Hike Swasey Peak House Range BLM, UT

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Swasey Peak is the high point of the House Range in Utah's West Desert. Google has no issues navigating on excellent roads to the trailhead, and although the last few miles become slightly rocky, with care any car can make it. Chris and I thought it extremely odd that the roads out here were so good that they can be driven at full speed for most of the time, so we were happy to reduce our predicted drive time significantly. Aside from Swasey Peak's gorgeous southern face and summit views, it leaves much to be desired. The hike is short, overly steep, and sometimes brushy.

We set out from what seems to be a primitive campground at the end of Sinbad Road and headed along a doubletrack converted to trail that slowly led northeast toward the base of Swasey Peak. After about a quarter mile the old roadbed ended and a social trail materialized, leading us in the same direction. This social trail also only lasted a short time and we were forced to fend for ourselves in finding a route to Swasey Peak's west ridge. It will be extremely tempting to head directly up the steep slope to get higher up, but it's ridiculously clogged with brush and loose rock. My recommendation is to make an ascending traverse to gain the peak's west ridge as low down as possible. There were hints of a social trail along this unpleasant traverse section, but never enough to feel confident that we were following any sort of "best" option. You can avoid most brush if you pick your route carefully, though.

Once we reached the west ridge, a good social trail led very steeply up the ridge, relentlessly climbing about 1000 feet in about half a mile. The terrain is mostly solid, but some sections are loose. The last few hundred feet eased up a bit and soon we found ourselves on the summit of Swasey Peak. The views were ridiculously cool, especially toward the cliffs that characterize the western slopes of the House Range.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Swasey Peak

9669 ft

4509 rise

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Starting on an old roadbed from the trailhead. Swasey Peak seen above.

Just before reaching the end of the road and taking a social trail. You can see Swasey Peak top right, and its west ridge above Chris' head. I recommend trying to make it to just above that saddle. It's not a shortcut to ascend higher up the ridge.

On the social trail as we make our way to the west ridge.

View back toward the trailhead, center, as we make our way on an ascending traverse to the west ridge.

Almost to the west ridge. The terrain is loose and a bit brushy, but bushwhacking is mostly avoidable.

Starting up the west ridge, quite steep. However, there's a decent social trail the whole way up.

View back down the social trail on our way up Swasey Peak's west ridge.

More progress.

A section that's a bit more loose.

A shot back at our progress. We cam from the far bottom left in this photo.

Last bit to the summit was more tame.

Swasey Peak ahead.

Light Class 2 to gain the summit.

Swasey Peak summit, view east.

Swasey Peak, view west the way we came.

Trailhead is on the right, Notch Peak top left.

Close-up toward the House Range, Notch Peak in the distant center.

View north from Swasey Peak's summit.

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!