Burger Peak and Signal Peak via Forsyth Trail in Dixie National Forest, UT

Hike Burger Peak and Signal Peak via Forsyth Trail Dixie National Forest, UT

Class 2 13.2 miles 4000 gain 5-7 hrs Out + Back Jun 20, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Burger Peak and Signal Peak via Forsyth Trail GPX Track

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The Forsyth Trail is my preferred route for accessing Signal Peak, the high point of the Pine Valley Mountains. On this trip I decided to save this hike for last since I'd have company today during Austin's family reunion, and I'm glad I did since it's probably the most diverse trail in the range. There are numerous other options for reaching Signal Peak, including the Browns Point Trail from the northeast and the Oak Grove Trail from the south. We decided to also take a quick detour to reach Burger Peak, a summit with similar elevation but much better views.

From within the hamlet of Pine Valley, the trail starts from a dirt lot accessible by any vehicle. After a short hike through shrubby lower elevation, the Forsyth Trail enters the forest and leads into the watercourse of Forsyth Canyon. The trail was in excellent shape, clearly maintained regularly. In fact, we even saw some folks doing trail work today. As the Forsyth Trail narrowed and got deeper into the range, some excellent craggy cliff formations became visible on the right, the same ones visible from the drive into Pine Valley. The trail closely follows Forsyth Creek for a time, offering short breaks from the forest with grassy meadows and glimpses of the forested summits ahead.

Eventually, we reached the junction with the Summit Trail, which we took southeast. Pretty quickly, the Summit Trail began ascending far more steeply than the Forsyth Trail had, wrapping around the east face of Burger Peak. Soon we were treated to excellent views to the west, notably of St. George and Snow Canyon State Park in the distance. Once we reached the west side of Burger Peak, we left the Summit Trail and followed a faint social trail to the summit. There were some boulders to weave around and light Class 2 terrain to reach the high point, but the forest was easy to hike through.

Signal Peak was just to the southeast, visible through the trees from Burger Peak's summit. I decided to be honest even though it could mean we'd be skipping the next peak, warning everyone that Signal Peak didn't offer much of a view. Everyone wanted to continue, and lifelong St. George resident Casey seemed thrilled to finally reach the high point of the range outside his town. We descended off-trail from Burger Peak to rejoin the Summit Trail, only following it briefly until we reached the saddle separating Burger Peak from Signal Peak. From there, we headed directly up to Signal Peak through the forest. We found it best to keep just north of the ridge crest on the sparsely vegetated slope.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Burger Peak
10321 ft
281 rise
2
Signal Peak
10365 ft
4485 rise

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Starting from the Forsyth Trailhead.
Starting from the Forsyth Trailhead.
Forsyth Canyon seen ahead.
Forsyth Canyon seen ahead.
The trail enters the forest.
The trail enters the forest.
A few creek crossings.
A few creek crossings.
Image 4 from gallery
Ascending the well-maintained Forsyth Trail.
Ascending the well-maintained Forsyth Trail.
Great formations seen through the trees.
Great formations seen through the trees.
Approaching the interesting cliffs seen from the trailhead.
Approaching the interesting cliffs seen from the trailhead.
View back.
View back.
The trail closely follows Forsyth Creek for a time.
The trail closely follows Forsyth Creek for a time.
A brief break from the forest.
A brief break from the forest.
The trail is quite lush and ascends at a pleasant grade.
The trail is quite lush and ascends at a pleasant grade.
Image 12 from gallery
More nice formations within the drainage.
More nice formations within the drainage.
Image 14 from gallery
Junction with the Summit Trail, which we took to the left.
Junction with the Summit Trail, which we took to the left.
Ascending quite a bit more steeply along the Summit Trail.
Ascending quite a bit more steeply along the Summit Trail.
Some views start popping in to the northwest.
Some views start popping in to the northwest.
Summit Trail views.
Summit Trail views.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Wider shot. Snow Canyon State Park visible in the distance.
Wider shot. Snow Canyon State Park visible in the distance.
We left the Summit Trail and took a faint social trail in order to reach Burger Peak.
We left the Summit Trail and took a faint social trail in order to reach Burger Peak.
Some rocks near the summit.
Some rocks near the summit.
Burger Peak ahead, some light Class 2 to gain it.
Burger Peak ahead, some light Class 2 to gain it.
Burger Peak summit, view northwest.
Burger Peak summit, view northwest.
Burger Peak summit, view north.
Burger Peak summit, view north.
Burger Peak summit, view toward Signal Peak.
Burger Peak summit, view toward Signal Peak.
We descended off-trail from Burger Peak to reach the Summit Trail again.
We descended off-trail from Burger Peak to reach the Summit Trail again.
Back along the Summit Trail, descending to the saddle with Signal Peak.
Back along the Summit Trail, descending to the saddle with Signal Peak.
We left the Summit Trail again in order to get to the top of Signal Peak.
We left the Summit Trail again in order to get to the top of Signal Peak.
View along the ridgeline up to Signal Peak.
View along the ridgeline up to Signal Peak.
Signal Peak just ahead.
Signal Peak just ahead.
View back, Burger Peak seen top right.
View back, Burger Peak seen top right.
Meager views of Signal Peak's summit.
Meager views of Signal Peak's summit.

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!