North Thunder Mountain is the slightly lower (by 4 feet) sister summit of South Thunder Mountain, which is located approximately 1 mile to the south. The two peaks are connected by a long and rugged ridge which divides Hogum Gulch on the east from Thunder Bowl on the west.

Long approaches, difficult scrambling, routefinding, and significant elevation gain ensure that North Thunder will be a challenging hike, regardless of the route chosen.

This is a seldomly visited mountain; based on the summit register the peak typically sees only a dozen or so visitors per year, despite the fact that the mountain directly overlooks the Salt Lake valley with a population of over one million.

USGS Quads:

Dromedary Peak, Utah (1:24k)

Draper, Utah (1:24k)

Salt Lake City, Utah (1:100k)

Getting There

The three most commonly used routes for an ascent of North Thunder Mountain are as follows:

Coalpit Gulch

Sam Thomas Gulch

West Face via Bells Canyon

See the individual 'Routes' section for trailhead directions and details on ascending the peak for each of these routes.

A challenging day is accomplished by combining an ascent of North Thunder with an ascent of 3 other nearby peaks; South Thunder Mountain, Bighorn Peak, and Lone Peak. Details of this route are contained in the Hematoma Quad route description.

Red Tape

North Thunder Mountain is located in the Lone Peak Wilderness Area. No fees or permits are required for hiking in this area, but the following regulations apply:

No motor vehicles, mechanized equipment, hang gliders, or bicycles

Group sizes shall not exceed 10 persons

No camping within 200 feet of lakes, trails, or sources of water

No camping for more than 3 days at one site

Short cutting trail switchbacks is prohibited

Dispose of all garbage, debris, or other waste

The Bells Canyon trailhead passes through a residential area, so please show respect to the property owners.

When To Climb

Late spring through autumn are ideal. Winter approaches from any direction would potentially be subject to much avalanche danger. Carefully assess snow conditions before considering a winter attempt.

Camping

There are numerous possibilities for camping in Bells Canyon. Water is available year round in the canyon - treat before drinking.

Mountain Conditions

National Weather Service forecast .

Utah Avalanche Center website.

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