Thunder Mountain via Thunder Mountain Trail in Dixie National Forest, UT

Hike Thunder Mountain via Thunder Mountain Trail Dixie National Forest, UT

Class 2 8.4 miles 1900 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Sep 6, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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The Thunder Mountain Trail is primarily a mountain biking trail located in Red Canyon (within Dixie National Forest). The trail has two trailheads, likely mostly done as a point-to-point, but I didn't have a shuttle and therefore had to chose a trailhead. Since I wanted some exercise, I chose to start from the lower of the two (north trailhead) for some vertical gain and just return the way I came. The trail doesn't really have a destination, and I noted a point on a map called Peak 8429, an unnamed high point just off the Thunder Mountain Trail. I hope it's not too presumptuous to name this unnamed point as Thunder Mountain, since there doesn't seem to be a named Thunder Mountain nearby, and I don't know what other high point the Thunder Mountain Trail would be named after. Anyway, I decided to make this point my destination for this hike.

I set out along the Thunder Mountain Trail, heading south through a mellow canyon. The trail then hit a junction and started east, where the beautiful hoodoos that Red Canyon is known for lined the canyon walls, and the trail started making switchbacks typical for a mountain bike trail up the red slopes and onto a ridge. There was a pretty section as I continued east where the ridge became narrow and the views to either side were really wonderful. The trail dropped south into another canyon, and then continued south and gained some elevation to get to the tallest ridge in the area. The views of the hoodoo forest to the north were sporadic, but great. I made it just south of Peak 8429 (Thunder Mountain), and started considering options to get up to the hoodoo-guarded summit. I noted a sign labeled "White Point", and followed it on a social trail to a dead-end, the ridge too jagged and cumbly. I continued along the Thunder Mountain Trail for a short bit until I made it to a large and obvious pair of hoodoos on the side of the trail. I chose to leave the trail here, heading north into a drainage. I followed the drainage up some light Class 2 to the summit. The steepest part is the descent from the trail into the drainage, and if you're on anything sketchy or crumbly, there's another way. The views were limited on the summit, but I was happy to have a non-arbitrary turn-around point.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Thunder Mountain
8429 ft
289 rise

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Starting at the Thunder Mountain Trailhead.
Starting at the Thunder Mountain Trailhead.
The Thunder Mountain Trail heads through a mellow canyon.
The Thunder Mountain Trail heads through a mellow canyon.
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Image 3 from gallery
A junction, where the Thunder Mountain Trail heads east.
A junction, where the Thunder Mountain Trail heads east.
The Thunder Mountain Trail almost immediately gets more interesting.
The Thunder Mountain Trail almost immediately gets more interesting.
Image 6 from gallery
Image 7 from gallery
Some gorgeous hoodoos.
Some gorgeous hoodoos.
The Thunder Mountain Trail begins to ascend a ridge to the south.
The Thunder Mountain Trail begins to ascend a ridge to the south.
View east toward Thunder Mountain (Peak 8429) in the center. That's where I'm headed.
View east toward Thunder Mountain (Peak 8429) in the center. That's where I'm headed.
Views east as I make it up the Thunder Mountain Trail switchbacks. I came up that canyon a few minutes ago.
Views east as I make it up the Thunder Mountain Trail switchbacks. I came up that canyon a few minutes ago.
Almost along the ridgeline, view south toward some pretty eroded rock.
Almost along the ridgeline, view south toward some pretty eroded rock.
The Thunder Mountain Trail heads across a narrow section of ridgeline. You can see Thunder Mountain peeking out in the center.
The Thunder Mountain Trail heads across a narrow section of ridgeline. You can see Thunder Mountain peeking out in the center.
Making progress along the ridgeline, a bit higher up.
Making progress along the ridgeline, a bit higher up.
Looking back along the ridgeline.
Looking back along the ridgeline.
The Thunder Mountain Trail heads south, down into another canyon. The trail then works up to the ridge visible ahead in this photo.
The Thunder Mountain Trail heads south, down into another canyon. The trail then works up to the ridge visible ahead in this photo.
Continuing south, up to another ridgeline.
Continuing south, up to another ridgeline.
Switchbacks to gain the ridge.
Switchbacks to gain the ridge.
On the ridgeline after a bunch of baby switchbacks, a view west, back the way I came.
On the ridgeline after a bunch of baby switchbacks, a view west, back the way I came.
View east, Thunder Mountain hidden in the center.
View east, Thunder Mountain hidden in the center.
Thunder Mountain Trail working along the ridge, sometimes just south of the crest.
Thunder Mountain Trail working along the ridge, sometimes just south of the crest.
Thunder Mountain visible ahead in the center.
Thunder Mountain visible ahead in the center.
Looking back along the ridge, lots of gorgeous hoodoos visible on the right.
Looking back along the ridge, lots of gorgeous hoodoos visible on the right.
The Thunder Mountain Trail wraps around to the south of Thunder Mountain, the peak not visible from the trail just yet.
The Thunder Mountain Trail wraps around to the south of Thunder Mountain, the peak not visible from the trail just yet.
A pair of hoodoos marking where I decided to leave the trail (just after them).
A pair of hoodoos marking where I decided to leave the trail (just after them).
A view of Thunder Mountain, just after the hoodoo pair. I worked slowly down on the right and followed a drainage that put me to the left of the peak.
A view of Thunder Mountain, just after the hoodoo pair. I worked slowly down on the right and followed a drainage that put me to the left of the peak.
Working up the drainage.
Working up the drainage.
Some minor Class 2 just before the summit.
Some minor Class 2 just before the summit.
On the rim, just below the Thunder Mountain summit. This is a view west. You can see the point called "White Point" in the center.
On the rim, just below the Thunder Mountain summit. This is a view west. You can see the point called "White Point" in the center.
Continuing to the summit of Thunder Mountain.
Continuing to the summit of Thunder Mountain.
Thunder Mountain summit, view north.
Thunder Mountain summit, view north.

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