East Mountain and Seeley Mountain in Manti-La Sal National Forest, UT

Hike East Mountain and Seeley Mountain Manti-La Sal National Forest, UT

Class 2 8.7 miles 2500 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Jul 21, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

East Mountain and Seeley Mountain GPX Track

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East Mountain is mostly known for being a Utah county high point, but I was more interested in this big green lump because it would be nice to get to the top of another mountain on the lush, gorgeous Wasatch Plateau. Its neighbor Seeley Mountain would serve as a nice add-on to spend some more time in the area. Both peaks are nice and have trails to about half a mile from the summit. Reaching the trailhead shouldn't be a problem for any vehicle, though it might depend on the time of year and how much rutting has developed. I started out from the car through a glorious wildflower-covered meadow and made my way generally northeast to the base of the peaks.

The trail initially follows an old roadbed as it ascends to the north, and then wraps east and to the saddle separating East Mountain and Seeley Mountain. First I'd head to East Mountain, so I continued south and enjoyed the forest and wildflower-filled meadows. About halfway from the junction to the summit, I reached an unsigned split in the trail. Keeping to the left seemed like the right choice since the trail was far more obvious, but this trail seems to actually wrap around East Mountain, while sticking to the right would gain more elevation quickly and lead up toward the summit. I marked this spot on the attached map. After a few hundred feet of vertical gain, the forest opened up into a grassy meadow and the trail basically disappeared. I stopped trying to follow it and just ascended to the south along the open ridge and East Mountain came into view. Hints of a social trail revealed themselves as I neared the summit.

After backtracking to the saddle, I started north toward Seeley Mountain. I actually wasn't expecting a trail for this portion of the hike since there wasn't any information about it that I could find online. However, this trail was in excellent shape for most of the way and had really nice views toward East Mountain through a sparsely-vegetated section. The trail entered a small clearing, and on the other side of this clearing was a canvas tent that I'm not sure was there legally. The trail seemed to lead right to the tent where some horses were grazing and then disappeared, so it's possible the trail has actually been developed recently to shuttle horses back and forth, though I have no idea. Instead of heading through the clearing along the more obvious trail, keep to the right and follow the clearing's perimeter. Then continue north and head through the forest (marked on my attached map). Although another trail continues to the northeast, going that way results in a much steeper ascent to Seeley Mountain. I know this because I messed up on my ascent, but only included my descent on the map. Heading up the ridge meant some very light bushwhacking and a steep ascent, but there's likely not a better way up. After a few hundred feet of vertical gain the slope relaxed and the forest opened into a bald summit area. I reached the summit of Seeley Mountain and took in the nice views toward Candland Mountain and the surrounding area.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
East Mountain
10743 ft
1543 rise
2
Seeley Mountain
10360 ft
760 rise

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Starting out from the trailhead through a gorgeous meadow. The trail leads to the right and out of frame.
Starting out from the trailhead through a gorgeous meadow. The trail leads to the right and out of frame.
Leaving the meadow and heading into the forest.
Leaving the meadow and heading into the forest.
View back into the meadow.
View back into the meadow.
A nice trail leading through the forest.
A nice trail leading through the forest.
Ascending to the north on an old roadbed converted into a trail.
Ascending to the north on an old roadbed converted into a trail.
View back, the trailhead seen center.
View back, the trailhead seen center.
Ascending to the saddle of East Mountain and Seeley Mountain.
Ascending to the saddle of East Mountain and Seeley Mountain.
At the saddle, heading south to East Mountain along the East Mountain Trail 085.
At the saddle, heading south to East Mountain along the East Mountain Trail 085.
View back toward the saddle, Seeley Mountain up on the right somewhere.
View back toward the saddle, Seeley Mountain up on the right somewhere.
Along the trail to East Mountain, seen ahead.
Along the trail to East Mountain, seen ahead.
Very pretty wildflowers in the meadows.
Very pretty wildflowers in the meadows.
View back.
View back.
A junction at a spring, keep to the left on the East Mountain Trail 085.
A junction at a spring, keep to the left on the East Mountain Trail 085.
Ascending more steeply through the forest.
Ascending more steeply through the forest.
An easy to miss junction. Keep right.
An easy to miss junction. Keep right.
This side trail leads through the forest and then up to the open meadow above. Keeping to the left would result in being down on the left somewhere.
This side trail leads through the forest and then up to the open meadow above. Keeping to the left would result in being down on the left somewhere.
View back after the trail basically disappeared.
View back after the trail basically disappeared.
Ascending to East Mountain.
Ascending to East Mountain.
View back again with some amazing wildflowers.
View back again with some amazing wildflowers.
Approaching East Mountain.
Approaching East Mountain.
East Mountain, view south.
East Mountain, view south.
East Mountain, view north.
East Mountain, view north.
Back at the saddle, I started up to Seeley Mountain. The trail was quite good.
Back at the saddle, I started up to Seeley Mountain. The trail was quite good.
Along the unmarked and unlabeled, clearly unofficial trail.
Along the unmarked and unlabeled, clearly unofficial trail.
East Mountain visible in the distance.
East Mountain visible in the distance.
More forest walking along the good trail.
More forest walking along the good trail.
I emerged into a meadow. A small canvas tent is hidden behind a tree over there, and the trail leads right to it. Instead keep right and then head north through the forest.
I emerged into a meadow. A small canvas tent is hidden behind a tree over there, and the trail leads right to it. Instead keep right and then head north through the forest.
Steep slope, but mostly free of brush. And certainly less steep than if you ascend farther to the east.
Steep slope, but mostly free of brush. And certainly less steep than if you ascend farther to the east.
The forest fades away as I near the summit.
The forest fades away as I near the summit.
Approaching the summit of Seeley Mountain.
Approaching the summit of Seeley Mountain.
Seeley Mountain, view back along the ridge.
Seeley Mountain, view back along the ridge.
Seeley Mountain summit, view south toward East Mountain.
Seeley Mountain summit, view south toward East Mountain.
Summit of Seeley Mountain, view north toward Candland Mountain.
Summit of Seeley Mountain, view north toward Candland Mountain.

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