Hilgard Mountain via Great Western Trail in Fishlake National Forest, UT

Hike Hilgard Mountain via Great Western Trail Fishlake National Forest, UT

Class 2 7.4 miles 2500 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Sep 13, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Hilgard Mountain via Great Western Trail GPX Track

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The standard route for Hilgard Mountain seems to come from its northern ridge which requires driving a rough road to reach, but I noticed the Great Western Trail leads from the west down to the southern saddle of Hilgard Mountain. I wanted to attempt this slightly longer route, mostly because it seemed to be a more scenic option and would avoid bad driving. I wasn't sure it would be viable because I was concerned about having to do some heavy bushwhacking, but the route ended up being quite pleasant if you're okay with a fair amount of Class 2 boulder-hopping.

Starting from an unmarked trailhead, I set out through some pretty meadows. Almost immediately I was off-trail. Cattle-carved lines all over the place made it hard to stay on the true Great Western Trail. It didn't help that the dotted line on Google Maps reresenting the trail is incorrectly placed. My advice would be to try to stick to the remains of a doubletrack. Single track trails are just confusing game trails. The track on my attached map isn't totally correct since the trail wasn't clear, but it's pretty close to the true trail. The route leads through forests and meadows as it works up to the southern side of Hilgard Mountain.

Once at the saddle before the Great Western Trail started descending to the east, I left the trail and headed northeast where I had to do some very light bushwhacking for a bit and cross a low barbed wire fence. Shortly after this fence, a few hundred feet of Class 2 boulder-hopping slowed progress. There were sections that were better than others, but there was quite a bit more than I anticipated. As the grade of the southern slope of Hilgard Mountain became less steep, the boulder-hopping gave way to an easy grassy slope that led me slowly to the summit.

Coming back was a bit trickier than going up because following the Great Western Trail was more difficult on the way down somehow.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Hilgard Mountain
11533 ft
2093 rise

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Starting from the unmarked trailhead, view toward Hilgard Mountain.
Starting from the unmarked trailhead, view toward Hilgard Mountain.
I followed the Great Western Trail along doubletrack, passing through this gate.
I followed the Great Western Trail along doubletrack, passing through this gate.
The Great Western Trail was a bit difficult to follow at times, but I mostly stuck to doubletrack when I could locate it. The singletrack seemed to be just animal trails.
The Great Western Trail was a bit difficult to follow at times, but I mostly stuck to doubletrack when I could locate it. The singletrack seemed to be just animal trails.
The Great Western Trail heads through tree groves and meadows.
The Great Western Trail heads through tree groves and meadows.
Ascending to the saddle on the south side of Mount Hilgard, left of center.
Ascending to the saddle on the south side of Mount Hilgard, left of center.
View back after relocating the Great Western Trail.
View back after relocating the Great Western Trail.
Still on the Great Western Trail, view back.
Still on the Great Western Trail, view back.
Ascending to the saddle, center.
Ascending to the saddle, center.
View back, Mount Marvine (top left) and Mount Terrill (top right) in the distance.
View back, Mount Marvine (top left) and Mount Terrill (top right) in the distance.
Great Western Trail leads through some forest before reaching the saddle.
Great Western Trail leads through some forest before reaching the saddle.
The remains of the Great Western Trail within the forest.
The remains of the Great Western Trail within the forest.
At the saddle, heading north after leaving the Great Western Trail.
At the saddle, heading north after leaving the Great Western Trail.
Some Class 2 boulder-hopping.
Some Class 2 boulder-hopping.
View back toward the saddle I ascended from (center in the trees).
View back toward the saddle I ascended from (center in the trees).
Much of the first part of the ascent from the saddle looked like this.
Much of the first part of the ascent from the saddle looked like this.
But then the terrain became nice and grassy and a relatively mild grade.
But then the terrain became nice and grassy and a relatively mild grade.
Ascending to Hilgard Mountain along its south ridge.
Ascending to Hilgard Mountain along its south ridge.
Another shot back along the ridge.
Another shot back along the ridge.
Wider shot looking back, Fish Lake visible in the distance.
Wider shot looking back, Fish Lake visible in the distance.
Approaching Hilgard Mountain.
Approaching Hilgard Mountain.
Image 20 from gallery
Hilgard Mountain summit in the center.
Hilgard Mountain summit in the center.
View southeast from Hilgard Mountain.
View southeast from Hilgard Mountain.
Hilgard Mountain, view south.
Hilgard Mountain, view south.
Hilgard Mountain summit, view east toward the desert below.
Hilgard Mountain summit, view east toward the desert below.
View north from the summit. The standard route comes up from this direction. I was happy I went the way I did instead.
View north from the summit. The standard route comes up from this direction. I was happy I went the way I did instead.

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!