Little Black Mountain in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Hike Little Black Mountain Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Class 3 9.4 miles 3100 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Sep 11, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Little Black Mountain GPX Track

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Little Black Mountain (aka West Black Mountain) seems to be a pretty popular trail, due mostly to its proximity to civilization and a short little scramble at the top adding some fun. This peak shouldn't be confused with the taller and more primitive point farther east along the same ridge called Black Mountain.

I started up the Bonneville Shortline Trail, leaving it to follow the hilly ridgeline leading east toward Avenues Twin Peaks (the least interesting Twin Peaks of the three pairs using the same name in the Wasatch front). I took a short detour to Twin Peaks' high point, and then continued generally east along the ridge on an obvious trail. There's one steep section about 2/3 of the way up, and then a pleasant bit of Class 2 continues along the ridgeline, where there are pretty views to the south. Toward the summit, there's a fun bit of Class 3, most of the hardest moves avoidable by keeping just south of the ridgeline.

The true high point of Little Black Mountain is a little bit past the top of the scramble, but most people seem to stop here since the social trail leading to the true high point is clearly less traveled. 

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Twin Peaks
6291 ft
51 rise
2
Rook Point
7800 ft
n/a rise
3
Black Mountain-West Peak (Little Black Mountain)
8040 ft
200 rise

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Along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
Along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
Avenues Twin Peaks visible on the far right.
Avenues Twin Peaks visible on the far right.
Looking back along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
Looking back along the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.
I left the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and ascended along a dirt road/trail to the ridge crest to its north. The road continued east along the crest, seen here.
I left the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and ascended along a dirt road/trail to the ridge crest to its north. The road continued east along the crest, seen here.
Avenues Twin Peaks visible right of center.
Avenues Twin Peaks visible right of center.
Approaching Avenues Twin Peaks.
Approaching Avenues Twin Peaks.
View back along the crest I hiked along (far right). The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is visible below in the center, for reference.
View back along the crest I hiked along (far right). The Bonneville Shoreline Trail is visible below in the center, for reference.
Onward from Avenues Twin Peaks along the obvious trail. Little Black Mountain is up there somewhere on the top right in this photo.
Onward from Avenues Twin Peaks along the obvious trail. Little Black Mountain is up there somewhere on the top right in this photo.
View back along the ridge.
View back along the ridge.
Continuing generally east toward Little Black Mountain.
Continuing generally east toward Little Black Mountain.
Steep ascent.
Steep ascent.
View back.
View back.
Along the ridge crest before the fun stuff.
Along the ridge crest before the fun stuff.
Continuing to Little Black Mountain, where the terrain goes from meadowy to brushy.
Continuing to Little Black Mountain, where the terrain goes from meadowy to brushy.
Starting with some Class 2.
Starting with some Class 2.
View back along the ridge, a social trail leading the way.
View back along the ridge, a social trail leading the way.
The social trail becomes harder to follow as the scrambling becomes more difficult.
The social trail becomes harder to follow as the scrambling becomes more difficult.
Very cool Class 3.
Very cool Class 3.
Short-lived, but fun.
Short-lived, but fun.
Close-up of the Class 3 down-climb.
Close-up of the Class 3 down-climb.
View back toward a Class 3 downclimb.
View back toward a Class 3 downclimb.
Approaching the false summit.
Approaching the false summit.
View back along the ridge. You can pretty much see all the Class 2 and Class 3 obstacles along the way from this view.
View back along the ridge. You can pretty much see all the Class 2 and Class 3 obstacles along the way from this view.
False summit, view east tothe true summit.
False summit, view east tothe true summit.
View south.
View south.
Little Black Mountain true summit, view east toward the larger, true Black Mountain in the distance.
Little Black Mountain true summit, view east toward the larger, true Black Mountain in the distance.

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!