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- Dec 23, 2013
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- 3,761
I attempted this hike back in November of 2017 with my daughter, and with my late start that day, and shorter days that time of year, we didn't make it to the summit of Castle Rock. Castle Rock is located on Stansbury Island, which with the lower water level of the Great Salt Lake isn't really an island now.
The trailhead is located about fifty miles to the west of Salt Lake City and the entire hike is without a trail, but even without a trail, there is no chance of getting lost as you can pretty much see where you need to go from the get go. The entire route is exposed, with a few Juniper trees here and there. There is private land located on Stansbury that one is supposed to avoid, which makes for a rather long approach to the high point.
We began by making our way up to the old Lake Bonneville bench. Once on the bench, we hiked north along it. Occasionally we would have to cross steep gullies where running water had eroded the bench over time. We continued north until we reached the easiest grade of slope to hike up in order to gain the main ridge of the island. Once we were on the ridge, we continued to follow the ridgeline north and on to the summit of Castle Rock. There is a little bit of scrambling as you get very close to the summit.
Here are some shots of our hike.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97153-1472f165947af8929633a3d39e3c9598.jpg)
The Jeep doesn't get to go on many long drives anymore so it was quite excited.
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97154-2a8cc6f53b92d54061f56fae8afd90dd.jpg)
Early morning sun on Stansbury Island. Castle Rock is the small bump along the ridgeline to the right of center.
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97155-669e713c7e7fc810a6c384bfec123bab.jpg)
Yellows Bells were beginning to bloom at lower elevations
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97156-9a110c00203a38a9c62cb19bb406e2a4.jpg)
Making our way up to the Lake Bonneville shoreline (bench)
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97157-4d94a89f0ce24f24c74c9727abb0467b.jpg)
View to the north
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97158-2671224007655e4a2614a7e44e0fab23.jpg)
Dead Juniper at bench level
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97159-0d42dfe1c6cfca887993f4b564a662e7.jpg)
Very pleasant hiking along the bench
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97160-cbf0a180fc5fdbd99e4a992f6ea7fcbd.jpg)
Looking west down first drainage that we had to cross
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97161-c6f715d4cdf33433e7efb38485dac9ff.jpg)
A good look at the old bench from across the second drainage we encountered.
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97162-7636c51302fc67072f8845c655992a21.jpg)
Juniper tree
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97163-ae85bd4fac513cf1b0de7c37287197ed.jpg)
Strolling along the bench
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97164-6db41db135b7ceef2a561ccf67fe0836.jpg)
Finally some wildlife!
I'm not sure what differentiates Stansbury Island Bison from Yellowstone Bison. Anybody out there know? ![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97165-950880c84905d93a10b6aef46b1aae31.jpg)
Layered rock along our route
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97166-c88b846322893ef8ea797e0daf36b695.jpg)
Some Spring Parsley and Common Storksbill. The Spring Parsley was the hit of the hike as it was plentiful and blooming everywhere along our route
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97167-286b01b28aaba94b2407f2568e62c031.jpg)
Some fossilized sea shells in the rock
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97168-86de2a347f214f8c41665620c98c0176.jpg)
Making our way up to the main ridgeline.
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97169-3ff17ba87e40562ab688aa804e95ee58.jpg)
62 in the shade of a Juniper tree. It would end up reaching a high of 79 degrees, which is relatively hot for this time of year here.
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97170-2f6d09f233540fea4e61c5e4738b0e13.jpg)
We took a break in the shade of this Juniper before completing our trek to the ridge
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97171-f8eae61e0b6ce1ba5ec8ae06949274e9.jpg)
Getting close to the ridgeline
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97172-9136c80e59c5f7c8adad6e41430f7a80.jpg)
On the ridge.![Thumbs Up :thumbsup: :thumbsup:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97173-a7240cc89da731de6f99d2f20cb9dccb.jpg)
Castle Rock
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97174-21c1b8591607748b8da922359010c955.jpg)
View to the west from the ridgeline. The Lakeshore Mountains in the distance
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97175-b392309bc92f0497249e80a72fd73017.jpg)
First view to the east with Antelope Island and Frary Peak visible and the Wasatch Front in the far distance.
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97176-a4079255ac22d0852b3a8fae87e33b63.jpg)
Some ups and downs along the ridge
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97177-58f964dcf4cc16410cfce3d26de07f49.jpg)
Sheila, making her way along the ridge with the snow covered Stansbury Range in the distance.
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97178-d904d218319d013ff989df233de97e86.jpg)
A very quick energy bar break before heading on to the summit
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97179-9a4dba761341c6d448ec0d0170c91676.jpg)
Seems within reach.![Thinking :thinking: :thinking:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97180-324470b4b12f78860e88ce1548835963.jpg)
Castle Rock - only one more hill to climb
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97181-628c3d6da8c2eb1602b50ac113e273f5.jpg)
A look back along the ridge we had been traversing
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97182-87cb8c2a22f54f676102f1f6f9a8f701.jpg)
The summit! I can almost reach out and touch it.
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97183-7c70341db90a34bc9c39318891dd2369.jpg)
The scrambling portion
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97184-e14f926baa446df590fc843152411141.jpg)
On top
![33.jpg 33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97185-0b31697dd64f25dad9ef4ae3d559781c.jpg)
Views from the top - looking south along the spine of the island
![34.jpg 34.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97186-04de5286be0c543146a2398b045713bd.jpg)
View from the top - looking north to the northern end of the island
![35.jpg 35.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97187-c23ca5adbf0f8ab4136c15dda13c5bcd.jpg)
View from the top - looking southeast towards the Oquirrh Mountains
![36.jpg 36.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97188-97b3fff9e342493ba3d34da26910eeac.jpg)
On our way down at this point - a view into one of the canyons.
![37.jpg 37.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97189-b5db09b7b44b24efb6745a406ce94d8e.jpg)
View up one of the drainages we had to cross
![38.jpg 38.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97190-764696b0b671179e613eab10537a07d1.jpg)
Another drainage that we are crossing again. On this one though, instead of hiking down to the
bottom of the drainage and then hike back up and out of it, we hiked up to the crack between the
rocks that you can see just above the center of the image. We then worked our way back down
to the bench and continued heading south
![39.jpg 39.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97191-0c9c40fa3f0bd08628160f4c1d088731.jpg)
Approaching another drainage
![40.jpg 40.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97192-044e13316eeae2f46ee28f4a82f4e9e9.jpg)
A look back on Castle Rock in the late afternoon sunshine
![41.jpg 41.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97193-add77361396c8ac5653910cea66a753b.jpg)
Take us home 94 Wrangler.
The End.
The trailhead is located about fifty miles to the west of Salt Lake City and the entire hike is without a trail, but even without a trail, there is no chance of getting lost as you can pretty much see where you need to go from the get go. The entire route is exposed, with a few Juniper trees here and there. There is private land located on Stansbury that one is supposed to avoid, which makes for a rather long approach to the high point.
We began by making our way up to the old Lake Bonneville bench. Once on the bench, we hiked north along it. Occasionally we would have to cross steep gullies where running water had eroded the bench over time. We continued north until we reached the easiest grade of slope to hike up in order to gain the main ridge of the island. Once we were on the ridge, we continued to follow the ridgeline north and on to the summit of Castle Rock. There is a little bit of scrambling as you get very close to the summit.
Here are some shots of our hike.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97153-1472f165947af8929633a3d39e3c9598.jpg)
The Jeep doesn't get to go on many long drives anymore so it was quite excited.
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97154-2a8cc6f53b92d54061f56fae8afd90dd.jpg)
Early morning sun on Stansbury Island. Castle Rock is the small bump along the ridgeline to the right of center.
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97155-669e713c7e7fc810a6c384bfec123bab.jpg)
Yellows Bells were beginning to bloom at lower elevations
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97156-9a110c00203a38a9c62cb19bb406e2a4.jpg)
Making our way up to the Lake Bonneville shoreline (bench)
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97157-4d94a89f0ce24f24c74c9727abb0467b.jpg)
View to the north
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97158-2671224007655e4a2614a7e44e0fab23.jpg)
Dead Juniper at bench level
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97159-0d42dfe1c6cfca887993f4b564a662e7.jpg)
Very pleasant hiking along the bench
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97160-cbf0a180fc5fdbd99e4a992f6ea7fcbd.jpg)
Looking west down first drainage that we had to cross
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97161-c6f715d4cdf33433e7efb38485dac9ff.jpg)
A good look at the old bench from across the second drainage we encountered.
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97162-7636c51302fc67072f8845c655992a21.jpg)
Juniper tree
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97163-ae85bd4fac513cf1b0de7c37287197ed.jpg)
Strolling along the bench
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97164-6db41db135b7ceef2a561ccf67fe0836.jpg)
Finally some wildlife!
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97165-950880c84905d93a10b6aef46b1aae31.jpg)
Layered rock along our route
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97166-c88b846322893ef8ea797e0daf36b695.jpg)
Some Spring Parsley and Common Storksbill. The Spring Parsley was the hit of the hike as it was plentiful and blooming everywhere along our route
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97167-286b01b28aaba94b2407f2568e62c031.jpg)
Some fossilized sea shells in the rock
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97168-86de2a347f214f8c41665620c98c0176.jpg)
Making our way up to the main ridgeline.
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97169-3ff17ba87e40562ab688aa804e95ee58.jpg)
62 in the shade of a Juniper tree. It would end up reaching a high of 79 degrees, which is relatively hot for this time of year here.
![18.jpg 18.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97170-2f6d09f233540fea4e61c5e4738b0e13.jpg)
We took a break in the shade of this Juniper before completing our trek to the ridge
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97171-f8eae61e0b6ce1ba5ec8ae06949274e9.jpg)
Getting close to the ridgeline
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97172-9136c80e59c5f7c8adad6e41430f7a80.jpg)
On the ridge.
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97173-a7240cc89da731de6f99d2f20cb9dccb.jpg)
Castle Rock
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97174-21c1b8591607748b8da922359010c955.jpg)
View to the west from the ridgeline. The Lakeshore Mountains in the distance
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97175-b392309bc92f0497249e80a72fd73017.jpg)
First view to the east with Antelope Island and Frary Peak visible and the Wasatch Front in the far distance.
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97176-a4079255ac22d0852b3a8fae87e33b63.jpg)
Some ups and downs along the ridge
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97177-58f964dcf4cc16410cfce3d26de07f49.jpg)
Sheila, making her way along the ridge with the snow covered Stansbury Range in the distance.
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97178-d904d218319d013ff989df233de97e86.jpg)
A very quick energy bar break before heading on to the summit
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97179-9a4dba761341c6d448ec0d0170c91676.jpg)
Seems within reach.
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97180-324470b4b12f78860e88ce1548835963.jpg)
Castle Rock - only one more hill to climb
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97181-628c3d6da8c2eb1602b50ac113e273f5.jpg)
A look back along the ridge we had been traversing
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97182-87cb8c2a22f54f676102f1f6f9a8f701.jpg)
The summit! I can almost reach out and touch it.
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97183-7c70341db90a34bc9c39318891dd2369.jpg)
The scrambling portion
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97184-e14f926baa446df590fc843152411141.jpg)
On top
![33.jpg 33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97185-0b31697dd64f25dad9ef4ae3d559781c.jpg)
Views from the top - looking south along the spine of the island
![34.jpg 34.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97186-04de5286be0c543146a2398b045713bd.jpg)
View from the top - looking north to the northern end of the island
![35.jpg 35.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97187-c23ca5adbf0f8ab4136c15dda13c5bcd.jpg)
View from the top - looking southeast towards the Oquirrh Mountains
![36.jpg 36.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97188-97b3fff9e342493ba3d34da26910eeac.jpg)
On our way down at this point - a view into one of the canyons.
![37.jpg 37.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97189-b5db09b7b44b24efb6745a406ce94d8e.jpg)
View up one of the drainages we had to cross
![38.jpg 38.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97190-764696b0b671179e613eab10537a07d1.jpg)
Another drainage that we are crossing again. On this one though, instead of hiking down to the
bottom of the drainage and then hike back up and out of it, we hiked up to the crack between the
rocks that you can see just above the center of the image. We then worked our way back down
to the bench and continued heading south
![39.jpg 39.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97191-0c9c40fa3f0bd08628160f4c1d088731.jpg)
Approaching another drainage
![40.jpg 40.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97192-044e13316eeae2f46ee28f4a82f4e9e9.jpg)
A look back on Castle Rock in the late afternoon sunshine
![41.jpg 41.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/97/97193-add77361396c8ac5653910cea66a753b.jpg)
Take us home 94 Wrangler.
The End.