Grandeur Peak: A Tough Hike Worth Revisiting
This post is extremely late. I had a bunch of issues with computers and phones and everything else under the sun. Here it is never the less!
Ten years ago, Grandeur Peak taught me that getting back down a mountain can be harder than climbing up. That first descent left my knees swollen and aching, and it’s the reason I now wear compression sleeves on hikes with long downhill stretches. I returned this year to see how the hike felt a decade later and whether I could still make it to the top. The trail starts in Mill Creek Canyon outside Salt Lake City and climbs steadily to a summit overlooking the valley.
I started shortly after six in the morning, having arrived the night before with no time to adjust to the altitude. The dry air and elevation hit me fast, and I was sucking wind before I’d made much progress. As the light came up, I caught my first views of the mountains. Those views got me hooked on hiking in the first place, and they made the steep climb feel worthwhile even when I had to stop and catch my breath.
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AllTrails rates Grandeur Peak as hard, and the final ascent showed me why. The route gains elevation steadily, with rocky footing and some light scrambling near the summit, so follow the switchbacks instead of trying to climb straight up the slope. I hadn’t hiked since June, and I could feel the gap in my conditioning as I stopped several times on the last push. I kept moving, made it to the top, and rested while taking in the views over Salt Lake City and Mill Creek Canyon. I think I reached the summit faster than I did ten years ago, though I’ll have to find my old photo to check the time.
The descent was still hard work, but this time my knees held up with help from the compression sleeves. The climb taxes your breathing and muscles, while the descent works your joints and the muscles around your shins and ankles. The rocky upper section also tested my navigation. I couldn’t always see where the route continued, and my map app showed me offset from the trail for a few moments, so I watched for familiar landmarks and paid attention at the turns.
I saw more hikers on this trip than I remembered from a decade ago. Back then, I didn’t meet anyone on the way up, but this time people were already coming down as I climbed. The day of the week may account for some of the difference. Grandeur Peak has no waterfall or single landmark as its draw, and people hike it for the challenge and the mountain scenery along the way.
If you plan to hike it from Mill Creek Canyon, expect a steep climb, rocky footing, and a demanding final push. Start prepared, use the switchbacks, and save enough energy for the way down. The summit views make the effort worthwhile.
stats
Length: 7.48 mi
Avg. Pace: 2.3 mph
Elev. Gain: 3,399 ft
Calories: 1,598
Moving Time: 3h 17m
Total Time: 3h 23m
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