Wasatch Range (Central)
Overview
Lone Peak is the monarch of the Wasatch Mountains. This rugged 11,000+ foot summit is clearly visible from North Salt Lake to Provo. It rises abruptly above the valley floor and affords one the luxury of sitting in a glacial, alpine cirque just miles from the city. The cirque is ringed with near vertical granite walls and offers climbing ranging from Class 3 to 5.10 YDS. Lone Peak is considered by many to be the "hardest" 11,000 foot peak in the Wasatch due to the mileage and elevation gain required to sit atop it's summit. |  |  |  |
Getting There
Lone Peak can be and has been approached a variety of ways. It sits 10 miles SSE of downtown SLC. Possible approaches include but are not limited to in order of popularity:#1 Jacobs Ladder via Corner Canyon Road (access road from Orson Smith trailhead) and Jacobs Ladder Trailhead
#2 Cherry Canyon Logging Trail via Orson Smith trailhead at the Corner Canyon Gate 2000 E and 12600 S
#2 From the town of Alpine and the Schoolhouse Springs trailhead.
#3 Big Willow Canyon via Hidden Valley Park trailhead at 11500 S Wasatch Blvd
#4 Bells Canyon trailhead at 10200 S Wasatch Blvd
All approaches are moderately long and involve 5-6000 ft vertical gain.
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Trailheads
Jacobs Ladder TrailheadThe most popular trailhead and highest elevation trailhead at 5,700 feet. It is 2.6 miles up the dirt road from Corner Canyon Gate at 2000 E and 12600 S in the town of Draper. No water. Restrooms are available. This trailhead provides access to the Jacobs Ladder Trail.
The road is passable to higher clearance 2wd vehicles most of the time.
Orson Smith Trailhead
This trailhead sits at 4,820 feet. It is located at 2000 E and 12600 S in the town of Draper. It is located directly north of the Corner Canyon Gate. Water and restrooms are available. This trailhead provides access to the Cherry Canyon Logging trail which provides access to an approach via Bear Canyon and Outlaw Cabin.
Schoolhouse Springs Trailhead
This trailhead sits at 5,300 feet. It is located at the north end of the town of Alpine. Take Exit 287 from I-15 and turn east onto Utah Highway 92. Continue east for 5.6 miles and reach a stoplight at 5300 West. Turn north toward Alpine and continue 1.8 more miles to reach 200 North. Turn right and go one block to a four-way intersection. Turn left onto Grove drive and reach a T intersection. Turn left onto Oakridge Drive and continue to Aspen Drive. Continue on Aspen Drive to Aspen Grove after 9.7 miles from I-15. Parking is limited and the trailhead is unmarked. This trailhead provides access to the south slopes of Lone Peak via the 1st Hamongog (meadow) and the 2nd Hamongog.
Hidden Valley Park Trailhead
This trailhead sits at 5,100 feet. It is located at 11500 S Wasatch Boulevard near the town of Draper. This trailhead provides access to the newly named Sawmill trail and approach via Big Willow drainage.
Bells Canyon Trailhead
This trailhead sits at 5,130 feet. It is located at 10200 S Wasatch Boulevard near the town of Sandy. This trailhead provides an approach to the eastern region of Lone Peak.
Red Tape
No permits are required and there are no fees. Lone Peak sits in the Lone Peak Wilderness area.When To Climb
Lone Peak is usually climbed from June through Sept. Winter ascents are possible, but may require a multi-day outing, better planning and much more effort. |
The final ridge
- The Final Ridge
Corner Canyon Gate Status (OPEN to Jacobs Ladder TH)
Updated December 7, 2012
Corner Canyon Road now has 3 gates total:
Gate #1 (0.0 miles)is at the beginning of Corner Canyon Road near the Orson Smith Trailhead Park (4,800 ft). It is currently OPEN.
Gate #2 (1.1 miles) is at the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (5,200 ft). It is currently CLOSED. This newly developed trailhead has been named the East Bench trailhead.
Gate #3 (2.5 miles) is located at the Jacob's Ladder Trailhead (5,700 ft) and is CLOSED. This is the Jacob's Ladder Trailhead and is clearly marked with new signage and a new trail. Jacob's Ladder Trailhead is also the Ghost Falls Trailhead as well. They share the same parking area.
External Links
- Salt Lake City Weather
- Topo
The trail shown is the path my GPS stored when I did this route.
- Lone Peak Trip Report
Additions and Corrections
[ Post an Addition or Correction ]Viewing: 1-20 of 20 rmjwinters Untitled Comment 
Hasn't voted
Thanks for the info. When I get some time, I want to put up other routes like Alpine, Bells Canyon and Big Willow. Posted May 17, 2004 10:45 am mtn runr Untitled Comment 
Hasn't voted
You can no longer drive beyond the pavement in Alpine. Lehi city won a dispute over water rights to School House Springs and erected a steel gate at the covered reservoir above Aspen Drive. The jeep road to the first hamengog is now closed. (This may be a blessing in disguise.) The Hamengogs Trail is in good repair, as is the Lake Hardy Trail above the 2nd hamengog. It is just a longer approach. Posted May 17, 2004 9:55 pm Reach11 Untitled Comment Voted 10/10
Still closed as of August 30 05. Posted Aug 31, 2005 11:31 pm rmjwinters Untitled Comment Hasn't voted
Interesting story behind the name...I'll have to share sometime. The change has been made. Posted Sep 14, 2005 5:38 pm 
dillweed Re: Untitled Comment 
Hasn't voted
what name are you referring to? what is the story? I'd like to hear it. I love this area. Posted May 3, 2006 1:39 pm gorignak Untitled Comment Hasn't voted
Someone mentioned to me that Jacobs Ladder is accessible via the Suncrest Housing development. That would be nice, since corner canyon road is closed. Do you know anything about this?? Posted Dec 27, 2005 1:51 pm rmjwinters Untitled Comment Hasn't voted
I last checked in late October and it wasn't. The new road that connects Alpine with Draper via Suncrest had obliterated that road. To the extent that Corner Canyon Road abruptly ends shortly before the connecting road.
As a side note Corner Canyon has been closed due to the open space initiative that was passed as Draper City attempts to protect that area. I'll be curious to see what happens with future development to the east of Suncrest community.Posted Jan 4, 2006 1:26 pm mtn runr Untitled Comment Hasn't voted
The dirt road described above is the Corner Canyon Road and is closed from late fall to early spring at the discretion of Draper Irrigation and/or SL County Sheriff. When the green gate is locked, you can park here and hike due East until you connect with the Bonneville Shoreline Trail. The Cherry Canyon Logging Trail intersects with the BST and the trail junction is signed. The Cherry Canyon trail eventually turns North into upper Bear Canyon. You can stay on it, traverse Bear (where there is reliable water) cross a shoulder into Little Willow. The trail ends at the Allen Brothers Cabin but the route continues right up the drainage and will eventually take you to the North Cirque and the North shoulder of Lone Peak. If you prefer, just as the Cherry Canyon Trail turns North into Bear Canyon, head off across the open slope to the Southeast and you will soon connect with the old Draper Ridge trail. Posted May 15, 2004 10:36 pm rmjwinters Untitled Comment Hasn't voted
Thanks for the info. When I get some time, I want to put up other routes like Alpine, Bells Canyon and Big Willow. Posted May 17, 2004 10:45 am mtn runr Untitled Comment Hasn't voted
You can no longer drive beyond the pavement in Alpine. Lehi city won a dispute over water rights to School House Springs and erected a steel gate at the covered reservoir above Aspen Drive. The jeep road to the first hamengog is now closed. (This may be a blessing in disguise.) The Hamengogs Trail is in good repair, as is the Lake Hardy Trail above the 2nd hamengog. It is just a longer approach. Posted May 17, 2004 9:55 pm Moogie737 Untitled Comment 
Voted 10/10
Brooke and I climbed from the Bear Canyon trailhead July 30, 2005, and the Corner Canyon road was still gated closed at the Orson Smith parking area. Much of the road suffered apparent erosion damage from the strong spring runoff and has not been repaired. Posted Jul 31, 2005 11:53 am Reach11 Untitled Comment Voted 10/10
Still closed as of August 30 05. Posted Aug 31, 2005 11:31 pm Reach11 Untitled Comment Voted 10/10
Trailhead sign named as "Orson Smith", at start of dirt road. Posted Aug 31, 2005 11:34 pm Mike Geddes Untitled Comment 
Hasn't voted
The corner canyon road is closed and is not planning to open anytime soon, if you are hiking Jacobs ladder trail this adds 2.6 miles to the trip. Posted Sep 6, 2005 2:30 pm rmjwinters Untitled Comment Hasn't voted
Interesting story behind the name...I'll have to share sometime. The change has been made. Posted Sep 14, 2005 5:38 pm gorignak Untitled Comment Hasn't voted
Someone mentioned to me that Jacobs Ladder is accessible via the Suncrest Housing development. That would be nice, since corner canyon road is closed. Do you know anything about this?? Posted Dec 27, 2005 1:51 pm rmjwinters Untitled Comment Hasn't voted
I last checked in late October and it wasn't. The new road that connects Alpine with Draper via Suncrest had obliterated that road. To the extent that Corner Canyon Road abruptly ends shortly before the connecting road.
As a side note Corner Canyon has been closed due to the open space initiative that was passed as Draper City attempts to protect that area. I'll be curious to see what happens with future development to the east of Suncrest community.Posted Jan 4, 2006 1:26 pm aiadvisors Untitled Comment 
Voted 10/10
October is best for the cool weather and great colors. Posted Jan 6, 2006 2:33 am gramps Corner Canyon Road open 
Hasn't voted
I went up there this past weekend, and the corner canyon road is now open at the orson smith trailhead. It seems like the cherry canyon trail is the longest way up there, at least to get to the cirque. Posted Jun 26, 2007 1:42 pm Ammon Hatch Google Earth KMZ 
Voted 10/10
The google earth KMZ has a broken link Posted Jan 2, 2008 6:19 pm Viewing: 1-20 of 20 Images
- Salt Lake City Weather
