Mount Nebo Traverse via Nebo Bench Trail in Uinta National Forest, UT

Hike Mount Nebo Traverse via Nebo Bench Trail Uinta National Forest, UT

Class 3 15.2 miles 5700 gain 8-11 hrs Loop Sep 4, 2018
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Mount Nebo Traverse via Nebo Bench Trail GPX Track

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This route traverses Mt. Nebo from south to north, including Mt. Nebo South Peak, Mt. Nebo Middle Peak, Mt. Nebo, and North Peak. It starts from the Monument Trailhead and goes south on the sometimes hard to follow Nebo Bench Trail before heading up to the traverse itself. In hindsight, I'd recommend doing the peaks first and returning on the Nebo Bench Trail because 1. it seemed easier to follow the Nebo Bench Trail from south to north versus the way I went, and 2. you can bail back the way you came if there's rain coming if you do the peaks first and return on the Nebo Bench Trail. Regardless, I'll describe the route based on the way I did it, clockwise.

I initially wasn't sure about this route because many sources read the Nebo Bench Trail is basically a bushwhack, but it wasn't. From the Monument Trailhead, follow the trail until you see the Mt. Nebo Wilderness sign, where cattle destroyed the trail for sure, and keep to the right of the sign for the true trail. There are a couple of spots where the trail splits (likely because of the cattle), but I only had to backtrack once because I chose the incorrect trail. Eventually, you'll be on a singletrack that is obvious for the first 2/3 of the Nebo Bench Trail, no bushwhacking or weird alternate social trails. However, the trail does start to fade and I lost it a couple of times. My advice is if you're truly bushwhacking or feel like what you're walking on isn't a real trail, it probably isn't, so backtrack and figure it out. There shouldn't be any real bushwhacking – just some slightly hard to follow spots. Toward the end of the Nebo Bench Trail, the trail does completely disappear, but there are occasional cairns through the meadow and the NFS added some nice little markers that stick out of the ground. I just went straight up to the ridge rather than locate the official trail to get up to South Nebo Peak (see map).

From the ridge, follow a well-beaten trail across all three Nebo peaks (South, Middle, and Mt. Nebo). There are a couple of sections that I suppose are Class 3, but really they're just hard Class 2: annoying scree or some minor exposure on a ridge, but a social trail leads the way pretty obviously. There are two spots to note, really. The first is on the way up to Middle Nebo from South Nebo, where you'll see a black and jagged ridge and the trail keeps to the west before ascending a scree slope. I recommend hugging the solid rock and using that to ascend rather than trying to go up the scree. The second spot is on the way up to Mt. Nebo, where the ridgeline gets very technical, but a social trail leads up the east side safely to the summit. From Mt. Nebo, head down on a nice trail all the way to the North Peak Trailhead, where you can follow a dirt road back to the Monument Trailhead. You can bag North Peak on the way by heading up the south ridge, or by following the official trail and backtracking slightly to gain the summit.

This is a great loop to bag all the sub peaks of Mt. Nebo without having to backtrack.

After doing the traverse, I wanted to check out a little point of interest called Devil's Kitchen. It's a short walk to an overlook worth checking out if you're anywhere along the Nebo Scenic Loop. It's nicknamed "mini bryce canyon" because of the red hoodoo conglomerate rock. You can access this cute, short 0.2 round trip walk here (39.8049562, -111.688774).

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Mount Nebo-South Peak
11877 ft
197 rise
2
Nebo Middle
11824 ft
160 rise
3
Mount Nebo
11928 ft
5488 rise
4
North Peak
11174 ft
534 rise

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Starting along the Nebo Bench Trail. Starting from the Monument Trailhead, take the social trail just left of the wilderness sign. Cattle made it hard to find the true trail.
Starting along the Nebo Bench Trail. Starting from the Monument Trailhead, take the social trail just left of the wilderness sign. Cattle made it hard to find the true trail.
North Peak visible up there on the left.
North Peak visible up there on the left.
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Cattle on the Nebo Bench Trail.
Cattle on the Nebo Bench Trail.
Great meadowy views on the Nebo Bench Trail.
Great meadowy views on the Nebo Bench Trail.
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The Nebo Bench Trail is easy to follow (minus a couple of offshoot social trails) for the first two thirds.
The Nebo Bench Trail is easy to follow (minus a couple of offshoot social trails) for the first two thirds.
View up at Mt. Nebo.
View up at Mt. Nebo.
Looking back toward Mt. Nebo along the Nebo Bench Trail.
Looking back toward Mt. Nebo along the Nebo Bench Trail.
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The Nebo Bench Trail gets a little tricky to follow around a certain point - if you find yourself bushwhacking, backtrack and find the trail.
The Nebo Bench Trail gets a little tricky to follow around a certain point - if you find yourself bushwhacking, backtrack and find the trail.
The Nebo Bench Trail passes over a gully, another spot you can lose the trail.
The Nebo Bench Trail passes over a gully, another spot you can lose the trail.
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Eventually, the trail completely disappears when you enter this meadow. The ridge ahead is the one I went up to gain the traverse. The Nebo Bench Trail, however, doesn't go all the way to the ridge (see map).
Eventually, the trail completely disappears when you enter this meadow. The ridge ahead is the one I went up to gain the traverse. The Nebo Bench Trail, however, doesn't go all the way to the ridge (see map).
Crossing through the meadow. There's a trail sign, but no trail.
Crossing through the meadow. There's a trail sign, but no trail.
Looking back across the trail-less meadow.
Looking back across the trail-less meadow.
On the ridge, looking back across where the Nebo Bench Trail goes.
On the ridge, looking back across where the Nebo Bench Trail goes.
Heading up the ridge, looking down.
Heading up the ridge, looking down.
Heading up the ridge, looking toward the Nebo traverse.
Heading up the ridge, looking toward the Nebo traverse.
Nebo Traverse coming up!
Nebo Traverse coming up!
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
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Mt. Nebo South Peak, looking north to Mt. Nebo Middle Peak.
Mt. Nebo South Peak, looking north to Mt. Nebo Middle Peak.
Stay left of the jagged-looking ridge, where a social trail safely takes you across.
Stay left of the jagged-looking ridge, where a social trail safely takes you across.
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Approaching the section most people call Class 3. It's really just a dirty, loose gully, and using the rocks on the right make it easier and less unpleasant, but adds a little bit of scrambling.
Approaching the section most people call Class 3. It's really just a dirty, loose gully, and using the rocks on the right make it easier and less unpleasant, but adds a little bit of scrambling.
Close-up of the Class 3 section.
Close-up of the Class 3 section.
At the top of the Class 3 section, looking toward Mt. Nebo Middle Peak.
At the top of the Class 3 section, looking toward Mt. Nebo Middle Peak.
At the top of the Class 3 section, looking back at Mt. Nebo South Peak, the Class 3 section just below.
At the top of the Class 3 section, looking back at Mt. Nebo South Peak, the Class 3 section just below.
Mt. Nebo Middle Peak summit, looking back toward Mt. Nebo South Peak.
Mt. Nebo Middle Peak summit, looking back toward Mt. Nebo South Peak.
Mt. Nebo Middle Peak summit, looking toward Mt. Nebo.
Mt. Nebo Middle Peak summit, looking toward Mt. Nebo.
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Mt. Nebo ridge.
Mt. Nebo ridge.
When the ridge leading up to Mt. Nebo starts to get a little rough, drop off on the right (east) and scramble on easier Class 2 terrain to the summit.
When the ridge leading up to Mt. Nebo starts to get a little rough, drop off on the right (east) and scramble on easier Class 2 terrain to the summit.
Looking down at the Class 2 approach to Mt. Nebo and back along the traverse - some guy was passing, so I got a shot for size reference.
Looking down at the Class 2 approach to Mt. Nebo and back along the traverse - some guy was passing, so I got a shot for size reference.
Mt. Nebo summit, looking north.
Mt. Nebo summit, looking north.
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Image 47 from gallery
Looking back toward the Mt. Nebo summit from Wolf Pass Peak (unofficial peak).
Looking back toward the Mt. Nebo summit from Wolf Pass Peak (unofficial peak).
Close-up looking east where you can see the Nebo Bench Trail below on the ridge..
Close-up looking east where you can see the Nebo Bench Trail below on the ridge..
Mt. Nebo North Peak ahead.
Mt. Nebo North Peak ahead.
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You can head up the trail-less ridge to Mt. Nebo North Peak, or take the official trail and backtrack slightly (see map).
You can head up the trail-less ridge to Mt. Nebo North Peak, or take the official trail and backtrack slightly (see map).
I took the official trail and backtracked up to Mt. Nebo North Peak, but I recommend just taking the ridge.
I took the official trail and backtracked up to Mt. Nebo North Peak, but I recommend just taking the ridge.
Looking back toward Mt. Nebo.
Looking back toward Mt. Nebo.
Mt. Nebo North Peak, looking toward Mt. Nebo.
Mt. Nebo North Peak, looking toward Mt. Nebo.
After summitting Mt. Nebo North Peak, head down along the official trail back to the trailhead.
After summitting Mt. Nebo North Peak, head down along the official trail back to the trailhead.
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Looking back toward the traverse, Mt. Nebo North Peak the first visible peak.
Looking back toward the traverse, Mt. Nebo North Peak the first visible peak.
You can see two parking lots here - left side is North Peak Trailhead. The right side, you can see my car if you look closely, is the Monument Trailhead, my start point.
You can see two parking lots here - left side is North Peak Trailhead. The right side, you can see my car if you look closely, is the Monument Trailhead, my start point.
After hiking Mount Nebo, I checked out Devil's Kitchen. See trip report above for trailhead coordinates. This is a shot starting along the short, paved trail to Devil's Kitchen.
After hiking Mount Nebo, I checked out Devil's Kitchen. See trip report above for trailhead coordinates. This is a shot starting along the short, paved trail to Devil's Kitchen.
The Nebo Traverse I just did visible in the distance.
The Nebo Traverse I just did visible in the distance.
Devil's Kitchen overlook.
Devil's Kitchen overlook.
Devil's Kitchen.
Devil's Kitchen.
Close-up of Mt. Nebo.
Close-up of Mt. Nebo.

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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!