utclimber - Jun 27, 2010 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
Bull Creek Pass
Hiked up Mt. Ellen and continued on to Ellen Peak. Great views of Capital Reef.
Moogie737 - Nov 10, 2009 4:30 pm Date Climbed: Nov 9, 2009
The final UT county highpoint
#1 11-9-09 Parked 1.3 miles below Bull Creek Pass because of 8" of snow on the east approach road above Wickiup Pass. I was back at the car 2+40 later. Windy, 4" snow on many trail portions from Bull Creek Pass. Saw no bison (ground-based evidence aplenty they had been there!) but saw and heard nearly 2 dozen ravens circling the summit ridges. It's good to complete the list of Utah County Highpoints. #2 5-25-13 Mit wunderbarer Gesellschaft. Auf der selben Stelle wie oben geparkt. Grausamer Wind von dem Pass bis zur Spitze wo es viele andere Wanderer gegeben hat.
shphilby - Sep 5, 2009 4:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2009
Fun
Camped just down the road. Stayed up watching all the deer and spent the morning watching more deer. I need a deer tag. Climbed with Kirt and our boys. Made it to the peak no problem.
KoryDavis - Aug 23, 2009 4:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2009
With my dad
Climbed up with dad.
KirtDavis - Aug 18, 2009 9:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2009
With My Son
Hiked up here with my 9 year old son. He wanted to go to Ellen Peak as well... Good thing we did, there was a herd of 22 bison in the saddle. Great day, Great hike!
mountaingazelle - Aug 18, 2009 3:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
South Ridge
Hiked up Mount Ellen as a storm front was moving through. The wind was relentless the whole time. Saw some hunters in the morning and met a family that made it to the summit not long after I did. They managed to make it all the way to Bull Creek Pass in a large fifteen passenger van. I talked to them for a while and they said were trying to complete all of the Utah county highpoints like me.
Drove up from Notom after bagging Fishlake Hightop and Bluebell Knoll the day before. The drive up is almost the most exciting part. The hike itself is easy and straightforward. The nearly 360 degree views from the top are amazing.
vernile - Sep 4, 2008 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2008
Road Trip Day Two
Day two of a little road trip through Garfield and Wayne Counties to bag a couple of county high points. We got into the high country and were rewarded by seeing some of that famous Henry Mountain Deer Herd. The bucks were awesome! The hike was great and the weather beautiful. We returned via Notum Road, The Burr Trail, The Million Dollar Highway to Boulder, Bryce Canyon and Cedar Mountain.
rmjwinters - Aug 31, 2008 10:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
1st time in the Henry's
This was our first time in the Henry mountains. We loved the drive, the hike and the views. It was fairly windy ahead of a front coming in, but nothing would have deterred us.
DayHikerJr - Jul 28, 2008 6:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2008
From Bull Creek Pass
Mommy and Daddy brought me to the summit of Mount Ellen, the high point of the beautiful Henry Mountains! Daddy carried me because I am only 10 1/2 months old. Thunderstorms in the deserts to both the east and west were really scary!
Day Hiker - Jul 28, 2008 5:30 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2008
From Bull Creek Pass
Hiked with my wife and carried DayHikerJr, age 10 1/2 months. Thunderstorms in the area, in the deserts to both our east and west, prevented us from continuing north to the slightly lower Ellen Peak. But we got the high point, Mount Ellen.
The hike to Mount Ellen was great, with spectacular views of Utah's canyon country, my favorite part of the Universe. But, for peaks in the Henry Mountains, the real epic journey is the vehicle approach.
For the approach, we took the Fairview Ranch Road (N38.23918 W110.64902), which is off UT95, 10.0 miles south of the junction of UT24 and UT95. Fairview Ranch Road connects to Sawmill Basin Road at N38.21454 W110.74112.
For the return, we tried to take a different road back to UT95, so we turned southeast instead of northwest at Wickiup Pass. When we reached the lower elevations, thunderstorms dropped heavy rains in the area, causing some serious flooding. We were forced to stop for about 45 minutes while we watched a flooded wash (N38.07938 W110.67426) tear perpendicularly across the road in front of us. After the water slowed enough to allow safe crossing, we continued across, only to find the road 1/10 mile ahead completely flooded and destroyed by a larger wash running parallel to, and on, our road! (N38.08055 W110.67281)
We could find no detour around this mess to get to UT95, so we had to return the way we came, all the way back over Wickiup Pass, and then to Sawmill Basin Road. Instead of using Fairview Ranch Road again, we decided to stay on Sawmill Basin Road all the way to where it becomes 100 East in Hanksville.
In the lower elevations, the roads (when dry) were 2WD passable, and even the higher roads could probably be driven with a 2WD passenger car by someone (me) who is really determined to get to a trailhead. But luckily we had higher clearance and AWD for this day, because we needed it for all the flooding and wet sandy roads. I was prepared to pack up DayHikerJr, along with some food and water, and hike out to UT95.
grandwazoo - Aug 13, 2007 6:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2005
South Ridge Trail
Dale Millsap and I were on our marathon COHP run. This was 5 of 7 for me in two days. It was a 45 minute run to the summit and a nice brisk jog off.
Stansbury - Aug 4, 2007 11:37 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2007
July Climb
Dean thanks much for a great page about the directions, summit, and history. The real challenge with this hike is getting to the trailhead. It takes ~ 90 min. from Torrey to arrive at the pass. The road was clear when I was there but obviously had been cleared of trees frequently. High clearance is recommended and I was glad to have 4X4 at times. Once on top it's a challenge to complete all of the summits but worth it once you've made the effort to be there.
weeds19 - Mar 2, 2007 7:14 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2004
Windy Day
Enjoyed a very windy day hiking to the top of Ellen. The non-literal highpoint of the day was the drive down where we saw three bison grazin near the road.
Saw a lone bison in the early a.m. from my truck. Too cool. Snowed on the way up, cleared as I descended.
Bob Bolton - Aug 24, 2006 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Bull Creek Pass
My wife and I met Duane at the junction of SR24 to Notom, then rode in his Explorer to Bull Creek Pass. After nearly a year of lamenting our failure to summit Ellen in the dark last September, Duane and I finally got this one off our backs. We had stopped one hump short on the previous attempt.
markhyams - Mar 5, 2006 6:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2005
not so remote
Did the short hike from Bull Creek Pass, but only after being accosted by a group of very drunk hunters who were up there scouting out mule deer hunting possibilities. Apparantly the Henry Mts is the premier Mule Deer hunting area in the lower 48. The place was crawling with guys in camo clothes and atvs going around video taping deer and such. Very surreal experience, and the incident with the three drunkards (they told us they had brought 90 beers with them, yes 90) had a Deliverance feel to it, although it never got that far. They kept asking me and my buddy, "Are you gay?" and "Are you sure?" Enter at your own risk. The only time in my life that I wished I was a gun owner.
Rob Thompson - Mar 5, 2006 3:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 1973
Route Climbed: Bull Creek Pass Date Climbed: January 7, 2006
With MOCKBA reached the summit after starting maybe a mile up the road from Wikiup pass. Very windy on Bull Creek Pass and Mt. Ellen Peak! Outstanding views in 360 degrees. We could even see what we thought were the San Juans. A fantastic winter trip with what seemed like very low snow amounts for January.
utclimber - Jun 27, 2010 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 26, 2010
Bull Creek PassHiked up Mt. Ellen and continued on to Ellen Peak. Great views of Capital Reef.
Moogie737 - Nov 10, 2009 4:30 pm Date Climbed: Nov 9, 2009
The final UT county highpoint#1 11-9-09 Parked 1.3 miles below Bull Creek Pass because of 8" of snow on the east approach road above Wickiup Pass. I was back at the car 2+40 later. Windy, 4" snow on many trail portions from Bull Creek Pass. Saw no bison (ground-based evidence aplenty they had been there!) but saw and heard nearly 2 dozen ravens circling the summit ridges. It's good to complete the list of Utah County Highpoints. #2 5-25-13 Mit wunderbarer Gesellschaft. Auf der selben Stelle wie oben geparkt. Grausamer Wind von dem Pass bis zur Spitze wo es viele andere Wanderer gegeben hat.
shphilby - Sep 5, 2009 4:59 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2009
FunCamped just down the road. Stayed up watching all the deer and spent the morning watching more deer. I need a deer tag. Climbed with Kirt and our boys. Made it to the peak no problem.
KoryDavis - Aug 23, 2009 4:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2009
With my dadClimbed up with dad.
KirtDavis - Aug 18, 2009 9:24 pm Date Climbed: Aug 17, 2009
With My SonHiked up here with my 9 year old son. He wanted to go to Ellen Peak as well... Good thing we did, there was a herd of 22 bison in the saddle. Great day, Great hike!
mountaingazelle - Aug 18, 2009 3:58 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 2009
South RidgeHiked up Mount Ellen as a storm front was moving through. The wind was relentless the whole time. Saw some hunters in the morning and met a family that made it to the summit not long after I did. They managed to make it all the way to Bull Creek Pass in a large fifteen passenger van. I talked to them for a while and they said were trying to complete all of the Utah county highpoints like me.
rharris - Jul 10, 2009 1:22 pm Date Climbed: Sep 2, 2007
Great ViewsDrove up from Notom after bagging Fishlake Hightop and Bluebell Knoll the day before. The drive up is almost the most exciting part. The hike itself is easy and straightforward. The nearly 360 degree views from the top are amazing.
NoSubas - Jan 5, 2009 11:07 pm
BAaaaaaaClimbed it with Miss Cali
vernile - Sep 4, 2008 8:26 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2008
Road Trip Day TwoDay two of a little road trip through Garfield and Wayne Counties to bag a couple of county high points. We got into the high country and were rewarded by seeing some of that famous Henry Mountain Deer Herd. The bucks were awesome! The hike was great and the weather beautiful. We returned via Notum Road, The Burr Trail, The Million Dollar Highway to Boulder, Bryce Canyon and Cedar Mountain.
rmjwinters - Aug 31, 2008 10:40 pm Date Climbed: Aug 30, 2008
1st time in the Henry'sThis was our first time in the Henry mountains. We loved the drive, the hike and the views. It was fairly windy ahead of a front coming in, but nothing would have deterred us.
DayHikerJr - Jul 28, 2008 6:25 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2008
From Bull Creek PassMommy and Daddy brought me to the summit of Mount Ellen, the high point of the beautiful Henry Mountains! Daddy carried me because I am only 10 1/2 months old. Thunderstorms in the deserts to both the east and west were really scary!
Day Hiker - Jul 28, 2008 5:30 am Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2008
From Bull Creek PassHiked with my wife and carried DayHikerJr, age 10 1/2 months. Thunderstorms in the area, in the deserts to both our east and west, prevented us from continuing north to the slightly lower Ellen Peak. But we got the high point, Mount Ellen.
The hike to Mount Ellen was great, with spectacular views of Utah's canyon country, my favorite part of the Universe. But, for peaks in the Henry Mountains, the real epic journey is the vehicle approach.
For the approach, we took the Fairview Ranch Road (N38.23918 W110.64902), which is off UT95, 10.0 miles south of the junction of UT24 and UT95. Fairview Ranch Road connects to Sawmill Basin Road at N38.21454 W110.74112.
For the return, we tried to take a different road back to UT95, so we turned southeast instead of northwest at Wickiup Pass. When we reached the lower elevations, thunderstorms dropped heavy rains in the area, causing some serious flooding. We were forced to stop for about 45 minutes while we watched a flooded wash (N38.07938 W110.67426) tear perpendicularly across the road in front of us. After the water slowed enough to allow safe crossing, we continued across, only to find the road 1/10 mile ahead completely flooded and destroyed by a larger wash running parallel to, and on, our road! (N38.08055 W110.67281)
We could find no detour around this mess to get to UT95, so we had to return the way we came, all the way back over Wickiup Pass, and then to Sawmill Basin Road. Instead of using Fairview Ranch Road again, we decided to stay on Sawmill Basin Road all the way to where it becomes 100 East in Hanksville.
In the lower elevations, the roads (when dry) were 2WD passable, and even the higher roads could probably be driven with a 2WD passenger car by someone (me) who is really determined to get to a trailhead. But luckily we had higher clearance and AWD for this day, because we needed it for all the flooding and wet sandy roads. I was prepared to pack up DayHikerJr, along with some food and water, and hike out to UT95.
grandwazoo - Aug 13, 2007 6:52 pm Date Climbed: Aug 1, 2005
South Ridge TrailDale Millsap and I were on our marathon COHP run. This was 5 of 7 for me in two days. It was a 45 minute run to the summit and a nice brisk jog off.
Stansbury - Aug 4, 2007 11:37 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2007
July ClimbDean thanks much for a great page about the directions, summit, and history. The real challenge with this hike is getting to the trailhead. It takes ~ 90 min. from Torrey to arrive at the pass. The road was clear when I was there but obviously had been cleared of trees frequently. High clearance is recommended and I was glad to have 4X4 at times. Once on top it's a challenge to complete all of the summits but worth it once you've made the effort to be there.
weeds19 - Mar 2, 2007 7:14 pm Date Climbed: May 29, 2004
Windy DayEnjoyed a very windy day hiking to the top of Ellen. The non-literal highpoint of the day was the drive down where we saw three bison grazin near the road.
surgent - Sep 12, 2006 10:43 pm
Snow and bisonSaw a lone bison in the early a.m. from my truck. Too cool. Snowed on the way up, cleared as I descended.
Bob Bolton - Aug 24, 2006 11:38 pm Date Climbed: Aug 20, 2006
Bull Creek PassMy wife and I met Duane at the junction of SR24 to Notom, then rode in his Explorer to Bull Creek Pass. After nearly a year of lamenting our failure to summit Ellen in the dark last September, Duane and I finally got this one off our backs. We had stopped one hump short on the previous attempt.
markhyams - Mar 5, 2006 6:52 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2005
not so remoteDid the short hike from Bull Creek Pass, but only after being accosted by a group of very drunk hunters who were up there scouting out mule deer hunting possibilities. Apparantly the Henry Mts is the premier Mule Deer hunting area in the lower 48. The place was crawling with guys in camo clothes and atvs going around video taping deer and such. Very surreal experience, and the incident with the three drunkards (they told us they had brought 90 beers with them, yes 90) had a Deliverance feel to it, although it never got that far. They kept asking me and my buddy, "Are you gay?" and "Are you sure?" Enter at your own risk. The only time in my life that I wished I was a gun owner.
Rob Thompson - Mar 5, 2006 3:00 pm Date Climbed: Jul 24, 1973
Bull Creek PassFun times and spectacular views with Cliff Moser.
nebben - Jan 8, 2006 4:15 pm
Route Climbed: Bull Creek Pass Date Climbed: January 7, 2006With MOCKBA reached the summit after starting maybe a mile up the road from Wikiup pass. Very windy on Bull Creek Pass and Mt. Ellen Peak! Outstanding views in 360 degrees. We could even see what we thought were the San Juans. A fantastic winter trip with what seemed like very low snow amounts for January.