Hike Big Horn Peak via Hamangog Trail Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Directions

Route Map

Download GPX

Big Horn Peak via Hamangog Trail GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

Add to Cart

View Cart

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.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Big Horn Peak

10880 ft

324 rise

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!

Starting along the Forbidden Trail.

Forbidden Trail.

An annoying web of trails/roads through the foothills.

The School House Spring Trail was an old dirt road leading to the wilderness boundary. Big Horn Peak seen center.

View back along the School House Spring Trail.

Entering the Lone Peak Wilderness.

View back through a meadow before the steep, narrow trail heads up the slope.

Along the First Hamangog Trail.

View back along the First Hamangog Trail into Utah Valley.

A glimpse up at Lone Peak after leaving the brushy slope.

A brief forest walk.

A pretty meadow at the base of Lone Peak (left) and Big Horn Peak (right). At a junction ahead, I kept right to start along the Second Hamangog Trail.

After some tamer hiking, the Second Hamangog Trail led up a steep and relentless slope.

View back down.

View back down, now much higher up.

Approaching the base of Big Horn Peak's south ridge (right). Lone Peak seen far left.

The Second Hamangog Trail continues east to Lake Hardy, seen ahead. It was temptingly pretty, but I headed up toward Big Horn instead.

View back down as I ascend Big Horn Peak's south ridge.

Wider shot back down into Utah Valley, Box Elder Peak far left.

Nearing the summit.

Big Horn Peak summit, view east toward South Thunder Mountain and Pfeifferhorn.

Wider shot east.

Big Horn Peak summit, view west toward Lone Peak.

Close-up north into Bells Canyon.

Close-up toward Box Elder Peak and Mount Timpanogos.

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!