Smith and Morehouse/Erickson Basin Route

Smith and Morehouse/Erickson Basin Route

Page Type Page Type: Route
Location Lat/Lon: 40.67810°N / 111.0615°W
Additional Information Route Type: Scramble
Additional Information Time Required: A long day
Additional Information Difficulty: Class 2+
Sign the Climber's Log

Approach

The trailhead is at the Ledge Fork Campground. From Oakley (State Route 32), turn east on the Weber Canyon Road. Follow this road east for about 12 miles to where the Smith and Morehouse Road turns south. Turn right (south) at this junction and follow this good gravel road past the Smith and Morehouse Reservoir. The road ends at the Ledge Fork Campground and the trailhead.

Smith and Morehouse RouteGuidebook scan of the Smith and Morehouse Route to Wall Peak and Peak 10,931. Dotted lines are off trail routes and dashed lines are trails.

Route Description

From the trailhead, the trail crosses Smith and Morehouse Creek on a good bridge shortly after beginning. The trail climbs gradually at first with a few short steep sections. After just over a mile the trail reaches an un-marked junction (don't worry if you miss it).

Continue straight on the main trail. The main trail continues another 1.75 miles to a signed junction. Take the trail to the right. The trail leaves Smith and Morehouse Creek and follows Erickson Creek to Erickson Basin after another two miles. There are a few steep sections along the trail. At Erickson Basin there is a minor junction (you may miss it).

From the junction, a new, and now the main trail, and the one you want, heads left (east) for half a mile to North Erickson Lake and then heads south to South Erickson Lake. From South Erickson Lake, the trail to the left that heads east is the one you want. Continue on this lesser-used trail east to Big Elk Pass by following cairns the best you are able.

Wall Peak is reached from Big Elk Pass via a steep boulder-hop and scramble to the southwest and along the ridge southwest to the summit.

Round trip distance is about 12 miles to Wall Peak and back.

Click for full sized map:

Route Map

Essential Gear

A good pair of boots is needed.



Parents 

Parents

Parents refers to a larger category under which an object falls. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports.