Utah Western Desert Ranges
Overview
Nelson Peak is the highest mountain in the Northern Oquirrh Mountains and is very prominent when viewed from the Salt Lake Valley. In Utah, it is the 117th most prominent peak with a prominence of 1699 feet. Nelson Peak is rarely climbed because all access from the eastern Salt Lake Valley side is private property. Most assume the entire mountain is off limits but from the county line which runs the top of the Oquirrh Range here, the entire western side is BLM land. Only standing on the very summit are you likely on private land. Although not shown on most topographical maps, Nelson Peak has a nice road to the summit from the east to service the communication tower on the summit. A route from the west will be cross-country and as adventurous as any peak in the western desert.Getting There
This is the best public access point I have found:Take Interstate 80 west from Salt Lake City to the Tooele Exit #99. Go south on highway 36 until you reach Tooele. At the first intersection in Tooele with a stoplight (1280 Street), turn left. (There is a Wal-Mart and Carls Jr.) Immediately make another left (Pine Canyon Road) as it heads back north paralleling highway 36. This road soon heads east directly to the Oquirrhs. After a few miles is the small settlement of Pine Canyon (Lincoln). Turn left on Churchwood Drive, follow to the end where there is room for several cars. Between June 1st and October 31st, the gate should be open and you can drive to the base of the mountain. If conditions are good, the gate will remain open until December 5th.
Red Tape
There are no fees to park at the end of Churchwood Drive or on the BLM land behind the gate. A map showing where the property lines would be helpful if coming down off the ridge in a different location. The BLM roads behind the gate are popular with local mountain bikers.Additional information can be found by calling:
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Salt Lake Field Office
2370 South 2300 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84119
(801) 977-4300
BLM Lands Northern Oquirrh Range
Route from Churchwood Gate.
Access Sign
When to Climb
Climbing in winter or spring before the private summit road opens would be my recommendation. Although, the summit area only has one facility that probably gets few visitors and it's a bit off the highest point. A lower ridge far below to the west holds all the TV antennas. The very summit is free from any facilities. Nelson could be climbed year round but brush and heat might make summer climbs rough. Try to pick a nice day in early spring when all the snow is consolidated and covering the brush.
Nelson Peak West Ridge Route
The Views
Pick a good weather day, the views are incredible. With few peaks available to climb in this part of the Valley, it's a great new perspective.  |
Farnsworth Peak
Additional Information
If you are interested in climbing all the peaks in the Oquirrh Mountains, keep an eye on my Oquirrh Mountains Page on my website HERE. Within a few years, I should complete them all with maps and trip reports for each...except those on private property which I will strictly deny I climbed but possibly have pictures from the summit if you like to see them.A summit webcam can be found HERE but during the winter of 2009/10 it didn't update much. It also appears to be on the lower ridge several hundred feet below to the east, where the majority of towers are at.
Nelson Peak Map
See West Ridge route page for details and pictures of this route.
Nelson Peak West Ridge Route Map
Video
We experienced much more bushwacking than if we could have stayed on the ridge (although rock outcrops were an issue as well). The fresh snow on the ridge was knee deep with snowshoes forcing us on the south face where it was mostly melted out. This isn't even a bad spot since you won't see him on his knees crawling.Casualties
Along with many deep scratches on my hands and face, I broke my best pair of snowshoes. Atlas repaired the bindings a few times but this time it's retirement for my babies.
One broken snowshoe
