Swasey Knob

  Page Type 
 Mountain/Rock 
  Location: 
Utah, United States, North America
  Lat/Lon:  
 40.67443°N / 110.50605°W
  County: 
Duchesne
  Activities: 
Hiking
  Season: 
Summer
  Elevation: 
12124 ft / 3695 m
 
Sign the Climber's Log!

Page By:

ZeeJay

Created On: Sep 25, 2008

Last Edited On: Oct 18, 2008

Table of Contents

Overview
Getting There
Red Tape
Camping
Routes
Images

Overview

Swasey Knob is a very mellow peak that sits at the southern end of the ridge lining the west side of Garfield Basin in the Uinta Mountains of Utah. The highpoint sits atop an almost flat plain 1.75 miles long by .4 miles wide scattered with red rocks amid clumps of yellow green grass.

Swasey Knob lies ahead 1.1 miles away, the highpoint of a featureless plain

But, even though its top may be flat, its east side is a 600 foot cliff. Scenic Swasey Hole is below immediately to its southeast and many lakes can be seen from above.

Swasey Hole

To its south lies bump 12007 whose southern ridge comes to a symmetric point, the sides of which seem to have identical coloring, red at the very top and orangish red down below.

Heading toward 12007 on the way to Swasey Knob

At 12124 feet, Swasey Knob with prominence of 304 feet ranks 98th on Scott's list of Utah 12,000+ Foot Peaks with 200+ Feet Prominence.
Kings Peak (13528), Utah's high point lies 10 miles to the northeast. But the most striking 13000 footers viewed from this peak are Lovenia, Wasatch, and East Lovenia 7.8, 9.7 and 7.3 miles to the northwest.

Lovenia, Wasatch, and East Lovenia

Swasey Knob from the north

The summit is a 7.2 mile hike from the Center Park Trailhead to the south. It is so flat at the top that you might find it useful to know that the "x" on the map is at N40 40.466 W110 30.363. Most people would not want to climb this peak by itself but would do it as part of a multiday trip to several summits. The best months to climb are July, August, and September.

Getting There

Access from the south is via the Center Park Trailhead.

Red Tape

Group size is limited as per wilderness area rules. Many lakes have proximity restrictions. These restrictions change from time to time so check the sign board at the trailhead to see what restrictions are currently in place.

Camping

There are 5 established campgrounds near the Center Park Trailhead as descriped in the trailhead page. There are numerous places to camp in Garfield Basin.

Routes

From Center Park on the south

Topo map

Yellow Benchmark from S ridge of Swasey Knob

Start at the Center Park Trailhead and head north on the trail to Garfield Basin. After about 2.9 miles, leave the trail at N40 38.259 W110 27.603 and head for the 11193 benchmark to be found at N40 38.636 W110 29.439. Follow the ridge west and then northwest to the 11842 benchmark, the remains of which are found at N40 38.686 W110 29.439. Follow the ridge north to the 12007 bump and then continue another 1.1 miles on flat terrain to Swasey Knob (12124).

For the return you could either retrace your steps or descend into Swasey Hole and make your way east back to the trail. A reasonable way to do this would be to walk the east ridge that starts just south of Swasey Knob until you reach the saddle between 11552 and 11337 and then descend south to Lake 10810. Pass south of Lake 10715 and Lake 10706 and then head east to the trail.

Garfied Basin Rim Loop

There are seven peaks above 12000 feet ringing Garfield Basin and they all can be done in one trip. See Garfield Basin Rim Loop.