Twin Peaks via Lisa Falls and Canyon in Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Hike Twin Peaks via Lisa Falls and Canyon Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Class 3 4.4 miles 4900 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Sep 19, 2016
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Twin Peaks via Lisa Falls and Canyon GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

I started off at Lisa Falls, a tiny 0.1mi hike to a pretty slickrock granite waterfall, with the intention of only hiking until Lisa Canyon ended. So, I only had a couple of granola bars and not enough water. However, after scrambling up the canyon for a long time, I realized the canyon wasn't ending. I was already halfway to the summit of Twin Peaks anyway, and stupidly decided to keep going, despite the time and lack of water. And also without telling anyone where I was. Still, I was excited and therefore, reasoning didn't matter. Derp.

The photos should only serve as examples of what kind of scrambling and waterfalls to expect, because there is no possible way I could show the route I took via photos. I have no idea what I did. Plus, route-finding up Lisa Canyon is the most fun part of this kind of hike. One thing I should note is that there is one major fork in the canyon, where right continues up Lisa Canyon proper, and left takes you up, well, something else. Naturally, I chose the wrong way, which ultimately led to some difficult (3rd class) moves before the canyon ended at the base of Twin Peaks and I needed to exit and scramble up crumbly nonsense toward the ridgeline up and to the left. Following this ridge led to both of the peaks of Twin Peaks, and provided a nice little loop, so definitetly enjoyed it despite the dumb mistake. After summiting, I actually considered going down the opposite way (on the established trail to Twin) and taking a taxi back to my car because I was a little freaked, but I decided going down Lisa Canyon looked much too enticing. And it was really incredible. To be honest, I was only becoming sick of scrambling when I ran out of water and the sunlight was almost gone.

It's definitely a bit easier to follow the proper Lisa Canyon all the way up (mostly because it's more obivous where to go), but the ridgeline on my accidental alternate route made for some extra fun and views. Yes, the scramble is almost 5,000 feet of vertical gain in about two miles either fork direction you go, but the excursion goes by quickly and the scrambles are unique and interesting, and the countless mini waterfalls add even more to the day.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Broad Fork Twin Peaks-West Peak
11328 ft
88 rise
2
Broad Fork Twin Peaks
11330 ft
1410 rise

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!

Lisa Falls.
Lisa Falls.
At Lisa Falls, looking out toward Little Cottonwood Canyon.
At Lisa Falls, looking out toward Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The first scramble up the side of Lisa Falls and into the canyon.
The first scramble up the side of Lisa Falls and into the canyon.
Looking back from the top of Lisa Falls.
Looking back from the top of Lisa Falls.
And the adventure begins!
And the adventure begins!
Image 5 from gallery
Image 6 from gallery
Image 7 from gallery
One big waterfall that requires scrambling out to the left of the canyon since it's too steep to stay on the white rock.
One big waterfall that requires scrambling out to the left of the canyon since it's too steep to stay on the white rock.
Looking down from the side trail toward the big waterfall.
Looking down from the side trail toward the big waterfall.
Lots of pretty waterfalls along the way, fun obstacles.
Lots of pretty waterfalls along the way, fun obstacles.
Image 11 from gallery
Image 12 from gallery
Image 13 from gallery
Image 14 from gallery
Image 15 from gallery
Image 16 from gallery
A notably fun section of scramble.
A notably fun section of scramble.
Image 18 from gallery
Image 19 from gallery
Image 20 from gallery
Lots of little clear pools like this.
Lots of little clear pools like this.
Image 22 from gallery
Almost at the fork in the canyon. It's hard to tell, but staying left brings you to the ridge (longer hike to the summit), where right brings you to the summit via Lisa Canyon proper.
Almost at the fork in the canyon. It's hard to tell, but staying left brings you to the ridge (longer hike to the summit), where right brings you to the summit via Lisa Canyon proper.
Image 24 from gallery
Image 25 from gallery
Image 26 from gallery
Exiting the canyon. It's very steep straight ahead, so I stayed left and went up to the ridgeline.
Exiting the canyon. It's very steep straight ahead, so I stayed left and went up to the ridgeline.
Looking back into the canyon.
Looking back into the canyon.
Approaching the ridgeline before heading up to the summit of Twin Peaks.
Approaching the ridgeline before heading up to the summit of Twin Peaks.
Image 30 from gallery
Looking down into Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Looking down into Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The ridge up to the eastern peak of Twin Peaks.
The ridge up to the eastern peak of Twin Peaks.
At the summit of the first Twin.
At the summit of the first Twin.
Heading back down into the gully toward Little Cottonwood Canyon. Pictured here is the real Lisa Canyon.
Heading back down into the gully toward Little Cottonwood Canyon. Pictured here is the real Lisa Canyon.
Image 35 from gallery
One section of blockage along the route. It just takes some thinking to get up, nothing more than 3rd class.
One section of blockage along the route. It just takes some thinking to get up, nothing more than 3rd class.
Image 37 from gallery
Image 38 from gallery
Image 39 from gallery
Image 40 from gallery
Image 41 from gallery
Approaching the fork where I went left to go up to the summit earlier, but now I'm coming down from the right.
Approaching the fork where I went left to go up to the summit earlier, but now I'm coming down from the right.
At the top of Lisa Falls, right before exiting the canyon.
At the top of Lisa Falls, right before exiting the canyon.

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!