Hayden Peak and Mount Agassiz in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Hike Hayden Peak and Mount Agassiz Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Class 3 9.2 miles 4300 gain 5-7 hrs Loop Aug 17, 2022
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Hayden Peak and Mount Agassiz tower over the scenic Mirror Lake Highway that runs through the western Uintas. Neither peak has a trail to its summit, so I was interested in tackling the ridgeline separating the two in order to form a loop rather than do each individually. I started from the popular Highline Trailhead, but rather than following this trail (I'd be coming back that way later from Mount Agassiz), I headed east along a good social trail toward the base of Hayden Peak.

My initial plan was to ascend via a spur ridge that juts out toward the parking lot, but I think I missed a turn-off because I'm a ditz and ended up ascending to the north of this spur ridge instead. Rather than backtrack, I followed this trail as it led to a steep-looking slope that narrowed into a gully. From below the gully looked like it would be perfectly fine as an option for gaining the main ridgeline above, if not the most pleasant. I started up the Class 2 talus slope that steepened into some light Class 2+/3 hardpan stuff as entered the gully. With some occasional careful foot placement and some bear-crawling, I was at the crest. I later asked my friend Sam Grant (who had done this route as well as the spur ridge option I missed), and he made it seem like neither were exceptional routes, though the spur ridge has a nice Class 4 cliff band move and some other fun scrambling. I guess choose which you prefer, though in hindsight I would have preferred to try the spur ridge.

I started north toward Hayden Peak, excellent views into Middle Basin to the east and toward Mount Agassiz behind me as Class 2 obstacles led more-or-less along the ridge crest. Keeping left around the first obvious headwall, more Class 2/2+ scrambling wrapped around the feature's base and then up on fun and blocky boulders. A flatter section led to the second headwall, which was guarded by a jumble of blocky stuff. Hayden Peak's summit was just above. There seem to be two cairned routes to get there. The one keeping left seemed like it would be a bit more tedious, so I kept to the right on a wide Class 2 ledge that wrapped around to the east side of the peak. The ledge faded away and I started up to the left where Class 2 scrambling on massive boulders ascended directly toward the summit. A single Class 3 move to pull a small lip just below the summit was the only crux I found.

I backtracked from Hayden Peak and started toward Mount Agassiz. The terrain along the ridgeline here was fractured and very cool, large crevasses forming a bit of a maze. After a bit of hiking on rocky terrain, I reached the point where the ridgeline traverse would become more work. A slope led down about 100 feet to a small cliff, which I avoided on its right and pulled a short Class 3 move to get above it and back to the ridgeline. Shortly after I saw the next obstacle, a towering headwall that looked pretty scary from here. A Class 2 descent to a small notch at the base of the headwall somehow made it clear that this section wouldn't actually be more than a hundred feet or so of Class 2+. Once above the second obstacle I made my way along the ridge crest until Mount Agassiz came into view again. Separating me from the peak was a saddle about 500 feet below. The boulders are a bit loose here and I recommend keeping to the right of the crest where it's a bit less steep.

Once at the saddle, I started up to Mount Agassiz. I kept just to the right of the ridge crest until just past 12000', where the crest looked less jagged. Here I gained the crest and then fun, solid Class 2/3 terraces, gaps, and even a narrow slot-like feature led to the summit. Staying right of the crest looked fine too, but definitely more loose and without the fun sections. Just a note in hindsight: I'm not sure if it would actually work out, but it could be possible descend from Mount Agassiz's east ridge to Blue Lake and pick up the Skyline Trail from there, though this would have added over 3 miles to the hike and I didn't know how if the ridge would go, plus I was very much out of food.

I dropped back to the saddle from Mount Agassiz and headed south down the steep Class 2 slope. The goal was to bushwhack down to the Highline Trail about a mile or so away. A gorgeous meadow met me past the slope, which led into the forest. Unfortunately this area was burned somewhat recently, but that meant at least I'd continue to get some views. The burn area faded away and I was back in the forest, where I did have some minor bushwhacking, though it was pretty easy to just dodge downed trees and the small sections of brush. There were a couple of small marshes/meadows that served as brief escapes from the trees. I made it to the Highline Trail and took it north, regaining some vertical elevation as I made my way back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Hayden Peak
12475 ft
1151 rise
2
Mount Agassiz
12428 ft
1018 rise

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Starting from the Highline Trailhead on a social trail leading east.
Starting from the Highline Trailhead on a social trail leading east.
The spur ridge option (Class 4 move) is seen on the right. I took the steep gully at the top of the slope seen center.
The spur ridge option (Class 4 move) is seen on the right. I took the steep gully at the top of the slope seen center.
View back toward Bald Mountain just as I start up the slope, leaving the social trail.
View back toward Bald Mountain just as I start up the slope, leaving the social trail.
Class 2 up the slope.
Class 2 up the slope.
Approaching the gully.
Approaching the gully.
View back down the gully. Class 2+.
View back down the gully. Class 2+.
Steep, loose stuff within the gully.
Steep, loose stuff within the gully.
Past the gully you should take a moment and decide which way up you want to go. You can keep the slope Class 2/3 if you pay attention. The ridge crest is seen just above.
Past the gully you should take a moment and decide which way up you want to go. You can keep the slope Class 2/3 if you pay attention. The ridge crest is seen just above.
View back down the gully from the ridge crest.
View back down the gully from the ridge crest.
Along the Class 2 ridge to Hayden Peak, seen left.
Along the Class 2 ridge to Hayden Peak, seen left.
Class 2 blocky fun.
Class 2 blocky fun.
View back toward Mount Agassiz.
View back toward Mount Agassiz.
Approaching the first headwall. Keep left.
Approaching the first headwall. Keep left.
Left of the headwall, head to the center of this photo.
Left of the headwall, head to the center of this photo.
Class 2/3 blocky stuff.
Class 2/3 blocky stuff.
View back down the scramble and the avoided headwall.
View back down the scramble and the avoided headwall.
Flattish section leading to the second headwall.
Flattish section leading to the second headwall.
I kept right at the second headwall on a Class 2 wide ledge.
I kept right at the second headwall on a Class 2 wide ledge.
View back along the wide ledge.
View back along the wide ledge.
The ledge ended and I started up the Class 2/2+ boulder slope.
The ledge ended and I started up the Class 2/2+ boulder slope.
Nearing the crux.
Nearing the crux.
View back down the Class 3 crux move.
View back down the Class 3 crux move.
Hayden Peak summit, view east. McPheters Lake seen below.
Hayden Peak summit, view east. McPheters Lake seen below.
View toward Kletting Peak and A-1 Peak, north.
View toward Kletting Peak and A-1 Peak, north.
Close-up toward Mount Marsell and Bald Mountain.
Close-up toward Mount Marsell and Bald Mountain.
Middle Basin, Mount Agassiz seen in the center. That's next!
Middle Basin, Mount Agassiz seen in the center. That's next!
Close-up of the ridge traverse I'll be doing.
Close-up of the ridge traverse I'll be doing.
Mount Agassiz ahead. The ridgeline begins with a cool section of crevasses forming a maze.
Mount Agassiz ahead. The ridgeline begins with a cool section of crevasses forming a maze.
View back toward Hayden Peak along the traverse.
View back toward Hayden Peak along the traverse.
Short drop to a small cliff band, the first ridgeline obstacle.
Short drop to a small cliff band, the first ridgeline obstacle.
Keep right and use a Class 3 pull seen far right in this photo.
Keep right and use a Class 3 pull seen far right in this photo.
The second obstacle along the ridgeline. Class 2 to the notch below.
The second obstacle along the ridgeline. Class 2 to the notch below.
Second Obstacle.
Second Obstacle.
Class 2+ up the second obstacle.
Class 2+ up the second obstacle.
View back along the ridgeline.
View back along the ridgeline.
Close-up of the Class 2+ section from the notch.
Close-up of the Class 2+ section from the notch.
Onward along the ridgeline.
Onward along the ridgeline.
View back toward Hayden Peak.
View back toward Hayden Peak.
Mount Agassiz ahead.
Mount Agassiz ahead.
A few hundred feet drop to the saddle. Keep right of the crest to avoid the steepest, loosest boulders.
A few hundred feet drop to the saddle. Keep right of the crest to avoid the steepest, loosest boulders.
Heading up to Mount Agassiz. I kept right of the ridge until about 12000'.
Heading up to Mount Agassiz. I kept right of the ridge until about 12000'.
A shot back at Hayden Peak (right) and the descent I just did to get to the saddle (left).
A shot back at Hayden Peak (right) and the descent I just did to get to the saddle (left).
Keeping right of the ridge.
Keeping right of the ridge.
And then I gained the ridge crest for some fun scrambling. Keeping right until the summit is doable, but looked more loose.
And then I gained the ridge crest for some fun scrambling. Keeping right until the summit is doable, but looked more loose.
Class 2/3 moves to Mount Agassiz on terrace-like formations.
Class 2/3 moves to Mount Agassiz on terrace-like formations.
View back along the ridgeline.
View back along the ridgeline.
Along the crest. There's a cool slot-like feature seen center-top of this photo.
Along the crest. There's a cool slot-like feature seen center-top of this photo.
Mount Agassiz summit, view east.
Mount Agassiz summit, view east.
Shot into Middle Basin. Hayden Peak seen left, and the ridgeline I just traversed far left.
Shot into Middle Basin. Hayden Peak seen left, and the ridgeline I just traversed far left.
View back along the ridgeline.
View back along the ridgeline.
Back at the saddle, I descended south on this Class 2 slope.
Back at the saddle, I descended south on this Class 2 slope.
View back toward the saddle within a pretty meadow.
View back toward the saddle within a pretty meadow.
Descending into the forest.
Descending into the forest.
Burn area.
Burn area.
View back toward the ridgeline.
View back toward the ridgeline.
Mostly easy forest terrain.
Mostly easy forest terrain.
But also some light bushwhacking.
But also some light bushwhacking.
Another shot back toward the ridgeline from within a meadow.
Another shot back toward the ridgeline from within a meadow.
I made it to the Highline Trail and headed north back to the trailhead.
I made it to the Highline Trail and headed north back to the trailhead.
Mount Agassiz seen in the distance (right) along the Highline Trail.
Mount Agassiz seen in the distance (right) along the Highline Trail.

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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!