Started from the Horse Canyon TH in Huntington Canyon. Great route to the summit. Trail the entire way until just below the summit on the north side. Horse Canyon is beautiful with a ton of aspen and beaver dams early in the hike. We saw a big pile of bear scat near the saddle before the summit, no bear though. Bear had been eating good with lots of berries in the scat. I think this should be the standard route on East Mountain as it is a great hike with good trail and 3000' of elevation gain.
aepler315 - Nov 21, 2023 12:54 am Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2023
A pleasant hike.
I parked on Miller Flat Road because the spur road sketched me out. When you get to some water troughs, there's a trail junction. Stay right. Then be paying attention for the ridgeline, where you'll wanna cut up and follow it. Some pretty cool summit rocks, and you can see South Tent Mountain (Sanpete CoHP) and Monument Peak (Carbon CoHP).
vanman798 - Jul 14, 2021 9:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2021
Found it
These directions and distance might help other find it.
In driving to the trailhead you will use Miller Flat Road. A turn to the east on to Forest Road 17 will take you to Indian Creek Road. Go north on Indian Creek Road and pass the Indian Creek Campground. It is 3 miles north from the campground to the trailhead Here are some more helpful distances. It is 0.7 miles on FR 17 to Indian Creek Road. Go North on Indian Creek Road, in 0.6 miles you will drive under a huge Power Line., and in an additional 0.6 you will notice the left hand turn to enter the campground. Just keep going north (don't go into the campground). 0.3 miles after you pass the campground the road will deteriorate and no longer be gravel. A vehicle with good ground clearance is advised. A truck or a Subaru Outback will be fine to drive this last section to the trailhead, but a Honda Accord (for example) will bottom out. 1 mile after passing the main campground you will notice an unimproved camp spot on the right. Exactly 2.0 miles from the campground you will come to a barbed wire fence with a gate across the road that you will have to open. From that gate it is 1 more mile to the trailhead - halfway along that last mile of driving when you come to a Y in the road stay right. 0.1 miles from the trailhead you will notice a sign on the left, at the bottom of a hill. The sign says "Spoon Creek Spur Trail 392", and "East Mountain Trail 085". Park here, or drive up the hill and park. From the top of the hill walk east on Spoon Creek Spur Trail, which will enter some Aspens and turn SE and start climbing. After about 0.75 miles the trail will turn to the North (away from East Mountain) and if you are like me you might not like the feeling of heading away from your destination, but stick with the trail nonetheless. Topo maps label "Spoon Creek Spur Trail 392" as "Jeep Trail". Spoon Creek Spur Trail 392 takes you to the saddle between Point 9775 and East Mountain. On the saddle you will encounter 3 or 4 water troughs (the write up calls them water tanks), these troughs are fed by the spring mentioned in the write up. At this point you are on the north side of East Mountain, so head south on the East Mountain Trail to the summit. There is even a trail sign at the water troughs pointing the way to the summit. On the summit of East Mountain you will find two bench mark survey markers. Bench marks always have a triangle symbol in the center but they don't necessarily mark the highest point, and in the case of East Mountain they certainly don't mark the highest point. A piece of rebar, about 100 steps from the bench mark residing in a piece of metal pipe above the ground, seems to be the high point. The other bench mark is west of the pipe one and lists an elevation of 10730 feet. The pipe one is field stamped with "East" and "1937".
We parked at the north end of Road 017 (N39.48293, W111.23191) This is beyond the fence and OHV gate that is the recommended starting point in some other trip reports. 2.9 rutted dirt miles beyond the Indian Creek Campground. Road 017 ends at that point and a trail, signed "East Mountain Trail 1 mile" begins. This is a gradual ascent, with one long switchback, to a spring - with derelict stock troughs - at the ridge. (N39.48762, W111.22168) According to my GPS, the distance to this point is 0.99 miles. The spring was flowing a couple of gallons per minute. Wildflowers in abundance were blooming along the trail.
Here the trail intersects with the East Mountain trail. We turned right at this junction and followed the trail about 1/6 mile to a junction with a faint trail on the right. (N39.48662, W111.21883) We followed this trail for a short distance until it emerged from the forest and then ascended to the south without any turns until it reached the ridge. This use trail is faint and difficult to follow, but the terrain is open from here to the summit and any ascending route is equivalent to any other. The trail turns left (east) at the ridge and leads near (but not to) the summit, visible as an outcrop about 0.4 miles distant.
The USGS topo map shows a trail to the ridge through the forest. This historic trail no longer exists, and the forest here is thick with blowdowns and brambles and other things to deter all but the most determined traveler.
Fletch - Aug 30, 2019 9:02 am Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2019
the big east
longer than i thought
dfox - Feb 3, 2019 3:11 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2018
East Mountain
After first driving to Monument Peak, I then drove down to East Mountain to summit my 12th Utah county high point. There is now a small, raised cattle guard on the Indian Creek Road about a half mile further south than where the trail starts according to route descriptions, so I parked my truck and walk up the road. I then camped at Potter's Ponds.
Udink - Jun 22, 2018 2:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2018
Second Time!
I returned 14 years after my first time hiking this peak, this time doing the easy approach from the south. It was a pretty easy 4-hour walk with a side-trip to the Crandall Canyon Mine drilling area, below which six miners remain trapped inside the mine.
Luckily I did the hike before the Trail Mountain Fire got out of control because much of East Mountain is currently closed and the fire is burning its way toward the high point right now.
Udink - Jul 18, 2016 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2004
Straight Up
I hiked straight up the slope from the west side of the mountain. It was among my first few Utah county high points and it kicked my butt at the time. http://udink.org/2004/08/28/east-mountain/
ZeeJay - Dec 3, 2014 7:00 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2014
Nice hike
Beautiful fall weather. Also did Seeley. Started at the TH at N39.48837 W111.24079 which is on the main Miller Flat Road #0014 and is easier to get to then the one via Indian Creek CG.
yadahzoemtn - Oct 5, 2014 11:44 am Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2014
28th County Highpoint
Fun hike. Thanks to all the good information on summit post and my expert guide I found the trail easily and avoided bush whacking. The Aspens were breath taking dressed in their golden attire.
PrinceOfNorway - Aug 5, 2014 11:57 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2014
Covert Double Stuff Oreos into Quadruple Stuff!
For those of you coming from the North to bag this peak during summer months, I'd like to offer an alternative route to arriving at the trail-head. Take Highway 6 up Spanish Fork Canyon like normal, but hit Highway 89 to Fairview. Head east on UT 31 (SR 31) up the canyon for a very pretty drive. You will pass the Mammoth Discovery Site. When you pass the site will know you are getting close to Forest Road 0014. Forest Road 0014 is between Huntington and Cleveland reservoirs on your right (south). This road isn't paved, but it is maintained gravel. 0014 will lead you passed Miller Flat Reservoir and to Forest Road 0017, which will be on your left (east). It runs directly east across the little valley for maybe a quarter mile where it comes to a threeway stop. There is a sign for Indian Campground from here telling you to turn left (north) which will keep you on 0017. Don't make anymore turns and this will lead you directly to the trail head.
It took me about an hour to get to the top of the peak, and there was a meadow full of wildflowers that was probably the best thing ever. There's a nice outcropping of rock at the top that is great to sit on and make quadruple stuff oreos. abrennalinerush and I ran down most of the trail and it only took us about 20 minutes to make it down from where we decided to run (just below the summit meadow). I would definitely recommend this mountain.
abrennalinerush - Aug 3, 2014 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2014
Maybe eat something other than Oreos next time.
The mountain was covered in wildflowers and snags. It was beautiful and kind of sad all at once. Fun trail to run down, too. The road to the trail head was super rutty after Indian Creek Campground, which my vehicle did not love. But still! She persevered.
scgrant - Jun 30, 2014 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2014
East
I started this hike where the road ends 2.9 miles past the Indian Creek campground. On the way up I followed a nice trail that ultimately worked it's way to the top. On the way down I took a much more direct route which cut a little more than a mile off of my ascent distance, but the tradeoff was quite the bushwhack.
apachedino - Apr 25, 2013 3:20 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2012
Brilliant Fall Colors
Drove the gorgious Skyline drive fro the first time with peak fall colors for the high country. Full horse skeleton on the way. On the boulders on the top I looked down and startled a fox. Was only ~5 feet away, but above as he darted away from me. Beautiful and agile creatures.
I hiked this after a summer monsoon weather pattern thunderstorm. The trail was extremely slick, but the raindrops didn't fall during my entire hike; however, I slipped and fell on a steep muddy stretch once on my way down. There was a cool breeze on top and lots of sheep along with two horseback riders and a sheep dog - not very sociable however.
harbor - Oct 23, 2011 12:54 am Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2011
Utah CoHP #7
Parked 1.4 miles from the end of the road. Lots of hunters all over the place. Lucky for me the sweater I brought was bright orange.
Great fall afternoon hike. Was sad to see the horrible conditions of the summit area due to over-sheeping.
Started this with three hours left in the 24 hours of a day. My climbing partner was super sick and we made it to the summit and back down to the car in three hours.
The trail was easy to find and awesome the entire way.
awilk7 - Aug 1, 2011 6:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2009
Bushwack
Worked cross-country straight up the slope from the end of the dirt road to the main ridge, then south along the ridge to the summit. On the way down, tried to head further north along the main ridge to find the remnants of a jeep trail that shows on topo maps. Did not find the jeep trail. Bushwhacked downhill, swinging to the west and then south again back to the car. Lots of low vegetation and downed trees in the forest.
voxnihili - Jul 6, 2011 10:27 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2009
East
Hiked this with my dad and brother. CoHP #1 for the two of them.
utclimber - Nov 7, 2010 9:50 am Date Climbed: Nov 6, 2010
East Mtn
Hiked up East Mountain as the sun set as a side trip on my way home from the Buckhorn Wash in the San Rafael Swell.
BKiser90 - Sep 7, 2024 5:56 pm Date Climbed: Sep 7, 2024
Via Horse Canyon TH in Huntington CanyonStarted from the Horse Canyon TH in Huntington Canyon. Great route to the summit. Trail the entire way until just below the summit on the north side. Horse Canyon is beautiful with a ton of aspen and beaver dams early in the hike. We saw a big pile of bear scat near the saddle before the summit, no bear though. Bear had been eating good with lots of berries in the scat. I think this should be the standard route on East Mountain as it is a great hike with good trail and 3000' of elevation gain.
aepler315 - Nov 21, 2023 12:54 am Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2023
A pleasant hike.I parked on Miller Flat Road because the spur road sketched me out. When you get to some water troughs, there's a trail junction. Stay right. Then be paying attention for the ridgeline, where you'll wanna cut up and follow it. Some pretty cool summit rocks, and you can see South Tent Mountain (Sanpete CoHP) and Monument Peak (Carbon CoHP).
vanman798 - Jul 14, 2021 9:47 am Date Climbed: Jul 11, 2021
Found itThese directions and distance might help other find it.
In driving to the trailhead you will use Miller Flat Road. A turn to the east on to Forest Road 17 will take you to Indian Creek Road. Go north on Indian Creek Road and pass the Indian Creek Campground. It is 3 miles north from the campground to the trailhead Here are some more helpful distances. It is 0.7 miles on FR 17 to Indian Creek Road. Go North on Indian Creek Road, in 0.6 miles you will drive under a huge Power Line., and in an additional 0.6 you will notice the left hand turn to enter the campground. Just keep going north (don't go into the campground). 0.3 miles after you pass the campground the road will deteriorate and no longer be gravel. A vehicle with good ground clearance is advised. A truck or a Subaru Outback will be fine to drive this last section to the trailhead, but a Honda Accord (for example) will bottom out. 1 mile after passing the main campground you will notice an unimproved camp spot on the right. Exactly 2.0 miles from the campground you will come to a barbed wire fence with a gate across the road that you will have to open. From that gate it is 1 more mile to the trailhead - halfway along that last mile of driving when you come to a Y in the road stay right. 0.1 miles from the trailhead you will notice a sign on the left, at the bottom of a hill. The sign says "Spoon Creek Spur Trail 392", and "East Mountain Trail 085". Park here, or drive up the hill and park. From the top of the hill walk east on Spoon Creek Spur Trail, which will enter some Aspens and turn SE and start climbing. After about 0.75 miles the trail will turn to the North (away from East Mountain) and if you are like me you might not like the feeling of heading away from your destination, but stick with the trail nonetheless. Topo maps label "Spoon Creek Spur Trail 392" as "Jeep Trail". Spoon Creek Spur Trail 392 takes you to the saddle between Point 9775 and East Mountain. On the saddle you will encounter 3 or 4 water troughs (the write up calls them water tanks), these troughs are fed by the spring mentioned in the write up. At this point you are on the north side of East Mountain, so head south on the East Mountain Trail to the summit. There is even a trail sign at the water troughs pointing the way to the summit. On the summit of East Mountain you will find two bench mark survey markers. Bench marks always have a triangle symbol in the center but they don't necessarily mark the highest point, and in the case of East Mountain they certainly don't mark the highest point. A piece of rebar, about 100 steps from the bench mark residing in a piece of metal pipe above the ground, seems to be the high point. The other bench mark is west of the pipe one and lists an elevation of 10730 feet. The pipe one is field stamped with "East" and "1937".
paulhbrown - Jul 13, 2020 12:21 pm Date Climbed: Jul 8, 2020
wildflower seasonWe parked at the north end of Road 017 (N39.48293, W111.23191) This is beyond the fence and OHV gate that is the recommended starting point in some other trip reports. 2.9 rutted dirt miles beyond the Indian Creek Campground. Road 017 ends at that point and a trail, signed "East Mountain Trail 1 mile" begins. This is a gradual ascent, with one long switchback, to a spring - with derelict stock troughs - at the ridge. (N39.48762, W111.22168) According to my GPS, the distance to this point is 0.99 miles. The spring was flowing a couple of gallons per minute. Wildflowers in abundance were blooming along the trail.
Here the trail intersects with the East Mountain trail. We turned right at this junction and followed the trail about 1/6 mile to a junction with a faint trail on the right. (N39.48662, W111.21883) We followed this trail for a short distance until it emerged from the forest and then ascended to the south without any turns until it reached the ridge. This use trail is faint and difficult to follow, but the terrain is open from here to the summit and any ascending route is equivalent to any other. The trail turns left (east) at the ridge and leads near (but not to) the summit, visible as an outcrop about 0.4 miles distant.
The USGS topo map shows a trail to the ridge through the forest. This historic trail no longer exists, and the forest here is thick with blowdowns and brambles and other things to deter all but the most determined traveler.
Fletch - Aug 30, 2019 9:02 am Date Climbed: Aug 25, 2019
the big eastlonger than i thought
dfox - Feb 3, 2019 3:11 pm Date Climbed: Sep 18, 2018
East MountainAfter first driving to Monument Peak, I then drove down to East Mountain to summit my 12th Utah county high point. There is now a small, raised cattle guard on the Indian Creek Road about a half mile further south than where the trail starts according to route descriptions, so I parked my truck and walk up the road. I then camped at Potter's Ponds.
Udink - Jun 22, 2018 2:37 pm Date Climbed: Jun 2, 2018
Second Time!I returned 14 years after my first time hiking this peak, this time doing the easy approach from the south. It was a pretty easy 4-hour walk with a side-trip to the Crandall Canyon Mine drilling area, below which six miners remain trapped inside the mine.
Luckily I did the hike before the Trail Mountain Fire got out of control because much of East Mountain is currently closed and the fire is burning its way toward the high point right now.
Udink - Jul 18, 2016 10:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 28, 2004
Straight UpI hiked straight up the slope from the west side of the mountain. It was among my first few Utah county high points and it kicked my butt at the time. http://udink.org/2004/08/28/east-mountain/
ZeeJay - Dec 3, 2014 7:00 pm Date Climbed: Oct 9, 2014
Nice hikeBeautiful fall weather. Also did Seeley. Started at the TH at N39.48837 W111.24079 which is on the main Miller Flat Road #0014 and is easier to get to then the one via Indian Creek CG.
yadahzoemtn - Oct 5, 2014 11:44 am Date Climbed: Oct 4, 2014
28th County HighpointFun hike. Thanks to all the good information on summit post and my expert guide I found the trail easily and avoided bush whacking. The Aspens were breath taking dressed in their golden attire.
PrinceOfNorway - Aug 5, 2014 11:57 am Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2014
Covert Double Stuff Oreos into Quadruple Stuff!For those of you coming from the North to bag this peak during summer months, I'd like to offer an alternative route to arriving at the trail-head. Take Highway 6 up Spanish Fork Canyon like normal, but hit Highway 89 to Fairview. Head east on UT 31 (SR 31) up the canyon for a very pretty drive. You will pass the Mammoth Discovery Site. When you pass the site will know you are getting close to Forest Road 0014. Forest Road 0014 is between Huntington and Cleveland reservoirs on your right (south). This road isn't paved, but it is maintained gravel. 0014 will lead you passed Miller Flat Reservoir and to Forest Road 0017, which will be on your left (east). It runs directly east across the little valley for maybe a quarter mile where it comes to a threeway stop. There is a sign for Indian Campground from here telling you to turn left (north) which will keep you on 0017. Don't make anymore turns and this will lead you directly to the trail head.
It took me about an hour to get to the top of the peak, and there was a meadow full of wildflowers that was probably the best thing ever. There's a nice outcropping of rock at the top that is great to sit on and make quadruple stuff oreos. abrennalinerush and I ran down most of the trail and it only took us about 20 minutes to make it down from where we decided to run (just below the summit meadow). I would definitely recommend this mountain.
abrennalinerush - Aug 3, 2014 11:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 3, 2014
Maybe eat something other than Oreos next time.The mountain was covered in wildflowers and snags. It was beautiful and kind of sad all at once. Fun trail to run down, too. The road to the trail head was super rutty after Indian Creek Campground, which my vehicle did not love. But still! She persevered.
scgrant - Jun 30, 2014 6:42 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2014
EastI started this hike where the road ends 2.9 miles past the Indian Creek campground. On the way up I followed a nice trail that ultimately worked it's way to the top. On the way down I took a much more direct route which cut a little more than a mile off of my ascent distance, but the tradeoff was quite the bushwhack.
apachedino - Apr 25, 2013 3:20 pm Date Climbed: Oct 7, 2012
Brilliant Fall ColorsDrove the gorgious Skyline drive fro the first time with peak fall colors for the high country. Full horse skeleton on the way. On the boulders on the top I looked down and startled a fox. Was only ~5 feet away, but above as he darted away from me. Beautiful and agile creatures.
Tracy - Jul 29, 2012 5:01 pm Date Climbed: Jul 28, 2012
standard trailI hiked this after a summer monsoon weather pattern thunderstorm. The trail was extremely slick, but the raindrops didn't fall during my entire hike; however, I slipped and fell on a steep muddy stretch once on my way down. There was a cool breeze on top and lots of sheep along with two horseback riders and a sheep dog - not very sociable however.
harbor - Oct 23, 2011 12:54 am Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2011
Utah CoHP #7Parked 1.4 miles from the end of the road. Lots of hunters all over the place. Lucky for me the sweater I brought was bright orange.
Great fall afternoon hike. Was sad to see the horrible conditions of the summit area due to over-sheeping.
Also did So. Tent earlier that morning.
DarrenKnezek - Sep 6, 2011 7:02 pm Date Climbed: Sep 5, 2011
Last of 8 in a day Co. HPStarted this with three hours left in the 24 hours of a day. My climbing partner was super sick and we made it to the summit and back down to the car in three hours.
The trail was easy to find and awesome the entire way.
awilk7 - Aug 1, 2011 6:05 pm Date Climbed: Jul 18, 2009
BushwackWorked cross-country straight up the slope from the end of the dirt road to the main ridge, then south along the ridge to the summit. On the way down, tried to head further north along the main ridge to find the remnants of a jeep trail that shows on topo maps. Did not find the jeep trail. Bushwhacked downhill, swinging to the west and then south again back to the car. Lots of low vegetation and downed trees in the forest.
voxnihili - Jul 6, 2011 10:27 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2009
EastHiked this with my dad and brother. CoHP #1 for the two of them.
utclimber - Nov 7, 2010 9:50 am Date Climbed: Nov 6, 2010
East MtnHiked up East Mountain as the sun set as a side trip on my way home from the Buckhorn Wash in the San Rafael Swell.