engineer1984 - Nov 14, 2021 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2021
Hunters Only - Winter Canyon
Got to the Winter Canyon TH today and saw signs that access is denied unless you are hunting. No one else allowed.
I didn't drive to the South Ridge, so maybe that is still accessible, legally.
cheers,
Joe the Hiker - Jul 9, 2020 12:16 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2020
My First Hike on summitpost
I went up the Northwest route through Elgrove canyon. You have to have a high clearance vehicle, and go through a ranchers pasture, but he provides access to the forest service land. Just make sure the gates are left how they were found.
scgrant - Dec 3, 2015 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Dec 3, 2015
Gunsight Peak
Yea this one is a tough one. I opted to do the South Ridge route from the Short Divide. The first 1.5 miles are relatively easy on generally mild terrain, but once you start to ascend towards Peak 7801 it gets quite a bit trickier. Very rugged, rocky ridge and with a fair amount of fresh snow made things pretty challenging. The hike along the ridge offered tremendous views the entire way. As tough as it was it was a fantastic route. The last push to the summit through the dry, airy snow was also tough as you had all but no traction. I stayed on top long enough to find a reference marker to take a picture of and sign the summit register. This was Utah prominence peak 69/81 for me.
ZeeJay - May 31, 2014 9:26 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2014
Toughie
We went the Winter Canyon Route. There is a nice trail all the way to the ridge and most of the way on the ridge. To avoid bushwhacking we lost about 100' of elevation before we started up Gunsight. We also went to Clarkston Mountain (8001) and 7801. All of this was easy to not bad, except for going over to 7801 which was very slow going on the ridge. We bushwhacked down the ridge south of Winter Canyon back to the start.
Winter Canyon has official "Walk in Access" where the state pays private landowners to let the public access their land, but you have to register and get a free permit by calling the number on the sign. I was asked for my name, address, height, weight, hair color, eye color, and social security number!!!! and was given a 23 digit code to write down!! I declined on the ssn and wasn't pressed for it.
David Mortensen - Jun 29, 2013 4:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2013
Gunsight Peak
We went up the Winter Canyon route. I think if you stay on the dirt road, you can avoid private property. We parked at the end of the road where there was a trail (no sign). The first mile of the trail is shady and mild. It then climbs quite steeply to the top of a ridge. Shortly after this we kind of lost the trail (about 500 vertical ft. from the summit). We bush-wacked our way up to the top. There were nice views at the summit.
Went in from the Winter Canyon route, trail is a little overgrown and the last push to the peak we pretty much made our own, bugs werent to bad with it being breezy today. Fun day all in all. 5.5 miles round trip with approx 2600ft elev gain
Dean - May 28, 2009 10:26 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2009
South Ridge
This one took longer than I thought it would. You know, just 4 miles each way and 2500' of elevation gain, I was thinking that it would be somewhat easy. Well, it was a workout (for me)but a worthy workout. OK, now that that is out of the way, it is an exceptional mountain as it is not a gimme and makes you work as there are few places where you aren't route finding up and down the ridgeline. The mosquitoes were out in force and bugged me most of the way up and all of the way down. I also darn near stepped on two snakes (not rattlers) and with the heat, I truly earned this summit. Thanks to mountaingazelle for not only adding this mountain to SP but for leading the way up the south ridge. I saw your footprints in several spots as it seems your route finding was similar to mine.
mountaingazelle - May 21, 2009 5:49 am Date Climbed: May 17, 2009
Gunsight Peak
South Ridge : May 17, 2009 - I hiked from the pass and followed the south ridge the entire way. It took longer than I had expected but I liked the route. There are great views of Malad Valley and Cache Valley. It was a hazy day so my photos did not come out so well. Few people hike in this area except for hunters which seem to stay on its lower slopes.
West Face : June 23, 2007 - This route was steep and not really fun. I found out later that I had crossed private property without permission. So I don’t advise anyone else to go up the west face either. I returned a few years after and hiked up the south ridge which was a better route.
engineer1984 - Nov 14, 2021 1:11 pm Date Climbed: Nov 14, 2021
Hunters Only - Winter CanyonGot to the Winter Canyon TH today and saw signs that access is denied unless you are hunting. No one else allowed.
I didn't drive to the South Ridge, so maybe that is still accessible, legally.
cheers,
Joe the Hiker - Jul 9, 2020 12:16 pm Date Climbed: Jul 2, 2020
My First Hike on summitpostI went up the Northwest route through Elgrove canyon. You have to have a high clearance vehicle, and go through a ranchers pasture, but he provides access to the forest service land. Just make sure the gates are left how they were found.
scgrant - Dec 3, 2015 10:51 pm Date Climbed: Dec 3, 2015
Gunsight PeakYea this one is a tough one. I opted to do the South Ridge route from the Short Divide. The first 1.5 miles are relatively easy on generally mild terrain, but once you start to ascend towards Peak 7801 it gets quite a bit trickier. Very rugged, rocky ridge and with a fair amount of fresh snow made things pretty challenging. The hike along the ridge offered tremendous views the entire way. As tough as it was it was a fantastic route. The last push to the summit through the dry, airy snow was also tough as you had all but no traction. I stayed on top long enough to find a reference marker to take a picture of and sign the summit register. This was Utah prominence peak 69/81 for me.
ZeeJay - May 31, 2014 9:26 pm Date Climbed: May 31, 2014
ToughieWe went the Winter Canyon Route. There is a nice trail all the way to the ridge and most of the way on the ridge. To avoid bushwhacking we lost about 100' of elevation before we started up Gunsight. We also went to Clarkston Mountain (8001) and 7801. All of this was easy to not bad, except for going over to 7801 which was very slow going on the ridge. We bushwhacked down the ridge south of Winter Canyon back to the start.
Winter Canyon has official "Walk in Access" where the state pays private landowners to let the public access their land, but you have to register and get a free permit by calling the number on the sign. I was asked for my name, address, height, weight, hair color, eye color, and social security number!!!! and was given a 23 digit code to write down!! I declined on the ssn and wasn't pressed for it.
David Mortensen - Jun 29, 2013 4:35 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2013
Gunsight PeakWe went up the Winter Canyon route. I think if you stay on the dirt road, you can avoid private property. We parked at the end of the road where there was a trail (no sign). The first mile of the trail is shady and mild. It then climbs quite steeply to the top of a ridge. Shortly after this we kind of lost the trail (about 500 vertical ft. from the summit). We bush-wacked our way up to the top. There were nice views at the summit.
KayCees - Jul 30, 2011 8:44 pm Date Climbed: Jul 30, 2011
great dayWent in from the Winter Canyon route, trail is a little overgrown and the last push to the peak we pretty much made our own, bugs werent to bad with it being breezy today. Fun day all in all. 5.5 miles round trip with approx 2600ft elev gain
Dean - May 28, 2009 10:26 pm Date Climbed: May 28, 2009
South RidgeThis one took longer than I thought it would. You know, just 4 miles each way and 2500' of elevation gain, I was thinking that it would be somewhat easy. Well, it was a workout (for me)but a worthy workout. OK, now that that is out of the way, it is an exceptional mountain as it is not a gimme and makes you work as there are few places where you aren't route finding up and down the ridgeline. The mosquitoes were out in force and bugged me most of the way up and all of the way down. I also darn near stepped on two snakes (not rattlers) and with the heat, I truly earned this summit. Thanks to mountaingazelle for not only adding this mountain to SP but for leading the way up the south ridge. I saw your footprints in several spots as it seems your route finding was similar to mine.
mountaingazelle - May 21, 2009 5:49 am Date Climbed: May 17, 2009
Gunsight PeakSouth Ridge : May 17, 2009 - I hiked from the pass and followed the south ridge the entire way. It took longer than I had expected but I liked the route. There are great views of Malad Valley and Cache Valley. It was a hazy day so my photos did not come out so well. Few people hike in this area except for hunters which seem to stay on its lower slopes.
West Face : June 23, 2007 - This route was steep and not really fun. I found out later that I had crossed private property without permission. So I don’t advise anyone else to go up the west face either. I returned a few years after and hiked up the south ridge which was a better route.