North to South Mount Timpanogos Traverse and Emerald Lake Loop in Uinta National Forest, UT

Hike North to South Mount Timpanogos Traverse and Emerald Lake Loop Uinta National Forest, UT

Class 3 13.6 miles 6500 gain 7-10 hrs Loop Sep 17, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

North to South Mount Timpanogos Traverse and Emerald Lake Loop GPX Track

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The standard route to Mt. Timpanogos always seemed like a lot of mileage for not doing a loop on a super popular trail. So, finally I set out to figure out a fun route that would avoid the standard and popular Timpooneke Trail to the summit of Mt. Timponogos. I found a map that hinted at the ability to head up the northeast ridge of North Timponogos and traverse over to Mt. Timpanogos, and then follow the Timpooneke Trail back, hitting North Timp, Bomber, and Mt. Timp, three of the Wasatch 11ers, in a day. That was enough to get me excited. Then, with a little more research, I found that South Timpanogos was another official 11er, and only a short jaunt past Mt. Timp: a fourth peak.

I set out up the northeast ridge, North Timpanogos looming far away, only a ridiculously steep hike in my way: in under 2 miles, you gain about 3700 feet. From the Timpooneke Trailhead, follow a road through the campground until you see a sign on the left leading to an official trail on the northeast ridge, the Bear Canyon Trail. Once this trail starts to force you away from the ridge, leave and head along the ridge, following a trail that's good enough to show you other people have been this way, but not good enough to keep you from getting scratched up. Eventually, you hit the timberline and going up is super easy until the base of North Timpanogos. I saw a single cairn leading around a scree-filled sketchy ledge (Class 3, maybe?) that apparently would take you to the base of the northeast ridge of North Timp. I didn't like the exposure. I instead found a stupid Class 4 route that had me covered in sap on the edge of the horrifyingly crumbly cliffs of North Timp. Whatever route you chose, definitely keep right as you climb because the cliff progressively gets taller as you go left (obviously). However, I did get in touch with someone on SummitPost who completed this route as well and he kindly provided pictures explaining that the ledge I had avoided was actually less scary than it looked. Anyway, I gained the ridge and followed Class 2 scree and talus until the false summit, went across the ridge, met up with the offical trail, and continued onward to South Timpanogos. On the way back, I noticed the saddle seemed reasonable for descent, avoiding having to backtrack. A bonus was that going this way would add Emerald Lake into my loop. Great views in the basin, and then a very pretty and long hike along the Timpooneke Trail back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
North Timpanogos
11441 ft
561 rise
2
Bomber Peak
11347 ft
227 rise
3
Mount Timpanogos
11749 ft
5269 rise
4
Mount Timpanogos-South Peak
11722 ft
422 rise

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Starting from the Timpooneke trailhead, follow the campground road for a while, great views of North Timpanogos.
Starting from the Timpooneke trailhead, follow the campground road for a while, great views of North Timpanogos.
Image 1 from gallery
Gain the ridge, Bear Canyon Trail, and follow it until it leaves the ridge.
Gain the ridge, Bear Canyon Trail, and follow it until it leaves the ridge.
Once the Bear Canyon Trail leaves the ridge, continue along the ridge. There is enough of a trail along the ridge to make you feel you're going the right way. If you lose the trail, you'll probably stumble across it again if you stay near the cliff.
Once the Bear Canyon Trail leaves the ridge, continue along the ridge. There is enough of a trail along the ridge to make you feel you're going the right way. If you lose the trail, you'll probably stumble across it again if you stay near the cliff.
Sort of visible trail the whole way through the bushwhack.
Sort of visible trail the whole way through the bushwhack.
The ridge crosses timberline and then it's really easy to stay on the route, even if you lose the trail. You can see North Timp peeking out on the top right.
The ridge crosses timberline and then it's really easy to stay on the route, even if you lose the trail. You can see North Timp peeking out on the top right.
Looking back along the ridge.
Looking back along the ridge.
North Timp ahead!
North Timp ahead!
The route up North Timpanogos is unclear, but in general stick to this ridge until it hits the mountain and then stay right. I saw a single cairn leading around a ledge. It was a bit scary  because of the loose scree and chance for a fatal fall, so I instead did some nonsense Class 4 up the face.
The route up North Timpanogos is unclear, but in general stick to this ridge until it hits the mountain and then stay right. I saw a single cairn leading around a ledge. It was a bit scary because of the loose scree and chance for a fatal fall, so I instead did some nonsense Class 4 up the face.
The ledge the cairn led to - it gets more precarious as you go. So I didn't go that way.
The ledge the cairn led to - it gets more precarious as you go. So I didn't go that way.
My scramble choice.
My scramble choice.
It got rough, but doable. Just make sure to keep heading east around North Timpanogos or you'll just keep scrambling higher and never get to the ridge.
It got rough, but doable. Just make sure to keep heading east around North Timpanogos or you'll just keep scrambling higher and never get to the ridge.
Sketchiest part of my scramble.
Sketchiest part of my scramble.
Gained the Northeast Ridge of North Timpanogos!
Gained the Northeast Ridge of North Timpanogos!
Still lots of Class 2 to go.
Still lots of Class 2 to go.
Image 15 from gallery
Image 16 from gallery
Image 17 from gallery
Only a couple sections of potentially Class 3. Choose your own adventure.
Only a couple sections of potentially Class 3. Choose your own adventure.
Looking down after the roughest part of the scramble.
Looking down after the roughest part of the scramble.
On the false summit, looking toward North Timpanogos.
On the false summit, looking toward North Timpanogos.
North Timpanogos sumit, looking toward Timp and South Timp.
North Timpanogos sumit, looking toward Timp and South Timp.
Image 22 from gallery
Image 23 from gallery
Looking back toward North Timpanogos along the ridge.
Looking back toward North Timpanogos along the ridge.
Image 25 from gallery
Image 26 from gallery
Mountain goats along the way.
Mountain goats along the way.
Looking back along the traverse after finding a faint trail that ultimately led to the Timpooneke Trail.
Looking back along the traverse after finding a faint trail that ultimately led to the Timpooneke Trail.
Timpooneke Trail just ahead. You can see little people just below the ridge.
Timpooneke Trail just ahead. You can see little people just below the ridge.
Looking back along the Timpooneke Trail.
Looking back along the Timpooneke Trail.
A section of tight switchbacks.
A section of tight switchbacks.
Mt. Timpanogos ahead.
Mt. Timpanogos ahead.
Almost to the Mt. Timpanogos summit, looking along the ridge, Timpanogos Basin on the right.
Almost to the Mt. Timpanogos summit, looking along the ridge, Timpanogos Basin on the right.
Mt. Timpanogos summit shelter.
Mt. Timpanogos summit shelter.
South Timpanogos ahead.
South Timpanogos ahead.
Easy trail from Mt. Timp to the saddle of South Timp.
Easy trail from Mt. Timp to the saddle of South Timp.
Looking back toward Mt. Timp.
Looking back toward Mt. Timp.
South Timpanogos ahead.
South Timpanogos ahead.
At the saddle of North Timp.
At the saddle of North Timp.
The saddle is where I ended up sliding down later to access Emerald Lake. Mt. Timp on the left somewhere, North Timp on the right, not pictured.
The saddle is where I ended up sliding down later to access Emerald Lake. Mt. Timp on the left somewhere, North Timp on the right, not pictured.
Headed up the worn-down scree to the summit of south Timp.
Headed up the worn-down scree to the summit of south Timp.
Looking down at the Class 2 scramble, Utah Lake in the distance.
Looking down at the Class 2 scramble, Utah Lake in the distance.
Looking back from the South Timpanogos summit.
Looking back from the South Timpanogos summit.
Summit view of South Timpanogos looking south.
Summit view of South Timpanogos looking south.
Back at the saddle, headed down a steep slope to Emerald Lake.
Back at the saddle, headed down a steep slope to Emerald Lake.
Looking up at the saddle from the bottom.
Looking up at the saddle from the bottom.
Emerald Lake, Roberts Horn behind it.
Emerald Lake, Roberts Horn behind it.
Emerald Lake and the snow field I came down.
Emerald Lake and the snow field I came down.
A shelter, South Timpanogos behind it. Now on an official trail.
A shelter, South Timpanogos behind it. Now on an official trail.
Look how tiny that shelter is compared to South Timp.
Look how tiny that shelter is compared to South Timp.
Continuing along the trail to meet up with the Timpooneke Trail. Entering the Timpanogos Basin.
Continuing along the trail to meet up with the Timpooneke Trail. Entering the Timpanogos Basin.
Looking back from within Timpanogos Basin up toward South Timpanogos.
Looking back from within Timpanogos Basin up toward South Timpanogos.
Looking back toward Mt. Timpanogos, almost out of the Timpanogos Basin.
Looking back toward Mt. Timpanogos, almost out of the Timpanogos Basin.
On the way down, North Timp at the top left far away.
On the way down, North Timp at the top left far away.
More mountain goats!
More mountain goats!
Image 56 from gallery
Image 57 from gallery
Image 58 from gallery
Looking back at the spillout from Timpanogos Basin.
Looking back at the spillout from Timpanogos Basin.
Image 60 from gallery
Tiny excursion to Scout Falls a mile or so from the trailhead.
Tiny excursion to Scout Falls a mile or so from the trailhead.

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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!