- Joined
- Dec 23, 2013
- Messages
- 3,761
He's back! Newly retired @Artemus had an itch to go hiking, so yesterday, we decided to tackle Grandview Peak. Now, there is nothing hard about Grandview, but it requires a full day do to the length of the approach and get back to your vehicle.
We beagn at 6:40 am from the Big Mountain Pass Trailhead, and we made our way along the Great Western Trail to Big Mountain and beyond to Swallow Rocks. At this point we left the Great Western Trail and headed east to the headwaters of City Creek Canyon and on to Grandview Peak.
On our return, we took the trail past Lookout Peak and dropped down to the Affleck Park Campground in East Canyon.
Once again wildflowers dominated the route, both coming and going. The only wildlife on the hike though were some birds and a horned lizard towards the end.
Art's phone app had us at 18 miles for the day, and as the day bore on, it became quite hot, particularly on our return.
Here's some shots of our hike.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90225-fe3891d92b297bab0290f9d06126346a.jpg)
The trailhead at Big Mountain Pass
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90226-5643b3f08aea9e2544e2eb962259eae3.jpg)
The one and only @Artemus. I think he's wondering why the hell am I so slow.
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90227-ca46f438db80a7aa23dfe0e57b639509.jpg)
@Miya, I'll see your Yarrow and raise you three!![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90228-2356aa0c13cc16c227fa2176a22e2755.jpg)
Some Fleabane perhaps?
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90229-492e806449c9c836aae3724bd0992a7b.jpg)
A look across the draw at Lookout Peak
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90230-b5545755a275c575fad977b4863226e4.jpg)
An angelic Tree Hugger? Solid!
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90231-1211407cbf725b6078b8481f4ade9368.jpg)
Not much to the top of Big Mountain - a nice view of the Wasatch though.
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90232-4e3477a0e04f9d9f676b759c3b978463.jpg)
Grandview Peak is off in the distance at the center of this image. Please ignore the shadow.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90233-51f3e626a3f9a31f462e1f55791534f6.jpg)
Looking down into Dell Canyon
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90234-7c7fd3a8f3c7386ca9eade66a2c22a34.jpg)
Art, heading towards Swallow Rocks (high point in the image)
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90235-44a52818f81cc6e8636bada8d653a51f.jpg)
Lupine along the trail
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90236-6e24c7c37ba3e17b45f4ff520b59ab15.jpg)
Tall Ragwort
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90237-11e48f0574861ef422b22b762214fbde.jpg)
Aster
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90238-9181d1cc72f568d8e39f99b02b86e70b.jpg)
Scatman can't read this sign.
Leaving the Great Western Trail at this point
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90239-0741b4152e0241af7f9fe78dfb0394d0.jpg)
Cougar Scat? What do you think?
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90240-2570c74cfe145e6d6168065052d8839a.jpg)
Showy Goldeneye
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90241-be6f3db7b14c5dfbbdad692fb760174d.jpg)
Art, with our goal in the distance. It's only four miles as the crow flies from here I'm told.
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90243-3ceca6f7928d998671b8a67a83c89bc8.jpg)
Sego Lily
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90244-d887547ef36ce07e271957754a2973d5.jpg)
Getting closer! We still have to traverse the ridge around the upper City Creek Basin to reach the peak.
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90245-aa3d526cbbe48a77ddced6bf2128e9ec.jpg)
Paintbrush along the ridge
![21b.jpg 21b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90246-1c9527491b76aa88ea2019d898e16423.jpg)
Dropping down to a saddle at upper City Creek before climbing back up to the top of the ridge.
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90247-db31b6525256663c1cbdd26cf0ccfb8d.jpg)
Looking down into upper City Creek Canyon
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90248-3375c5df98b8427af80c398211e8a5e6.jpg)
@Artemus pulls a Scatman and begins bushwhacking through service berry shrubs trying to regain the trail. Ask him about this
sometime.![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90249-eaf97a0b4716ab12461a3f71b597a96d.jpg)
One for @Perry, a shot north into the Morgan Valley
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90250-80316c8a0b2a3aeed4ce4690f2c92875.jpg)
Grandview Peak. The escarpment is a prominent feature that can be seen from the Salt Lake Valley, looking to the northeast.
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90251-026fd53929e7cb87e58802e4b476ce0b.jpg)
Hookers Onion
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90252-8395390f8da8f7e2734dd115c1124b23.jpg)
Back up and onto the ridge
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90253-96b38a316f833aa70c8756b2321b7e5d.jpg)
Deer leg
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90254-b07a17dd0aa39edec526a2cc93dfabf1.jpg)
Not the best shot, but it's a Grouse. We saw the same bird on our way back down.
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90255-c50f44ed5d22f6b745b4feb68ca6df09.jpg)
Burro Peak on the left. The northern ridge of City Creek Canyon
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90256-77f39f4c847c7e2a0c72df365bab98c1.jpg)
View to the east from the summit of Grandview Peak
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90257-ec5359261ec4f747b7bb8cb561896fa8.jpg)
Looking down Cottonwood Gulch and into City Creek Canyon
![33.jpg 33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90258-c6be1c4316bf9786387dcbfd17535a37.jpg)
Surveying his kingdom
![34.jpg 34.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90259-f70c53eed76e1169ebcdb2ed1f19c71f.jpg)
Summit shot - I have been assured that is Art standing next to me.
![35.jpg 35.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90260-dd3ee699cec784d7ab48a1a7fd524c64.jpg)
Coming off the summit to Fleabane along the trail
![36.jpg 36.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90261-3271bfc21cd635bfc91dd95c345dd47d.jpg)
Sort of surprised to see Columbine up here
![37.jpg 37.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90262-dc7ff555dd9e0ee48dfb1651eee20f87.jpg)
Tall Larkspur
![38.jpg 38.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90263-8e2ad47da1796ed312af0a0625c7112f.jpg)
A meadow full of Horsement and Larkspur. The smell was fantastic.
![39.jpg 39.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90264-7400572c449456e98d3556cc5b2c9fad.jpg)
Entering Aspen on the north side of Lookout Peak
![40.jpg 40.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90265-d757ed26e4f15861cde989be9d8ef767.jpg)
Looking east towards the Uintas.
![41.jpg 41.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90266-8a9d6c18ffb3ffc21c4f4c3136b5927a.jpg)
Art, checking out the view.
![42.jpg 42.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90267-1f9a3483ec4a564d1cd65f321bd7fb50.jpg)
A Horned Lizard.
![43.jpg 43.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90268-3a2c73f6ef8c52ffea2c95d5ac2e58a0.jpg)
This is where the trail pops out into Affleck Park Campground.
Once we arrived at the campground, we had to hike 0.7 miles down the road to a pullout where my Jeep was parked in order to shuttle back to Art's truck, parked at Big Mountain Pass.
The End
We beagn at 6:40 am from the Big Mountain Pass Trailhead, and we made our way along the Great Western Trail to Big Mountain and beyond to Swallow Rocks. At this point we left the Great Western Trail and headed east to the headwaters of City Creek Canyon and on to Grandview Peak.
On our return, we took the trail past Lookout Peak and dropped down to the Affleck Park Campground in East Canyon.
Once again wildflowers dominated the route, both coming and going. The only wildlife on the hike though were some birds and a horned lizard towards the end.
Art's phone app had us at 18 miles for the day, and as the day bore on, it became quite hot, particularly on our return.
Here's some shots of our hike.
![01.jpg 01.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90225-fe3891d92b297bab0290f9d06126346a.jpg)
The trailhead at Big Mountain Pass
![02.jpg 02.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90226-5643b3f08aea9e2544e2eb962259eae3.jpg)
The one and only @Artemus. I think he's wondering why the hell am I so slow.
![03.jpg 03.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90227-ca46f438db80a7aa23dfe0e57b639509.jpg)
@Miya, I'll see your Yarrow and raise you three!
![04.jpg 04.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90228-2356aa0c13cc16c227fa2176a22e2755.jpg)
Some Fleabane perhaps?
![05.jpg 05.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90229-492e806449c9c836aae3724bd0992a7b.jpg)
A look across the draw at Lookout Peak
![06.jpg 06.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90230-b5545755a275c575fad977b4863226e4.jpg)
An angelic Tree Hugger? Solid!
![07.jpg 07.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90231-1211407cbf725b6078b8481f4ade9368.jpg)
Not much to the top of Big Mountain - a nice view of the Wasatch though.
![08.jpg 08.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90232-4e3477a0e04f9d9f676b759c3b978463.jpg)
Grandview Peak is off in the distance at the center of this image. Please ignore the shadow.
![09.jpg 09.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90233-51f3e626a3f9a31f462e1f55791534f6.jpg)
Looking down into Dell Canyon
![10.jpg 10.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90234-7c7fd3a8f3c7386ca9eade66a2c22a34.jpg)
Art, heading towards Swallow Rocks (high point in the image)
![11.jpg 11.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90235-44a52818f81cc6e8636bada8d653a51f.jpg)
Lupine along the trail
![12.jpg 12.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90236-6e24c7c37ba3e17b45f4ff520b59ab15.jpg)
Tall Ragwort
![13.jpg 13.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90237-11e48f0574861ef422b22b762214fbde.jpg)
Aster
![14.jpg 14.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90238-9181d1cc72f568d8e39f99b02b86e70b.jpg)
Scatman can't read this sign.
![15.jpg 15.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90239-0741b4152e0241af7f9fe78dfb0394d0.jpg)
Cougar Scat? What do you think?
![16.jpg 16.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90240-2570c74cfe145e6d6168065052d8839a.jpg)
Showy Goldeneye
![17.jpg 17.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90241-be6f3db7b14c5dfbbdad692fb760174d.jpg)
Art, with our goal in the distance. It's only four miles as the crow flies from here I'm told.
![19.jpg 19.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90243-3ceca6f7928d998671b8a67a83c89bc8.jpg)
Sego Lily
![20.jpg 20.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90244-d887547ef36ce07e271957754a2973d5.jpg)
Getting closer! We still have to traverse the ridge around the upper City Creek Basin to reach the peak.
![21.jpg 21.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90245-aa3d526cbbe48a77ddced6bf2128e9ec.jpg)
Paintbrush along the ridge
![21b.jpg 21b.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90246-1c9527491b76aa88ea2019d898e16423.jpg)
Dropping down to a saddle at upper City Creek before climbing back up to the top of the ridge.
![22.jpg 22.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90247-db31b6525256663c1cbdd26cf0ccfb8d.jpg)
Looking down into upper City Creek Canyon
![23.jpg 23.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90248-3375c5df98b8427af80c398211e8a5e6.jpg)
@Artemus pulls a Scatman and begins bushwhacking through service berry shrubs trying to regain the trail. Ask him about this
sometime.
![24.jpg 24.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90249-eaf97a0b4716ab12461a3f71b597a96d.jpg)
One for @Perry, a shot north into the Morgan Valley
![25.jpg 25.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90250-80316c8a0b2a3aeed4ce4690f2c92875.jpg)
Grandview Peak. The escarpment is a prominent feature that can be seen from the Salt Lake Valley, looking to the northeast.
![26.jpg 26.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90251-026fd53929e7cb87e58802e4b476ce0b.jpg)
Hookers Onion
![27.jpg 27.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90252-8395390f8da8f7e2734dd115c1124b23.jpg)
Back up and onto the ridge
![28.jpg 28.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90253-96b38a316f833aa70c8756b2321b7e5d.jpg)
Deer leg
![29.jpg 29.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90254-b07a17dd0aa39edec526a2cc93dfabf1.jpg)
Not the best shot, but it's a Grouse. We saw the same bird on our way back down.
![30.jpg 30.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90255-c50f44ed5d22f6b745b4feb68ca6df09.jpg)
Burro Peak on the left. The northern ridge of City Creek Canyon
![31.jpg 31.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90256-77f39f4c847c7e2a0c72df365bab98c1.jpg)
View to the east from the summit of Grandview Peak
![32.jpg 32.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90257-ec5359261ec4f747b7bb8cb561896fa8.jpg)
Looking down Cottonwood Gulch and into City Creek Canyon
![33.jpg 33.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90258-c6be1c4316bf9786387dcbfd17535a37.jpg)
Surveying his kingdom
![34.jpg 34.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90259-f70c53eed76e1169ebcdb2ed1f19c71f.jpg)
Summit shot - I have been assured that is Art standing next to me.
![35.jpg 35.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90260-dd3ee699cec784d7ab48a1a7fd524c64.jpg)
Coming off the summit to Fleabane along the trail
![36.jpg 36.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90261-3271bfc21cd635bfc91dd95c345dd47d.jpg)
Sort of surprised to see Columbine up here
![37.jpg 37.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90262-dc7ff555dd9e0ee48dfb1651eee20f87.jpg)
Tall Larkspur
![38.jpg 38.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90263-8e2ad47da1796ed312af0a0625c7112f.jpg)
A meadow full of Horsement and Larkspur. The smell was fantastic.
![39.jpg 39.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90264-7400572c449456e98d3556cc5b2c9fad.jpg)
Entering Aspen on the north side of Lookout Peak
![40.jpg 40.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90265-d757ed26e4f15861cde989be9d8ef767.jpg)
Looking east towards the Uintas.
![41.jpg 41.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90266-8a9d6c18ffb3ffc21c4f4c3136b5927a.jpg)
Art, checking out the view.
![42.jpg 42.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90267-1f9a3483ec4a564d1cd65f321bd7fb50.jpg)
A Horned Lizard.
![43.jpg 43.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/90/90268-3a2c73f6ef8c52ffea2c95d5ac2e58a0.jpg)
This is where the trail pops out into Affleck Park Campground.
Once we arrived at the campground, we had to hike 0.7 miles down the road to a pullout where my Jeep was parked in order to shuttle back to Art's truck, parked at Big Mountain Pass.
The End