Mount Belknap, Mount Baldy, Shelly Baldy Peak in Fishlake National Forest, UT

Hike Mount Belknap, Mount Baldy, Shelly Baldy Peak Fishlake National Forest, UT

Class 2 13.6 miles 5700 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Aug 25, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Belknap, Mount Baldy, Shelly Baldy Peak GPX Track

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This long day tours some of the best scenery of the Tushar Mountains in central Utah. Mike and I followed a social trail up to Mount Belknap, which wraps around the south side of the mountain. I recommend avoiding going straight up the ridge, and attempt to follow the social trail as best as possible. We continued along Mount Belknap's west ridge to Mount Baldy (aka Baldy Peak or Beaver Baldy), which has some steep and scree-filled nonsense to work your way up (Class 2+). It wasn't a particularly fun peak, honestly. The scree and steep dirt makes it a bit more dangerous than we thought it would be. From the summit, we came back down and followed a gully and ridge combo off-trail to reach Blue Lake below.

After enjoying Blue Lake, we located the Skyline National Recreation Trail and followed it. We stayed on this gorgeous trail, choosing to take it all the way up to Mud Lake. Along the way we got excellent views back toward Mount Belknap and Mount Baldy. We chose to also include Shelly Baldy Peak, located south of the trail. We brefly left the Skyline NRT at a less steep section of slope to head southwest to Shelly Baldy Peak. We couldn't find any indicator of a trail, though once we reached the peak's ridgeline there was a semblance of a social trail. It's a pretty straightforward trek on open terrain to the peak and back, light Class 2 at points. Once back on the Skyline National Recreation Trail, we continued to Mud Lake, and then hiked for a few miles back on the gorgeous forest road. You could hitch a ride or set up a shuttle to cut off a few miles of road hiking.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Belknap
12137 ft
1177 rise
2
Mount Baldy
12122 ft
1202 rise
3
Shelly Baldy Peak
11321 ft
401 rise

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Approaching the base of Mt. Belknap.
Approaching the base of Mt. Belknap.
A social trail leads up and around Belknap's south side. I recommend not going straight up this ridge to the summit - it gets really steep.
A social trail leads up and around Belknap's south side. I recommend not going straight up this ridge to the summit - it gets really steep.
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Summit of Mt. Belknap. Mt. Baldy on the right, Blue Lake below.
Summit of Mt. Belknap. Mt. Baldy on the right, Blue Lake below.
Summit of Mt. Belknap. The sign reads differently than topo maps.
Summit of Mt. Belknap. The sign reads differently than topo maps.
Down the ridgeline toward Mt. Baldy.
Down the ridgeline toward Mt. Baldy.
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Heading up MT. Baldy, steep scree.
Heading up MT. Baldy, steep scree.
Looking back toward Mt. Belknap.
Looking back toward Mt. Belknap.
The super steep section.
The super steep section.
Approaching the summit.
Approaching the summit.
Final bit of scrambling to the summit.
Final bit of scrambling to the summit.
Mt. Baldy summit.
Mt. Baldy summit.
Looking down toward Blue Lake.
Looking down toward Blue Lake.
After coming down from Mt. Baldy, this is the gully from the saddle that heads toward Blue Lake.
After coming down from Mt. Baldy, this is the gully from the saddle that heads toward Blue Lake.
Continuing toward Blue Lake.
Continuing toward Blue Lake.
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Blue Lake, Mt. Belknap in the distance.
Blue Lake, Mt. Belknap in the distance.
We picked up the Skyline Recreation Trail above Blue Lake.
We picked up the Skyline Recreation Trail above Blue Lake.
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A great overlook of Mt. Belknap (center) and Mt. Baldy (left).
A great overlook of Mt. Belknap (center) and Mt. Baldy (left).
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Heading off-trail to get to Mt. Shelly Baldy.
Heading off-trail to get to Mt. Shelly Baldy.
Mt. Shelly Baldy ahead.
Mt. Shelly Baldy ahead.
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Looking back along the ridgeline before reaching the summit of Mt. Shelly Baldy.
Looking back along the ridgeline before reaching the summit of Mt. Shelly Baldy.
Approaching the summit.
Approaching the summit.
Summit view looking west.
Summit view looking west.
Back on the trail after Mt. Shelly Baldy.
Back on the trail after Mt. Shelly Baldy.
Leaving the forest and entering the meadows.
Leaving the forest and entering the meadows.
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Mud Lake. Follow the dirt road from Mud Lake back to the car, a few miles away.
Mud Lake. Follow the dirt road from Mud Lake back to the car, a few miles away.
Along the dirt road back.
Along the dirt road back.
After some elevation gain, you get a great view of Mt. Baldy (left) and Mt. Belknap (right).
After some elevation gain, you get a great view of Mt. Baldy (left) and Mt. Belknap (right).
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Almost back to the car.
Almost back to the car.

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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!