Lone Peak Wilderness
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Lone Peak Wilderness Area
Located in the Uinta and the Wasatch-Cache National Forests in Utah.
LOCATION: North Central Utah, between Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah.
USGS QUAD: Dromedary Peak, Draper, and Timpanogos Cave quadrangle maps.
DIFFICULTY: Moderate to severe with elevations from just under 5,000 feet to over 11,000 feet. Trails are easy to follow, but may cross extremely rough terrain at high elevations.
USE Light to heavy, especially heavy on weekends and near lakes.
WEATHER: Summer temperatures can range from near 90 degrees in the daytime to below 40 degrees at night. Occasional summer thunderstorms can be expected.
The Lone Peak Wilderness was established in 1977 as part of the Endangered American Wilderness Act and includes approximately 30,000 acres. Situated in the central Wasatch range on the Wasatch-Cache and Uinta National Forests, this wilderness is generally bounded on the north by Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the South by American Fork Canyon, on the west by the Salt Lake and Utah Valleys and on the east by Twin Peaks. [1]
The Lone Peak Wilderness provides a spectacular backdrop for the growing urban areas along the Wasatch Front and is dominated by rugged terrain, narrow canyons and high peaks, including the Pfeifferhorn and Lone Peak. The geologic structure of the area is varied and complex, consisting of granitoid rock masses and several sedimentary formations. Carving of the present alpine topography is due to glaciation with erosion the current dominant force in the land sculpturing process. Much of the higher elevation is alpine, characterized by large, open cirque basins and exposed rocky ridges. A few small natural and reservoired lakes add to the scenic beauty. Vegetation includes dense mountain brush mixed with sagebrush and grass. Patches of Douglas fir, sub-alpine fir and aspen are common in isolated patches on north facing slopes. Snow remains in some areas until mid-summer. [2] To preserve and protect the physical and aesthetic environment, National Forest wildernesses are closed to motor vehicles, motorized equipment, hang gliders and bicycles. In addition, parts of this wilderness lay within the culinary watershed for Salt Lake County and special restrictions concerning camping, swimming and domestic animals apply. Please help protect this wilderness for future generations by learning and practicing No-Trace camping and hiking techniques.
The following acts are prohibited in the Lone Peak Wilderness Area: Group sizes exceeding 10 persons for overnight use, camping within 200 feet of lakes, trails, or other sources of water, camping for a period of 3 days at an individual site, short-cutting a trail switchback, and disposing of garbage, debris, or other waste. No open fires are allowed in the Red Pine Lake, Red Pine Fork and Maybird Gulch drainages within the Lone Peak Wilderness.
Most trails are rated moderate to severe with elevations from 5,500 feet to over 11,000 feet. Trails are easy to follow, but may cross extremely rough terrain at high elevations. Usage of the area is light to moderate, heaviest on weekends and during hunting seasons.
Summer temperatures can range from over 90 degrees in the daytime to below 40 degrees at night. Occasional summer thundershowers can be expected. [3]
