Candland Mountain in Manti-La Sal National Forest, UT

Hike Candland Mountain Manti-La Sal National Forest, UT

Class 1 6.2 miles 1500 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Jul 21, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Candland Mountain 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.

Candland Mountain is a nice peak on the Wasatch Plateau that has a trail to nearly the summit. When I got to the trailhead I was greeted by an ugly dirt road and a ton of recently cut trees rather than a pretty trail. I later encountered someone on the trail who said normally the start of the trail switchbacked through the forest and that the logging operation started this summer (2022). I don't know if they will restore the trail back the way it was, but at least for this foreseeable future the trail begins on the logging road and the main Candland trail is a little tricky to find. I included the trail and the road on my attached map for reference. If you do miss the trail and stay on the road, the road leads to the ridgeline where you can pick up the trail anyway, so it's not a big deal.

After following either the trail (or road) through the forest, I reached the ridgeline where the Candland Trail continued through open meadow, heading south. The views opened up and it was very pretty despite the recently cleared forest to the east. Alternating between steep forest hiking and flat open meadows with views to the surrounding reservoirs and expansive landscape, the hike was really enjoyable. A mile or so later I reached the base of Candland Mountain's false summit, and the trail made an ascending traverse along the west slope. Once the trail reached the ridgeline again, I left the trail (which continued away from Candland Mountain) and followed a social trail along the ridge crest, gaining the summit. The views and wildflowers were excellent.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Candland Mountain
10367 ft
1447 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!

The Candland Mountain trailhead, currently just an ugly logging road.
The Candland Mountain trailhead, currently just an ugly logging road.
View back along the logging road. The trail was hard to find on the way up, but it's not a big deal if you stick to the road rather than follow the trail since both lead to the ridge crest anyway.
View back along the logging road. The trail was hard to find on the way up, but it's not a big deal if you stick to the road rather than follow the trail since both lead to the ridge crest anyway.
A meadow along the Candland Mountain Trail.
A meadow along the Candland Mountain Trail.
Along the Candland Mountain Trail.
Along the Candland Mountain Trail.
After emerging from the forest, the trail continues along the ridge crest.
After emerging from the forest, the trail continues along the ridge crest.
Image 5 from gallery
View back along the crest.
View back along the crest.
It's a pretty hike with lots of nice views.
It's a pretty hike with lots of nice views.
A view back. The trail avoids a few of the little humps along the crest.
A view back. The trail avoids a few of the little humps along the crest.
Image 9 from gallery
Image 10 from gallery
View back.
View back.
Another shot back, Cleveland Reservoir visible below.
Another shot back, Cleveland Reservoir visible below.
The trail appraoches the base of a false summit, then leaves the ridge and heads along the west slope.
The trail appraoches the base of a false summit, then leaves the ridge and heads along the west slope.
Steep hiking through a forest.
Steep hiking through a forest.
After leaving the ridge and ascending along the west slope.
After leaving the ridge and ascending along the west slope.
View back along the Candland Mountain Trail, Cleveland Reservoir in the distance.
View back along the Candland Mountain Trail, Cleveland Reservoir in the distance.
The trail reaches the crest again. Leave it and stay along the crest via a social trail.
The trail reaches the crest again. Leave it and stay along the crest via a social trail.
View back down the social trail just before reaching the summit.
View back down the social trail just before reaching the summit.
Candland Mountain summit, view south. Seeley Mountain visible in the distance.
Candland Mountain summit, view south. Seeley Mountain visible in the distance.
Candland Mountain summit, view west.
Candland Mountain summit, view west.
Candland Mountain summit, view north.
Candland Mountain summit, view north.

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!