Rencher Peak via Upper Grants Ranch Trail in Dixie National Forest, UT

Hike Rencher Peak via Upper Grants Ranch Trail Dixie National Forest, UT

Class 1 9.4 miles 2500 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Jun 15, 2024
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Rencher Peak via Upper Grants Ranch Trail GPX Track

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Rencher Peak is a pretty obscure forested summit within the Pine Valley Mountains that I was interested in mostly because I wanted to see the surrounding landscape from above. This actually ended up being a really nice hike to a remote part of Dixie National Forest. Any car can make it to the trailhead, assuming it hasn't rained because the road would otherwise be pretty muddy.

I started south along the Upper Grants Ranch Trail, hiking through forest and quickly passing Gordon Springs. The trail gradually ascended until it reached the base of a steep slope, wrapping into a wide gully to gain higher ground and leaving the forest for brushier terrain. At the top of this gully, the trail continued through sagebrush meadows. Looking back, I could see the Kolob Canyons of Zion National Park in the distance. The Upper Grants Ranch Trail merged with an old doubletrack road, leading over to a viewpoint of Rencher Peak. The road dropped south to the Long Flat Reservoir, which is housed within a wide and beautiful grassy meadow.

It didn't make any sense to begin ascending to the summit of Rencher Peak from here because it appeared to be heavily forested, and the Long Flat Trail seemed to get quite close to the peak on its northwest side. I wasn't really sure how the Long Flat Trail would be in terms of quality, but I figured I'd risk it to try to access the summit. No other trails come anywhere near it, so this was my best bet, and I hoped that at least I would be able to follow a semblance of a trail. The Long Flat Trail eventually connects with the Rock Springs Trail, but I was pretty sure based on my scouring of satellite imagery that that trail pretty much doesn't exist anymore.

Avoiding a slightly sketchy cow, I wrapped around Long Flat Reservoir and located the faint long flat trail, which took me west through the meadow. I managed to stick to this trail, only losing it for very short times because years of grazing cows have created annoying and confusing spur trails. Damn cows.

The Long Flat Trail heads through pretty meadows with spurts of trees, slowly ascending toward the western side of Rencher Peak. I kept my eyes peeled for options to leave the trail and head up, but it just didn't make sense yet, especially since I'd already researched and found what seemed to be a grassy slope on the northwest side. There were even some nice views along the trail, plus a flat section of slick rock, so I was happy to enjoy the walk.

Fortunately, my research proved worthwhile because I only had a couple of hundred feet of easy bushwhacking before I was able to ascend to Rencher Peak on a wonderful grassy, steep slope. There was a bit of brush toward the summit, but nothing to complain about. Although the peak's views were mostly forested, there was a large boulder at the summit that provided a nice overlook toward the White Rocks Reservoir meadow area to the south, with Timber Mountain and Big Point looming behind it. I quickly became very excited to explore more of this weird part of southern Utah.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Rencher Peak
8788 ft
748 rise

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Starting along the Upper Grants Ranch Trail.
Starting along the Upper Grants Ranch Trail.
Mostly forested for the first bit of the hike.
Mostly forested for the first bit of the hike.
Passing Gordon Springs.
Passing Gordon Springs.
After lots of tame ascending, the trail heads more steeply into the gully seen center.
After lots of tame ascending, the trail heads more steeply into the gully seen center.
View back.
View back.
Upper Grants Ranch Trail ascends out of forest and into brushy terrain.
Upper Grants Ranch Trail ascends out of forest and into brushy terrain.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Higher up in the gully.
Higher up in the gully.
Less brushy above the gully.
Less brushy above the gully.
View back at the top of the gully, Zion National Park seen in the distance.
View back at the top of the gully, Zion National Park seen in the distance.
The trail follows an old doubletrack for a bit.
The trail follows an old doubletrack for a bit.
Rencher Peak becomes visible (right). The road descends to Long Flat Reservoir.
Rencher Peak becomes visible (right). The road descends to Long Flat Reservoir.
Long Flat Reservoir. I wrapped around it to join the very faint Long Flat Trail.
Long Flat Reservoir. I wrapped around it to join the very faint Long Flat Trail.
View back toward the little meadow housing Long Flat.
View back toward the little meadow housing Long Flat.
Along the Long Flat Trail, heading west.
Along the Long Flat Trail, heading west.
It's very pretty along this trail, lots of rock outcroppings and meadows.
It's very pretty along this trail, lots of rock outcroppings and meadows.
I was enjoying the stroll.
I was enjoying the stroll.
Rencher Peak ahead. I thought it best to wrap around to the clearer ascent option.
Rencher Peak ahead. I thought it best to wrap around to the clearer ascent option.
View back at a nice view along the way, a rocky flat section.
View back at a nice view along the way, a rocky flat section.
Much better on the northwest side than the forested other slopes. I started up toward Rencher Peak, leaving the Long Flat Trail.
Much better on the northwest side than the forested other slopes. I started up toward Rencher Peak, leaving the Long Flat Trail.
Mostly clear the whole way.
Mostly clear the whole way.
View back down, north.
View back down, north.
There was some light brush toward the summit, but a small clearing offered a view. Slew Spring seen on the right. Timber Mountain far left.
There was some light brush toward the summit, but a small clearing offered a view. Slew Spring seen on the right. Timber Mountain far left.
Close-up toward Timber Mountain, Big Point (behind it), and the cool rocks White Rocks Reservoir was named for below.
Close-up toward Timber Mountain, Big Point (behind it), and the cool rocks White Rocks Reservoir was named for below.

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!