Trip report
Jun 17, 2026 — Big Horn Peak is a relatively minor summit along the rugged ridge connecting Lone Peak and South Thunder Mountain, but it makes for a worthwhile objective along the Wasatch Alpine Ridge. Most hikers approach from the south via the School House Spring Trail, though trailhead access has changed in recent years since the old Aspen Drive access has been closed. I opted to start from the trailhead shared with the Three Falls Trail, where reports online mentioned occasional conflicts with nearby residents. I found the situation far less dramatic than expected. In fact, a clear sign directed visitors to a public parking lot just 150 yards away from the trailhead, and several cars were even just casually parked along the road. Whether the access issues have since been resolved or not, there was no need to park a mile away at the Three Falls Ranch Trailhead as some older reports suggested.
The hike began on the winding Forbidden Trail, a mountain bike route that twisted through the lower foothills. A short maze of dirt roads and mountain bike trails offered little guidance on the most efficient route, but things eventually settled onto the School House Spring Trail, an old double-track leading to the wilderness boundary. This would have been my approach originally if the trailhead wasn’t closed. Here, I picked up the First Hamongog Trail, which quickly became classic Wasatch hiking up a narrow, relentlessly steep trail climbing through dry scrub with expanding views over Utah Lake and the growing suburbs below. At a meadow, I kept right to join the Second Hamongog Trail.
Around 8,000 feet, the trail entered a cool pine forest, providing a refreshing change of scenery. The shade didn’t last long, and soon I emerged above treeline with Big Horn Peak (as well as Lone Peak) fully in view. Its western face dropped away in impressive cliffs, making it obvious why the standard route sticks to the gentler southern slopes. The trail steepened considerably as it trudged up the boulder-strewn slope.
At roughly 9,600 feet, the Second Hamongog Trail continued east toward Lake Hardy, so I left it behind and headed cross-country up Big Horn’s south ridge. A surprisingly well-defined use trail appeared often enough to keep route-finding simple, interrupted only by a few easy Class 2 moves over boulders. The real challenge wasn’t the scrambling but the relentless steepness. After grinding out the final thousand vertical feet, I reached the summit of Big Horn Peak via a short Class 2 boulder scramble, where excellent views stretched across the central Wasatch, from neighboring Lone Peak to the rugged summits lining the crest.