Balkan Dome and Pictograph Mountain in Snow Canyon State Park, UT

Hike Balkan Dome and Pictograph Mountain Snow Canyon State Park, UT

Class 3 4.8 miles 2300 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Mar 29, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Balkan Dome and Pictograph Mountain GPX Track

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A few months ago, I did a beautiful traverse of the west rim of Snow Canyon State Park, and I saw lots of pretty peaks that looked worth doing. This shorter day visits a couple of those, Balkan Dome and Pictograph Mountain, as well as a short side-trip to a colorful lump on the gorgeous slickrock mesa north of Pictograph Mountain. These two peaks are fun scrambles within Snow Canyon State Park.

Starting from the parking area, head up a wash toward Balkan Dome. Find Class 2+ scrambles to the summit, and some Class 2/3 down scrambles along the north side. The route-finding gets a bit complex on Balkan Dome, and it takes some work to keep the route at Class 3, but it's definitely doable. It's basically a maze of small cliffs and humps of volcanic/sandtone rock that require lots of trial and error, or at least it did for me, but that aspect comprised most of the fun on this small peak. There is likely more that one option to get up and down off the north side of Balkan Dome, and I recommend trying to remember the way you came up in case you can't find a way down on the opposite side.

Head through the desert and pick up the Red Wash Trail which takes you just north of Pictograph Mountain. Locate a ridge with a social trail that follows cairns the whole way up. I didn't encounter anything harder than Class 2, but it was a fun, steep sandstone ascent. From the Pictograph Mountain summit, definitely take the time to go to the colorful slightly-less-high point just north of the summit, where there are really nice views and gorgeous rock formations.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Balkan Dome
3616 ft
176 rise
2
Pictograph Mountain
4217 ft
n/a rise

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Follow a wash from the trailhead toward Balkan Dome.
Follow a wash from the trailhead toward Balkan Dome.
Balkan Dome right, Pictograph Mountain left.
Balkan Dome right, Pictograph Mountain left.
Scramble up Balkan Dome.
Scramble up Balkan Dome.
Looking down into the wash I came up on while heading up Balkan Dome.
Looking down into the wash I came up on while heading up Balkan Dome.
Image 4 from gallery
False high point on Balkan Dome, Pictograph Mountain over the on the left.
False high point on Balkan Dome, Pictograph Mountain over the on the left.
Image 6 from gallery
Image 7 from gallery
Balkan Dome high point.
Balkan Dome high point.
Looking back from Balkan Dome summit.
Looking back from Balkan Dome summit.
Route-finding down from Balkan Dome's north side.
Route-finding down from Balkan Dome's north side.
Image 11 from gallery
Head through open desert toward Pictograph Mountain.
Head through open desert toward Pictograph Mountain.
Looking back toward Balkan Dome.
Looking back toward Balkan Dome.
Red Wash Trail goes to the north of Pictograph Mountain.
Red Wash Trail goes to the north of Pictograph Mountain.
Red Wash Trail.
Red Wash Trail.
The ridge on the left heads up Pictograph Mountain.
The ridge on the left heads up Pictograph Mountain.
Heading up the ridge, looking back the way I came.
Heading up the ridge, looking back the way I came.
Image 18 from gallery
Crazy terraces along the ridge heading up to Pictograph Mountain.
Crazy terraces along the ridge heading up to Pictograph Mountain.
Image 20 from gallery
A gorgeously colored high point, not the summit. I want to go there, regardless. You can also see the forming of a natural arch in the center.
A gorgeously colored high point, not the summit. I want to go there, regardless. You can also see the forming of a natural arch in the center.
Looking back down the ridge (hidden behind the white dome on the left), the colorful high point just right of center.
Looking back down the ridge (hidden behind the white dome on the left), the colorful high point just right of center.
Looking back down the ridge, colorful terraces the whole way up.
Looking back down the ridge, colorful terraces the whole way up.
Approaching the Pictograph Mountain summit.
Approaching the Pictograph Mountain summit.
Looking back along the ridge from just below the summit of Pictograph Mountain.
Looking back along the ridge from just below the summit of Pictograph Mountain.
Pictograph Mountain summit ahead, looking north.
Pictograph Mountain summit ahead, looking north.
Pictograph Mountain summit looking south.
Pictograph Mountain summit looking south.
Pictograph Mountain summit, looking north toward the colorful high point that I wanted to head to next.
Pictograph Mountain summit, looking north toward the colorful high point that I wanted to head to next.
Ridiculously cool veins of orange and white rock.
Ridiculously cool veins of orange and white rock.
Saddle between Picrograph Mountain and the pretty high point.
Saddle between Picrograph Mountain and the pretty high point.
Pretty colorful high point looking back toward Pictograph Mountain. The left side seems higher, but the true summit is on the right.
Pretty colorful high point looking back toward Pictograph Mountain. The left side seems higher, but the true summit is on the right.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!