The Tushars are a volcanic mountain range in west-central Utah. They are the third highest range in Utah, behind the Uinta Mountains and the La Sal Mountains. The Tushars are usually not rugged, but they are often steep.

These peaks are among the easiest 12,000 foot peaks in Utah, and before the closing of the Elk Meadows ski resort, Delano Peak was the only 12,000 foot peak in Utah that made a reasonable one day ascent in mid-winter (most 12,000 foot peaks in Utah take several days to over a week in mid-winter). Now the road stays closed in winter, but some roads in the La Sal Mountains are opened now, making that the only range with reasonable one day ascents in mid-winter of a 12,000 foot peak.

Delano Peak is the highest peak in the range, but Mount Belknap, the second highest peak in the range, is probably the most impressive of the summits. The range is crossed by high roads, including Utah’s highest road at 11,500 feet elevation, so access is easy.

Utah's 12,000+ Foot Peaks With 200+ Feet Prominence

Utah's 12,000+ Foot Peaks With 300+ Feet Prominence

Baldy Peak is out in the distance as viewed from the slopes of Delano Peak.

ATV Problems

The only real drawback to the Tushar Mountains is that some areas are being severely damaged by ATV’s. On my brother's last visit in the summer of 2009, he writes that many, many the ATV's are really ripping up the place and not staying on the routes that they are supposed to and detracting from what used to be a fairly wild and quiet area. Apparently the damage is very severe.

Introduction to Hiking and Climbing

The Tushars have many different mountain climbs, from rough scrambles to hikes with trails. The theme of the routes, however, is non-technical. There are very few suitable technical routes here, due to the crumbly nature of the rock, and the lack of cliffs in general. Most of the peaks in the Flat Tops are rounded and gentle, and can be steep, but usually not rugged. There are some nice extended backpacking trips, such as in the Blue Lake area south of Baldy and Belknap.

Delano Peak is by far the most popular ascent, followed by Mount Holly, Mount Belknap, and then Baldy Peak. The rest of the peaks seem to be seldom visited and receive very little attention.

Other popular activities in the range include hunting and fishing. Horseback riding is popular as well.

See the individual mountain pages for much more information on the peaks.

Delano Peak in late August. This is the most popular peak in the range, but it isn't as steep or rugged as the other high elevation peaks in the Tushars.

Red Tape

The good thing about the Tushars is that there is no red tape. No permits, no private property issues, etc. Just obey the laws and don't burn down the forest, and you should be OK. Make sure to report rogue ATV'ers straying from the marked routes.

No red tape nor private property issues are in the Tushars; only mountains. This is Baldy Peak.

Weather, Climate, and Seasons

The Tushar Mountains receive quite a bit of snow, so the normal hiking season is from late June through early October. Late September has some nice colors.

Climbing some of the peaks in winter used to be fairly easy, but in recent years, the access roads have not been kept open due to the closing of the Elk Meadows Ski Resort. All peaks now require several days in winter.

TUSHAR MOUNTAINS WEATHER FORECAST

Below is the climate summary for nearby Elk Meadows at 10,450 feet elevation, and near the trailheads. These are all averages, so expect more variation, but this will give you a good idea about the climate at higher elevations in the area. *National Weather Service Data.

MONTH	HIGH	LOW	PRECIP (in)	SNOWFALL (in)
JAN	26	1	5.51	69.9
FEB	29	4	4.31	61.5
MAR	34	7	4.55	64.9
APR	43	14	3.88	45.7
MAY	52	21	3.65	23.6
JUN	63	30	1.19	3.0
JUL	69	38	2.38	0
AUG	67	36	2.92	0
SEP	61	28	2.11	4.8
OCT	50	19	1.73	17.6
NOV	36	9	2.57	35.2
DEC	27	3	3.66	48.8

Baldy Peak (left) and Mount Belknap (right) as viewed from Delano Peak in late August

Camping

Finding good campsites is not a problem in the Tushars, even on summer weekends. There are National Forest Campgrounds available at Puffer Lake, but even then you don’t need a reservation on weekends. There are many primitive campsites available throughout the range.