Hike Wellsville Cone and Box Elder Peak via Maple Bench Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT

Directions

Route Map

Download GPX

Wellsville Cone and Box Elder Peak via Maple Bench 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.

Add to Cart

View Cart

I should first note that this Box Elder Peak is not to be confused with the more interesting Wasatch 11er, Box Elder Peak, farther south. Why two high-prominence peaks in the same valley have the same name, I don't know, but this is also the area where there are three sets of Twin Peaks, so perhaps the Mormons were too busy naming all their kids to come up with good names for peaks. Anyway, I wanted to get both Wellsville Cone and Box Elder Peak while I was in the Wellsville Mountains. There are four trailheads that lead to these peaks' summits: Deep Canyon (the longest), Coldwater Canyon, Rattlesnake Canyon, and Maple Bench (this route). I included the map I found at the trailhead below, as well as my attached track. Ample research led me to believe that all four trails would involve some bushwhacking, so I took the one that seemed most promising.

Starting from the Maple Bench Trailhead, the trail was actually in good shape. It passed a small pond and then began steeply up the east slopes of the range. It was mostly forgettable stuff, but I was glad to not encounter much bushwhacking just yet. Tight switchbacks followed a steep spine for a bit, and then the brush began encroaching within the last half mile of Stewart Pass (the ridgeline). The trail was still easy to follow, but there was so much overgrowth that moving at any reasonable pace wasn't happening. I'd almost call this section Class 2 because of weed-pulling, root support, and stabilization to avoid slipping off the cliff, but not quite.

Eventually, I made it to Stewart Pass and continued south through the grassy meadow typical to northern Wasatch ridgelines up to Wellsville Cone. From this summit, I backtracked a tiny bit and located the trail that would go farther south to Box Elder Peak. From Box Elder Peak, I noted the direction the Rattlesnake Canyon Trail would have come from, and the Maple Bench Trail seemed more interesting. I returned the way I came.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Wellsville Cone

9356 ft

396 rise

Box Elder Peak

9372 ft

3452 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!

The map displayed on the information kiosk at the Maple Bench Trailhead.

Starting up a reasonably well-maintained trail.

Passing a small pond just before the ascent begins.

Small switchbacks up a ridge.

Looking east into the valley.

Approaching the top of the first set of switchbacks.

The brush started to find a way onto the trail, but nothing annoying just yet.

Narrow trail in some areas.

Continuing up a ridge.

Looking east the way I came.

Another photo looking back as the trail led north for a bit, working toward Stewart Pass.

The brush started getting rough. I didn't take photos of the worst of it, but this give you an idea.

Almost at Stewart Pass.

Stewart Pass. Left for Wellsville Cone.

Continuing along the ridge toward Wellsville Cone.

Looking back toward Stewart Pass.

A few switchbacks to gain the summit of Wellsville Cone.

Wellsville Cone summit looking south toward Box Elder Peak.

On the way to Box Elder Peak.

Almost at the summit of Box Elder Peak, looking back toward Wellsville Cone.

Box Elder Peak ahead.

Close-Box Elder Peak, view east toward Wellsville Cone.

Close-Box Elder Peak, view south toward where the Rattlesnake Canyon Trail comes from (one of the four options to ascend).

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!