Mount Nebo: hiking the tallest peak in the Wasatch
Mount Nebo: the tallest peak in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.
Mount Everest towers over the Rongbuk Glacier at a jaw dropping 29,029 feet above see level, asserting itself as the highest mountain in the world. In the freezing core of Alaska, Denali rises to 20,320 feet, the highest in North America. Climbers hoping to scrape the sky by ascending these heights do so at the risk of life and limb. Frostbite, altitude sickness, and stiff competition to reach the top all stand in the way of would-be summitters. Die another day: Mount Nebo’s 11,928′ summit may fall short of those heights, but to reach the pinnacle of the Wasatch Mountains, all one needs is a strong set of legs, a healthy sense of adventure, and maybe a good companion or two. As far as aesthetic beauty goes, Nebo gives both of the aforementioned giants a run for their money.
Roughly translated from Hebrew, Nebo means “Sentinel of the Gods,” and the title is a fitting one. The Nebo massif is extraordinarily impressive. The mountain dominates the skyline above the surrounding areas, commanding more than just an idle glance from the valley floors below. For some hikers its colossal appearance alone is often not enough evidence that it is the tallest in the Wasatch Range. Surely the American Fork Twins, Lone Peak or Timpanogos must best it? In truth, Timp is the only one that comes close, falling short by just 179 feet. Equal to Nebo’s height is its splendor; there are a stunning array of ridges, basins and wooded trails adorning its flanks, begging exploration. Spend a day, or maybe a night in this area, and you will fall in love with the raw appeal of the Mount Nebo Wilderness.
One of the many basins at the foot of Mt. Nebo.
The easiest way to get acquainted with the locale is to take a drive on the Nebo Scenic Loop. Access the road from the towns of Payson or Santaquin off I-15. There are many campgrounds and viewpoints along the drive, and you shouldn’t fight the urge to pull over and really experience this amazing setting. Although Nebo is just a short drive from Salt Lake City and Provo, you might as well be in some remote corner of the state. A sense of wild, untamed beauty is not hard to come by here. Views in every direction are spectacular. The basins teem with wildflowers of every purple, blue, red and yellow you can imagine. There are a great variety of animals living in the area; moose, elk, deer, pikas and other denizens of the mountain can all be spotted if you are patient and quiet. Out of all these, one sight will draw your eye again and again: the summit.
Hiking below the flanks of Mount Nebo. Hikers: Mason Diedrich and Jeff Rawson.
Getting to the top isn’t easy, nor should it be. The shortest trail to Nebo’s summit is 10 miles round trip and gains 3,400′ of elevation. Access this “easy” approach from the Monument Trailhead. A dirt road from the parking area leads 1/3 of a mile to a trail near a cattle fence. This trail follows the north ridge and will take you to the top of the mountain. Once you gain the ridge, the trail switchbacks up a steep avalanche gully before traversing under North Peak (11,174′). At Wolf Pass hikers are met with a staggeringly steep slope the makes the gully seem like child’s play. Once you ascend this slope, Nebo is within your grasp. Follow the Class 3 ridge to the summit above you for a 360 degree view, and with a little luck, total solitude.
There are other options for getting to the top. If you want to spend a night in the wilderness, consider taking the Nebo Bench Trail. It’s a 22 mile (out and back) hike that will take you through most of the major basins before eventually climbing to the South Summit at 11,877′. From here you must scramble the ridge to the true peak. Other possible routes to the top include Andrews Ridge and Willow Canyon; both are located in the southern part of the wilderness and both include the scramble from the South Summit to Mount Nebo.
Mason Diedrich and Jeff Rawson taking a break on the roof of the Wasatch.
Whether going for the top, or just going to get away from it all, Nebo is worth the drive from the city. Late July to September will prove to be the best time for hiking, as many of the snowfields do not melt out until late in summer. High in the basins and avalanche gullies, patches of snow remain even when temperatures in the valley reach 100 degrees. The northern portion of the wilderness sees less traffic than the south, so consider this when planning your trip. There is no need to spend your time dreaming about the biggest peaks in the world when the biggest peak in the Wasatch is just down the road, and is every bit as beautiful.
