Big Mountain, Swallow Rocks, Lookout Peak Loop in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Hike Big Mountain, Swallow Rocks, Lookout Peak Loop Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Class 1 14.3 miles 4200 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Sep 15, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Big Mountain, Swallow Rocks, Lookout Peak Loop GPX Track

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UT State Route 65 crosses Big Mountain Pass, which played a crucial role in the journeys of early pioneers. Now it's used as a viewpoint of SLC and a historic meetup spot for various trails. Shawn and I were happy to see the start of some fall foliage, though the hint of autumn was a contradiction to the day's heat. Our goal today was to link a few peaks along the ridgeline: Big Mountain, Swallow Rocks, and Lookout Peak. I'd hiked to Lookout Peak via Killyon Canyon a few years ago, but via a loop to the peak's east, whereas this hike uses a trail system to the west. Today we used a combination of the Great Western Trail, the Lookout Peak Trail, the Mormon Pioneer Original Route Trail, as well as a combination of off-trail and short stretches on other trails.

Starting from the pass, the trail begins on the west side of the road, opposite a sizable parking area, clearly marked as part of the Great Western Trail. Shawn vowed to make a silly pose during every photo, but after remembering how many photos I take on a hike, he quickly gave up. After a pretty steep start to the hike, the trail continued more casually around a lump before reaching the southern ridge of Big Mountain. Here the trail continues more gradually, meandering through meadows and forests. The views are panoramic and quite nice for how little effort we'd put in so far. The trail skirts just below Big Mountain's open slope and soon we reached the northern ridgeline of Big Mountain. Here we left the trail briefly to hike along an ATV trail to get to the high point.

The hike is pretty uneventful from Big Mountain to the base of Swallow Rocks, our next summit. It's basically just a walk along the ATV trail that undulates a bit, but at least the views are nice and it gave us time to gossip and catch up. A sign commanding mountain bikers to stay on-trail didn't apply to us pesky foot-people, so we left the Great Western Trail and ascended toward Swallow Rocks from here. You could avoid the peak by continuing along the trail, which we'd merge with again after the summit. The ascent was tame enough, only some tiny spurts of brush on the way. The peak is named for a few columns of rock which nicely punctuate the otherwise standard grassy slopes.

Continuing south from Swallow Rocks, the slope was a bit steep, though a social trail led us down most of the way. We continued along the Great Western Trail until it left the ridge and headed elsewhere, so we deviated and followed the Brink Trail, which continued along the crest. Ahead we could see Lookout Peak, composed of twin lumps of similar height. Although a bit overgrown, the trail was easy to follow and only left us with burrs in our socks. The Brink Trail continues around the eastern slope of Lookout Peak and ultimately merges with the Lookout Peak Trail. It would definitely have been more pleasant, if longer, to reach the peak via the offiical trail system. We didn't do this, instead chosing to ascend directly to the peak. Our off-trail options were to head through the forest or up a brushy slope. In both of our experience hiking in Utah, the forest tends to be a less heinous bushwhacking option.

Through the forest, Shawn tripped over a branch and onto another branch and then onto the forest floor. It was quite the display and I laughed forever, naturally. Shortly after I stumbled onto a bees' nest and proceceeded to shriek from the multiple stings I received. Shawn may have laughed harder than I had, kharma rightfully served. There was a sustianed section where the brush was head-high, but not too horrible to pass through. We navigated along a stretch of meadows, through another forested section, and then ascended more meadows to the saddle separating the twin lumps of Lookout Peak. From here it was just a matter of hiking down along the Lookout Peak Trail and enjoying its expansive views until meeting the junction with the Killyon Canyon Trail and the Birch Spring Trail. We took Birch Spring Trail, which led east down into Affleck Park. This is a fancy-pants park that is blocked to the public unless you have a camping reservation.

The last stretch of our hike would follow the "Original Trail", a historic route used by the Donner Reed Party Trail and Mormon Pioneer Trail. It took us out of Affleck Park and up the drainage that Utah SR-65 switchbacks up. The result is that the trail paralled the sounds of the highway as it ascends, and by being within a forested drainage it's a less pretty and interesting part of the day. We reach the Big Mountain Pass parking area, which was bustling.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Big Mountain
8472 ft
312 rise
2
Swallow Rocks
8901 ft
461 rise
3
Lookout Peak
8960 ft
720 rise

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Starting along the Great Western Trail, leading to the right ahead.
Starting along the Great Western Trail, leading to the right ahead.
We ascended switchbacks. Shawn's failed attempt to commit to silly poses in every photo.
We ascended switchbacks. Shawn's failed attempt to commit to silly poses in every photo.
View back.
View back.
Ascending through forest/meadows.
Ascending through forest/meadows.
The trail keeps just left of the ridge, avoiding the lump ahead.
The trail keeps just left of the ridge, avoiding the lump ahead.
A shot back, Little Dell Reservoir seen on the right.
A shot back, Little Dell Reservoir seen on the right.
Skirting the west side of a lump along the ridge.
Skirting the west side of a lump along the ridge.
View back at the ridgeline.
View back at the ridgeline.
Big Mountain ahead. The trail skirts around its western slope.
Big Mountain ahead. The trail skirts around its western slope.
An ATV trail leads to the summit.
An ATV trail leads to the summit.
Heading down the ATV trail and over to our loop to come, seen ahead right to left.
Heading down the ATV trail and over to our loop to come, seen ahead right to left.
An ATV trail along the ridge crest.
An ATV trail along the ridge crest.
Swallow Rocks ahead, our next peak.
Swallow Rocks ahead, our next peak.
View back as we continue to the base of Swallow Rocks.
View back as we continue to the base of Swallow Rocks.
We left the trail here and continued along the ridgeline, mostly clear of brush. Swallow Rocks summit seen left. You could avoid the peak by continuing along the trail on the left.
We left the trail here and continued along the ridgeline, mostly clear of brush. Swallow Rocks summit seen left. You could avoid the peak by continuing along the trail on the left.
Some light brush on the way up to Swallow Rocks.
Some light brush on the way up to Swallow Rocks.
View back toward Big Mountain and the ridgeline we just hiked along.
View back toward Big Mountain and the ridgeline we just hiked along.
Summit of Swallow Rocks, now heading west along the ridgeline.
Summit of Swallow Rocks, now heading west along the ridgeline.
Tame ridgeline descent from Swallow Rocks.
Tame ridgeline descent from Swallow Rocks.
We rejoined the trail, a bit overgrown from summit foliage.
We rejoined the trail, a bit overgrown from summit foliage.
Continuing along the ridge to Lookout Peak. At some point the Great Western Trail heads away from the ridge, and we continued along the Brink Trail.
Continuing along the ridge to Lookout Peak. At some point the Great Western Trail heads away from the ridge, and we continued along the Brink Trail.
Lookout Peak ahead. We chose to ascend through the forest on the right rather than up the slope since the brush was thicker outside of the trees. You could also stick to the Brink Trail and instead ascend Lookout Peak from the southeast if bushwhacking isn't your thing.
Lookout Peak ahead. We chose to ascend through the forest on the right rather than up the slope since the brush was thicker outside of the trees. You could also stick to the Brink Trail and instead ascend Lookout Peak from the southeast if bushwhacking isn't your thing.
Ascending the steep, brushy/forested slope.
Ascending the steep, brushy/forested slope.
Progress through the forest.
Progress through the forest.
View back toward Swallow Rocks, center.
View back toward Swallow Rocks, center.
Lookout Peak ahead, two lumps of similar height.
Lookout Peak ahead, two lumps of similar height.
Another short forested section leading to the saddle of the two humps.
Another short forested section leading to the saddle of the two humps.
Shawn managed to trip over multiple branches in one ridiculous display.
Shawn managed to trip over multiple branches in one ridiculous display.
Ascending the slope to the saddle of Lookout Peak's twin summits.
Ascending the slope to the saddle of Lookout Peak's twin summits.
View back the way we came.
View back the way we came.
Lookout Peak summit, view west.
Lookout Peak summit, view west.
View toward Lookout Peak's eastern summit.
View toward Lookout Peak's eastern summit.
Descending from Lookout Peak on a nice trail.
Descending from Lookout Peak on a nice trail.
Continuing down the Lookout Peak Trail.
Continuing down the Lookout Peak Trail.
View back up toward Lookout Peak.
View back up toward Lookout Peak.
Nearing the junction with the Killyon Canyon Trail and the Birch Spring Trail. We took Birch Spring, which led east.
Nearing the junction with the Killyon Canyon Trail and the Birch Spring Trail. We took Birch Spring, which led east.
Along the Birch Spring Trail.
Along the Birch Spring Trail.
Birch Spring Trail leading down into Affleck Park, nice rock outcroppings above.
Birch Spring Trail leading down into Affleck Park, nice rock outcroppings above.
A bridge within Affleck Park.
A bridge within Affleck Park.
Continuing north out of Affleck Park along the "Original Trail", the Donner Reed Party Trail and Mormon Pioneer Trail.
Continuing north out of Affleck Park along the "Original Trail", the Donner Reed Party Trail and Mormon Pioneer Trail.
It's mostly forested, and parallels UT-SR 65 often.
It's mostly forested, and parallels UT-SR 65 often.
Ascending back up to Big Mountain Summit, the trailhead.
Ascending back up to Big Mountain Summit, the trailhead.
The trail passes UT RS-65.
The trail passes UT RS-65.
More ascent through the forest.
More ascent through the forest.
The start of the Great Western Trail, where we began earlier in the day, seen ahead.
The start of the Great Western Trail, where we began earlier in the day, seen ahead.
View back as we near the trailhead, completing the loop.
View back as we near the trailhead, completing the loop.

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