows and the trail begins to bend towards Freedom Peak. From here you can begin to see the great terraces that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) dug out back in the '30s -- it's impressive that they were able to get all the machinery up on these slopes.
The trail becomes a bit more rocky and eroded as you get closer to Freedom Peak.
Once you reach the base of Freedom Peak the trail does a 180 and begins a fairly direct shot to the ridge cutting up through the terraces.
At the top you have the pleasure of a great panaromic view all around.
From here you have options. You can continue on the trail down to South Fork, or you can ascend up to Shingle Mill to the south, or you can head north along the ridge line to Cascade Mountain. Or you can descend back to the valley which is what I had to do on this occasion.
Geocaching:
There are a few geocaches along this part of the trail though it could use some more -- that could double as rest stop along the way. These caches that are higher up in the mountain tend to be bigger and not quite as difficult to find -- due to the smaller traffic. The tricky part is just hiking up to them. However, because they tend to be larger containers you can hide more impressive stuff in them -- to make the journey all the more worth it!
Most of the caches are near the Rock Canyon campground and could easily be reached from the road. There is one just below the Freedom Peak cirque and one along the the ridge line on your way to Cascade Mountain.
Rock Canyon Campground
Oh-Six-Oh
Finally a smooth road
Uinta Forests
01*36*46 Head of Rock Canyon
The Pining Cache
Other Links:
Another climbers log
This is a continuation of my Rock Canyon hike from the last post. This hike presents great views of the tallest mountains over Provo. It is exhilarating as you make it over the crest and can finally see over to the other side of the mountain. Once reaching the ridge you can keep going up to the nearest peak, Shingle Mill (that funny pyramid looking peak), which will take you over the 10000 ft elevation mark.
To save some time you can reach the trail head by taking Squaw Peak Road from Provo Canyon. If you have more time though the Rock Canyon trail is a great addition. The trail is not terribly steep but steadily increases elevation nevertheless. Found a sign warning of bears though they are not often reported in the area -- still pretty close to civilization.
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| The trail head on Squaw Peak Road |
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| We're going on a bear hunt! |
The trail starts off going through a pleasant tree filled area. The entire trail is very well kept and easy to follow. There are a few points where the trail comes out of the trees enough to present great views looking back down the canyon as well as further up the mountain.
 |
| Ahhh....shade |
 |
| Looking back on Provo |
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| South-east towards Freedom Peak (left) and Provo Peak (right) |
There weren't tons of wildflowers along the way -- perhaps I haven't found the right season for them -- but I captured a few of the more common types I found
Further up the trail there begin to be more meadows and the trail begins to bend towards Freedom Peak. From here you can begin to see the great terraces that the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) dug out back in the '30s -- it's impressive that they were able to get all the machinery up on these slopes.
 |
| Starting to turn |
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| Shingle Mill with terraces |
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| Heading towards Freedom Peak |
The trail becomes a bit more rocky and eroded as you get closer to Freedom Peak.
 |
| In a rut |
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| Up close and personal with Freedom Peak |
Once you reach the base of Freedom Peak the trail does a 180 and begins a fairly direct shot to the ridge cutting up through the terraces.
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| To the top! |
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| Whoso pulleth out this pipe is the rightwise born King of the Mountain |
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| Looking back down with the Provo Temple right at the vertex of the canyon |
At the top you have the pleasure of a great panaromic view all around.
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| North-east toward south-fork. You can faintly see the Jordanelle Resevoir right of center. |
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| Looking east towards the Uinta mountains near Smith & Morehouse |
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| Cascade Mountain and Mt. Timpanogos |
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| Looking west over Lake Mountain, the Oquirrh Mountains and beyond |
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| Ridge trail to the peak of Cascade Mountain. Not for the faint of heart. Bring a friend. |
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| Left to Cascade Mountain & South Fork. Right to Shingle Mill |
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| Trail to Shingle Mill |
Geocaching:
There are a few geocaches along this part of the trail though it could use some more -- that could double as rest stop along the way. These caches that are higher up in the mountain tend to be bigger and not quite as difficult to find -- due to the smaller traffic. The tricky part is just hiking up to them. However, because they tend to be larger containers you can hide more impressive stuff in them -- to make the journey all the more worth it!
Most of the caches are near the Rock Canyon campground and could easily be reached from the road. There is one just below the Freedom Peak cirque and one along the the ridge line on your way to Cascade Mountain.
Rock Canyon Campground
Oh-Six-Oh
Finally a smooth road
Uinta Forests
01*36*46 Head of Rock Canyon
The Pining Cache
Other Links:
Another climbers log
You should include the Geocaching code for the caches so people can look them up easily.
ReplyDeleteGood though. I added those. By the way, anyone know what mountain range that is in the distance looking west behind Lake Mountain. Pretty sure that's the Oquirrh range on the right but I haven't identified the big one in the far back.
ReplyDeleteAny chance you have a gpx file you could share? Email kendalray@gmail.com Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSadly no. But I want to save the track next time I go.
Delete