Class 1 2.6 miles 1000 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back Aug 19, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Bridger Peak GPX Track

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Bridger Peak is mostly known for being a Utah County High Point, but I wanted to reach its summit to get a view of Bear Lake below. Any car can reach the trailhead, which isn't well-marked. The trail itself is in good shape, descending a hundred feet into a drainage before reascending to the east on a steep slope. It was strange to me that an official trail would ascend at this angle and without switchbacks. After gaining about 800 feet in a short time, the trail mellowed out and started heading south, where there were some nice views into the surrounding hills. It was temping to continue along this trail since it had only just eased up, but to reach Bridger Peak I left the trail and ascended to the east. Just ahead was a small cliff band, but this can be easily avoided by one of a few social trails leading through weaknesses. Worst case, you may pull a Class 2/2+ move if you can't locate a trail option. It might be tricky to locate the cliff band on the way back since there was really no semblance of a social trail past here.

Once above the small cliff band, it was a forested walk to the Bridger Peak, though the brush isn't thick enough to be annoying at all. I initially headed northeast to gain the ridge crest, which was a good idea since the crest was mostly non-forested and continued directly north to the summit. I was mostly disappointed by the tree-obscured view, but it was a nice add-on hike while in the area and Bear Lake is big enough that I got a sense of its scale from higher up based on the hints of a blue blob I could see below.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Bridger Peak
9255 ft
855 rise

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From the trailhead you can see the trail as it leads steeply up the slope. The trail drops into the drainage below before starting the ascent.
From the trailhead you can see the trail as it leads steeply up the slope. The trail drops into the drainage below before starting the ascent.
Up the trail.
Up the trail.
It's steep and eroded at times.
It's steep and eroded at times.
And then finally it emerges from the trees and flattens out. Which means it's time to leave it and head left.
And then finally it emerges from the trees and flattens out. Which means it's time to leave it and head left.
There's a minor cliff band, seen above. Class 2/2+ if you can't find a social trail to get over it, but social trails exist.
There's a minor cliff band, seen above. Class 2/2+ if you can't find a social trail to get over it, but social trails exist.
View down a social trail that gets over the cliff band.
View down a social trail that gets over the cliff band.
And then there's no more trail. I headed through the forest to gain the south ridge of Bridger Peak. The forest hike isn't brushy or bad, but locating the way back might not be easy.
And then there's no more trail. I headed through the forest to gain the south ridge of Bridger Peak. The forest hike isn't brushy or bad, but locating the way back might not be easy.
On the ridge, headed north to the sumit.
On the ridge, headed north to the sumit.
Views as the forest drops away.
Views as the forest drops away.
View back.
View back.
Summit of Bridger Peak, view toward Bear Lake to the east, below.
Summit of Bridger Peak, view toward Bear Lake to the east, below.

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!