Hike Mine Camp Peak via Bear Canyon Fishlake National Forest, UT

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Mine Camp Peak via Bear Canyon GPX Track

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Mine Camp Peak is a high-prominence peak in central Utah, the high point of the Pahvant Range. It's usually done as a throw-away mountain due to its easy driving access, requiring only about a mile of hiking. I poured over maps to locate a potential access route that could get us to the summit via a trail or otherwise so we could enjoy the scenery, and found an approach from the north from the Moss Falls Trailhead. I couldn't locate any good information about this trail system online, and despite the trails appearing on some topo maps I was concerned they'd be eroded or riddled with deadfall. Chris agreed to head out and attempt the trails with me, and we were both relieved to find the trails to be in excellent shape, resulting in a particularly pretty ascent of the mountain. I really enjoyed this hike, but maybe that's because I've been dwelling in the desert pretty much exclusively for months and this was a green oasis.

Any car can make it to the trailhead using the gravel road. From the trailhead we headed south along the Chokecherry Trail #024, which paralleled Chalk Creek. We were immediately surprised at the quality of the trail, despite its remoteness and lack of public information about this area. The trail crossed the creek multiple times, and Spring runoff forced us to get creative using logs and rocks to avoid getting wet. A bit under a mile later, we reached a junction with the Bear Canyon Trail #021, which stuck to the east side of the watercourse for a bit before reaching a junction with the Three Forks Trail. We stuck to the Bear Canyon Trail as it ascended pleasantly to a viewpoint of the cascading Moss Falls. I marked this spot on my map.

Past Moss Falls, the trail continued alternating sides of Chalk Creek as it ascended into meadows at around 7900'. The meadows have grown over the trail, but as long as you keep heading straight through them locating the trail again shouldn't be a problem. The Bear Canyon Trail continued paralleling Chalk Creek for a while, but we got very mixed up since the USFS map placed the trail incorrectly, so I recommend not referring to those maps. At around 8300', the trail crosses Chalk Creek one more time and then starts to climb more steeply up the slope, ascending to the Paradise Trail. This trail is more of an old ATV doubletrack, though it no longer allows ATV access. We followed the Paradise Trail through aspens until it reached a significant ridge on the east side of Mine Camp Peak. Finally, the summit area came into view and we got excited at the prospect that the route would work, but a bit disheartened by the snow seen above, though it ultimately wasn't a problem.

The Paradise Trail climbed pretty steeply up to the driving access road, which we followed west to a sign that pointed to Mine Camp Peak, the trailhead most usually use to access the summit. To reach the summit we'd have to drop a couple hundred feet to a minor saddle before the final ascent to the peak. Oddly, the sign was located a hundred feet farther than the start of the actual social trail that clearly leads from the road. Although there was a little bit of deadfall, we were able to easily follow the grassy ridgeline to get to the high point, where we had some nice views of the Tushars and surrounding mountains. We returned the way we came, happy to have explored a new mountain range for both of us and to locate a trail system that hopefully gets some more well-deserved love.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Mine Camp Peak

10222 ft

3039 rise

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Starting out from the trailhead, initially along the Chokecherry Trail #024.

The trail parallels Chalk Creek for much of the hike.

There were a bunch of stream crossings, some with blanks or logs, others with rocks.

Another stream crossing.

The trail was in great shape.

Junction, keeping right to stay on the Bear Canyon Trail.

A stream crossing just before the trail started ascending on the slope of Chalk Creek.

Chalk Creek below.

View back.

Gorgeous trail with nice spring foliage.

Junction, keeping right.

Ascending to an overlook of Moss Falls.

Moss Falls, seen across the creek.

View down the creek from the Moss Falls viewpoint.

Continuing along the trail, which swaps between the left and right banks of the creek.

The trail ascends for a while through the forest.

And enters a couple of small meadows. Keep going straight and picking up the trail again should be no big deal.

Continuing to ascend along the Bear Canyon Trail.

View back along the Bear Canyon Trail before it starts ascending steeply.

Final creek crossing before the ascent up to the Paradise Trail.

Ascending the steeper portion of the trail.

Junction with the Paradise Trail. It might be hard to locate the Bear Canyon Trail on the way back, since it's unsigned and has some deadfall.

Along the Paradise Trail.

View back along the Paradise Trail.

Yay, the mountains become visible.

View back along the Paradise Trail.

Higher up as we ascend the Paradise Trail.

Along the Paradise Trail, nearing its end where it meets with the drivable road.

View back.

End of the Paradise Trail, where it merges with the drivable road. Mine Camp Peak comes into view on the right.

View back at the end of the Paradise Trail.

View back along the road walk.

View back along the road walk before reaching the spot where we'd leave the road and take a social trail to the summit.

A short drop from the road leads to a minor saddle, Mine Camp Peak seen ahead.

View back toward the saddle.

Pretty easy walking along the ridge.

View back the way we came.

Approaching the summit of Mine Camp Peak, just ahead.

Mine Camp Peak summit, view west.

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!