Class 1 10.1 miles 2700 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Sep 18, 2023
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Mill Canyon Peak GPX Track

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Mill Canyon Peak is among the last high-prominence summits I needed to tick off in the Wasatch Mountains. It's been on the backburner since it's located a bit far from the more interesting summits in the Wasatch Front and requires a drive to reach its remote trailhead. Nearby is Peak 9851, another ranked summit I wanted to get to. I was surprised at how fantastic the views were of Mount Timpanogos along the entire hike, as well as north toward the ridgeline housing beauties like Pfeifferhorn and Red Baldy. Take the paved road to here (40.45346, -111.58112) and head north on a dirt road that is overall pretty good and a Crossover SUV can make it to where I did. I parked a few hundred feet before the official trailhead because the road was in much rougher shape and I wasn't sure I could make it. A short hike and I was at the Upper Mill Canyon Trailhead where I picked up the Ridge Trail.

The trail climbs gradually, with excellent views back toward Mount Timpanogos. There's one big switchback that seems to have been replaced by an illegally-cut shortcut, but I stuck to the official trail.  Mill Canyon Peak soon becomes visible ahead, though there's still a lot of work to do in order to reach the top of the massive lump. After some nice forested walking, the trail reaches a minor saddle on the south side of the peak, then skirts the slope south of Mill Canyon Peak before reaching its southern ridge. Heading northwest, the Ridge Trail continues just below the crest. A social trail pops in on the right, leading away from the trail and instead sticking to the crest. I'd be returning via the Ridge Trail later.

The ascent to Mill Canyon Peak from here was consistently moderately steep, where a social trail leads the way for the majority. There were a few spots where the trail was more faint, but there's no way to get lost since it's just a straightforward ridge. I passed a junction with the East Ridge Trail at some point, but kept to the crest. I was thoroughly enjoying the views down toward Deer Creek Reservoir, but the views above toward accumulating clouds were less nice. Storms have threatened me on nearly every hike I've been on this summer, so I barely even cared. The Mill Canyon Peak summit has similar views to the rest of the hike so far, so I didn't stick around. I was cold from the wind and drizzle and still wanted to reach Peak 9851 to the west. To get there, I determined it was a good idea to side-hill beneath the north ridge of Mill Canyon Peak in order to avoid a little lump and some potentially brushier terrain. It was pretty steep and newly-wet plants on the slope soaked me and caused me to slip a few times.

I rejoined the main ridgeline and soon stumbled on the Ridge Trail, following it only briefly. A social trail continued toward Peak 9851. I reached a junction of two social trails, one leading along the ridge and more tempting. Though, I recommend keeping right since it ascends just below the crest and follows a nice trail almost all the way to the summit. Just below Peak 9851's true high point, the social trail wraps around the summit and goes elsewhere. I hiked instead through low grasses to the summit, an incredible windswept viewpoint of a seldom-seen perspective of the backside of the Wasatch Range. I backtracked and took the Ridge Trail to complete the loop, happy to finally check out this area, though it was a bittersweet goodbye to summer.

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Starting at the Upper Mill Canyon Trailhead and taking the Ridge Trail.
Starting at the Upper Mill Canyon Trailhead and taking the Ridge Trail.
View back along the Ridge Trail toward Mount Timpanogos.
View back along the Ridge Trail toward Mount Timpanogos.
The trail climbs gradually.
The trail climbs gradually.
View west as I ascend the Ridge Trail.
View west as I ascend the Ridge Trail.
Mill Canyon Peak seen ahead.
Mill Canyon Peak seen ahead.
View back, Mount Timpanogos seen in the distance.
View back, Mount Timpanogos seen in the distance.
The trail skirts the slope south of Mill Canyon Peak before reaching its southern ridge.
The trail skirts the slope south of Mill Canyon Peak before reaching its southern ridge.
Along the south ridge of Mill Canyon Peak.
Along the south ridge of Mill Canyon Peak.
I left the trail here and took a faint social trail much of the way up to the summit.
I left the trail here and took a faint social trail much of the way up to the summit.
View back at the Wasatch Mountains.
View back at the Wasatch Mountains.
Mill Canyon Peak seen ahead.
Mill Canyon Peak seen ahead.
View back. Deer Creek Reservoir seen below.
View back. Deer Creek Reservoir seen below.
Passing a junction with the East Ridge Trail. I continued up on a decent social trail.
Passing a junction with the East Ridge Trail. I continued up on a decent social trail.
A shot south toward the Wasatch.
A shot south toward the Wasatch.
Pleasant hiking up the pretty steep ridge.
Pleasant hiking up the pretty steep ridge.
View back, almost at the summit of Mill Canyon Peak.
View back, almost at the summit of Mill Canyon Peak.
Mill Canyon Peak ahead.
Mill Canyon Peak ahead.
Mill Canyon Peak summit.
Mill Canyon Peak summit.
Mill Canyon Peak summit. I headed down toward Peak 9851, seen on the left.
Mill Canyon Peak summit. I headed down toward Peak 9851, seen on the left.
Initially I stuck to the crest, but left it to descend a meadowy slope instead, side-hilling back to the ridge crest.
Initially I stuck to the crest, but left it to descend a meadowy slope instead, side-hilling back to the ridge crest.
Descending toward the saddle of Mill Canyon Peak and Peak 9851.
Descending toward the saddle of Mill Canyon Peak and Peak 9851.
Peak 9851 ahead.
Peak 9851 ahead.
Along the Ridge Trail, though only briefly.
Along the Ridge Trail, though only briefly.
View back toward Mill Canyon Peak.
View back toward Mill Canyon Peak.
Ascending to Peak 9851 on a good social trail.
Ascending to Peak 9851 on a good social trail.
At this junction, I recommend keeping right. Left leads along the crest, but the trail fades away. The trail on the right ascends just below the crest, but goes nearly to the summit.
At this junction, I recommend keeping right. Left leads along the crest, but the trail fades away. The trail on the right ascends just below the crest, but goes nearly to the summit.
View back toward Mill Canyon Peak.
View back toward Mill Canyon Peak.
Pretty social trail through meadows and forest.
Pretty social trail through meadows and forest.
Nearing the summit of Peak 9851.
Nearing the summit of Peak 9851.
View back.
View back.
The social trail wraps around the summit, not reaching it. I left it to head to the high point.
The social trail wraps around the summit, not reaching it. I left it to head to the high point.
Peak 9851 summit, view toward American Fork Canyon, Timpanogos and Box Elder on either side.
Peak 9851 summit, view toward American Fork Canyon, Timpanogos and Box Elder on either side.
View toward White Baldy.
View toward White Baldy.
I backtracked and took the Ridge Trail back to complete the loop.
I backtracked and took the Ridge Trail back to complete the loop.
View back toward Peak 9851.
View back toward Peak 9851.
Lovely views along the Ridge Trail.
Lovely views along the Ridge Trail.
A junction along the way. I kept to the Ridge Trail.
A junction along the way. I kept to the Ridge Trail.

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