Gardner Peak Trail in Dixie National Forest, UT

Hike Gardner Peak Trail Dixie National Forest, UT

Class 1 7.2 miles 2100 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Jun 18, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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The Gardner Peak Trail doesn't actually lead to the summit of Gardner Peak, but with some time to kill this afternoon, Austin and I decided to just enjoy the trail to its terminus. This was a nice hike with good scenery, a worthy add-on to my Pine Valley Mountains trip, even if it doesn't reach a peak. We started at the trailhead located just inside the Pine Valley Recreation Area boundary. My understanding is that you don't need to pay if you are parking at this trailhead, but we were dropped off by a family member who had already paid to enter, so I'm not sure. We could see Gardner Peak above, a forested dome adjacent to a much more interesting-looking craggy false summit.

The trail began through the lower elevation scrubland before ascending into the trees, gaining steepness as it continued north. We passed an old road labeled on maps as the Pine Valley Canal Trail, and it was tempting to just take this flat path either east or west. Instead, the less obvious Gardner Peak Trail continues climbing quite steeply. There were some occasional views to the south toward the taller Pine Valley Mountain peaks.

The Gardner Peak Trail reached a saddle before wrapping around the northern side of the ridge through a bit more vegetated terrain. This upper section of the trail winds through a shaded rock garden dotted with large boulders and pine trees and even passes through a small, charming meadow bordered by aspen trees. We got a view of Gardner Peak and a steep tower of boulders to its north. The trail began to thin out as it weaved around rocks and up various slopesk, gradually ascended to a flatter section where unusual rock formations appear scattered around.

We hiked past the craggy false summit we had seen from below, but the trail becomes faint and frequently obstructed by fallen trees past here. It only really started to lose its shape after around 8,400 ft, dipping in and out of little gullies and eventually entered a burn area. Past the burn area, we just continued to a viewpoint of a notable rock feature, deciding we didn't care to reach the brushy and unranked summit. Maps show the trail reaches a bit closer to the base of the peak, but we'd lost it and didn’t make the effort to locate it for the final few hundred feet.

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Gardener Peak Trailhead.
Gardener Peak Trailhead.
Craggy false summit seen above, true summit on the right.
Craggy false summit seen above, true summit on the right.
View back toward the taller Pine Valley Mountain peaks to the south.
View back toward the taller Pine Valley Mountain peaks to the south.
Ascending the Gardner Peak Trail.
Ascending the Gardner Peak Trail.
False summit visible above.
False summit visible above.
We passed an old east-west running road, but continued north up the steep slope seen here.
We passed an old east-west running road, but continued north up the steep slope seen here.
Steep Gardner Peak Trail, ascending higher.
Steep Gardner Peak Trail, ascending higher.
Higher up, nearing the saddle.
Higher up, nearing the saddle.
At the saddle on the west slope of Gardner Peak.
At the saddle on the west slope of Gardner Peak.
Now on the northern side of the ridge where it's more vegetated.
Now on the northern side of the ridge where it's more vegetated.
Views north.
Views north.
Ascending into the forest.
Ascending into the forest.
Flatter section of trail higher up.
Flatter section of trail higher up.
A nice meadow along the way.
A nice meadow along the way.
Pleasant open hiking amongst boulders and trees.
Pleasant open hiking amongst boulders and trees.
Views along the way.
Views along the way.
Higher up where the trail gets a bit less well-maintained.
Higher up where the trail gets a bit less well-maintained.
The Gardner Peak Trail leads up various slopes like this.
The Gardner Peak Trail leads up various slopes like this.
Encroaching shrubs.
Encroaching shrubs.
Image 19 from gallery
A nice viewpoint of Gardner Peak (right of center), with cool formations on the left.
A nice viewpoint of Gardner Peak (right of center), with cool formations on the left.
A nice rock garden with interesting formations.
A nice rock garden with interesting formations.
Near the false summit, a view toward Gardner Peak. We continuing onward toward the peak.
Near the false summit, a view toward Gardner Peak. We continuing onward toward the peak.
More nice open sections, Gardner Peak seen right.
More nice open sections, Gardner Peak seen right.
Entering a burn area.
Entering a burn area.
The trail was nearly gone by this point.
The trail was nearly gone by this point.
View back through the burn area.
View back through the burn area.
We turned around when we neared the base of the cool formation seen ahead.
We turned around when we neared the base of the cool formation seen ahead.
View back the way we came along the flattish ridgeline.
View back the way we came along the flattish ridgeline.
Nice view to the north.
Nice view to the north.
Image 30 from gallery
At the base of Gardner Peak, where we turned around.
At the base of Gardner Peak, where we turned around.

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!