Hike Thunder Mountains Traverse via Bells Canyon Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

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In an attempt to bag all Wasatch 11ers (11,000 feet or higher in the Wasatch Mountains), I wanted to link the lesser-visited South Thunder and even more seldom summitted North Thunder in a day, but some meager research that warned of the terrifying Class 4 on the ridge connecting the two plus my allowing too much time to pass with these on my to-do list made the scaredy-cat hype for this trip overwhelming. It ended up being one of my favorite Wasatch adventures to date, and the ridge wasn't a fraction as difficult as I anticipated.

From the Bells Canyon Trailhead (Granite Trailhead, officially), follow an extremely heavily trafficked trail to the Lower Bells Canyon Waterfall. The falls are gorgeous and worth the minor side trip. Continue farther up into Upper Bells Canyon, where you'll probably stop seeing people almost entirely. Though this is technically an official trail, it's is the kind of trail that probably gets re-routed regularly because it's narrow enough that social trails become the new primary trail. Regardless, it's easy to follow all the way up to Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir. This spot is extremely relaxing and worth a trip itself. Head along the north side of the lake, route-finding on steep terrain. I couldn't find a social trail, and maybe there was one, but you really don't need it. If you're half decent at following a topo map, it's clear where to go. You'll hit a boulder field. I stayed to the west of it to keep the scrambling minimal. To the north, you'll see the pass to the east of Bells Cleaver, which I used later to complete the route.

After the boulder field, follow the granite slabs until you reach a massive gully. I probably took the more difficult gully that went directly east up South Thunder Mountain's face. I recommend going up the northeast gully to end at South Thunder's north ridge before you ascend. From the Class 2+/3 summit of South Thunder Mountain, check out the absurd views of Lone Peak and the Pfeifferhorn before taking the north ridge over to the crux of the day. You'll see three major notable features: the big Class 5 gendarme that you have to circumvent, a short Class 3 headwall just after the gendarme, and the Class 4 headwall in the center of the ridge. After passing the gendarme, head up the Class 3 headwall and continue on the mostly Class 2 ridgeline until you reach the Class 4 stuff. If you had any doubts or trouble at all on the Class 3 part, definitely bypass the Class 4 wall. Apparently you can drop down into the Thunder Basin to avoid the Class 4 section, or so I've heard, but I didn't locate that alternative. Anyway, assuming you want to do the Class 4 wall, it looks intimidating because of the exposure on your right and sheer nature of climbing ropeless. However, the hold are absolutely massive to the point that if you aren't able to fit both of your entire hands into the cracks you're going the wrong way. The consequence is high here, but if you have any scrambling experience, it's not difficult climbing at all and the rock was really solid.

Once past the Class 4 section, continue through some bushwhacking to the summit of North Thunder Mountain. Locate the pass just south of Bells Cleaver to the west, drop off North Thunder (I went back down the south ridge), head north below its cliffy base, locate another boulder field gully (Class 2), and go directly up to the pass. From the pass, route-find down more boulders and you'll end up just above Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir again. Head back down Bells Canyon.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

South Thunder Mountain

11154 ft

634 rise

North Thunder Mountain

11150 ft

230 rise

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Starting up the Bells Canyon Trail. Bells Canyon is the faded mountains in the center.

The trail goes along a dirt road for a while before a sign points to the waterfall.

Heading up into Bells Canyon.

Pretty greenery within Bells Canyon.

Bells Canyon is seriously super pretty - a stream flowing next to the trail and tall rocky cliffs obscured by trees to the left the whole way up.

Mini side trip to Lower Bells Canyon Falls.

Lower Bells Canyon Falls.

Past Lower Bells Canyon Falls, you get really nice views of the cliffs to the north.

Stream still following you up the Upper Bells Canyon Trail.

Upper Bells Canyon Trail opens up for views of granite occasionally.

And also lots of meadows.

The trail starts to get a little more difficult as you continue up Bells Canyon: boulders in the way, steep sections, social trails making it a little harder to stay on track.

Looking back down Bells Canyon, close to the Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir.

Approaching Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir.

Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir. Stay to the left of the lake and head to the base of the sub-peak ahead. You can sort of make out the basin you'll be heading up.

Boulder field at the base of the sub-peak pictured previously. I stayed to the right of this field.

Looking back into the basin, at the base of the boulder field. You can see Bells Cleaver on the right, the pass you come down later on just to the right of Bells Cleaver. This basin marks the end of the mini loop after completing North Thunder Mountain.

Continuing up past the boulder field, lots of granite! It's super pretty up here.

A granite field you need to traverse.

Looking back across the field of granite toward Bells Canyon.

Close-up of Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir, and Bells Canyon behind it.

South Thunder Mountain ahead!

Just need to choose a gully to get to the summit. I ended up going to the right of that cliff on the right in this photo. I think it would have been easier if I went to the left of it, because I hit some steep loose rock.

Looking back toward Bells Canyon (right) and Lone Peak (left) before starting up the gully.

Rock hopping up the gully.

Approaching South Thunder Mountain summit.

South Thunder Mountain summit looking east toward the Pfeifferhorn.

South Thunder Mountain summit looking west toward Lone Peak.

South Thunder Mountain summit looking toward Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir, where I came from.

Heading down from South Thunder Mountain summit toward the ridge. You can see North Thunder Mountain in the center.

Before starting the ridge traverse, looking back toward South Thunder Mountain.

The ridge!

Close-up of the ridge. In detail: You can see the gendarme on the far right - Class 5, avoid it by dropping into Thunder Basin on the left. Directly behind the gendarme is the Class 3 move up a short wall. If you don't feel comfortable on this, don't do th

Close-up of the Pfeifferhorn before starting the ridge. The gendarme is on the left. Avoid it.

Just left of the gendarme, approaching the Class 3 wall.

Class 3 wall ahead.

Class 3 wall. It's steep but easy.

Looking back toward the gendarme, South Thunder Mountain on the left.

Continuing along Class 2 ridge scrambling.

Looking back toward South Thunder Mountain.

The Class 4 headwall. High exposure on the right. I recommend following the brush there, using massive holds to get up, and then it will be clear from there. Note that if you don't have massive handholds, you're going the wrong way.

Looking down at the Class 4 section.

Looking back at South Thunder Mountain after doing the Class 4 headwall.

North Thunder Mountain ahead

Approaching North Thunder Mountain.

North Thunder Mountain summit, looking back at the ridge and South Thunder Mountain center right.

Close-up of the Wasatch 11ers to the east.

North Thunder Mountain view looking toward Lone Peak to the west, Bells Clever in the center, Thunder Bowl below, You're aiming for the pass to the left of Bells Cleaver.

Heading down from North Thunder Mountain into the Thunder Bowl.

Entering another boulder field to get down from North Thunder Mountain.

A private, beautiful lake in the Thunder Bowl. Not a trace of humans. Head for the pass in the center of this photo.

Looking back up the boulder field I came down from North Thunder Mountain.

Approaching the short ascent to the pass below Bells Cleaver.

Looking toward Lone Peak from the top of the pass.

Headed down from the pass toward the basin I mentioned earlier. You can see the first boulder field on the left in this photo.

Looking down toward Upper Bells Canyon Reservoir.

On the way back, the lighting was so much different. This is looking back up into Bells Canyon from near 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!