If you look west from the small town of Delta, UT, the impressive summit of Notch Peak is nearly impossible to miss. At 9,654’, Notch isn’t the tallest mountain in Utah, or even in the House Range, but this limestone monster does have some exceptional features awaiting those who come to explore it. Rising 4,450’ above the west desert floor, Notch Peak is often compared to Yosemite’s famous El Capitan. With an uninterrupted vertical rise of 2,000’ on the north face, it is easy to see why. If you want to scale one of the more unique peaks in Utah, and experience some true solitude, then this is the mountain for you.
Sawtooth Canyon Approach
It has been a while since I’ve climbed Notch Peak, but the memories are still very vivid. That is mostly because I found Sawtooth Canyon to be remarkable in its own right. This is the most common (and easiest) path to the summit, but this ancient canyon could be a hike unto itself. After some uninteresting hiking through a wash, the canyon walls close in a bit, and amazing amounts of variety in both rocks and plant life can be observed. Gnarled and aged pines grow right out of the walls, and an early summer trip will showcase dozens of cacti in full bloom. Once you reach the head of Sawtooth Canyon, it is just a matter of following the ridge to the summit of Notch Peak. Before reaching the top, take a look around and see if you can spot the grove of bristlecone pines. They’ve been residents of this mountain for thousands of years.
Notch Peak
Follow the ridge to the summit and prepare for an eyeball overload. Notch Peak provides 360- degree views for hundreds of miles. Great Basin National Park, the Bonneville Salt Flats, and numerous valleys and peaks can be seen from up top. When I visited, my buddies and I took turns peering over the north face while lying on our bellies. Needless to say, it is a long way down! Once you’ve had your fill of the views, return the way you came via Sawtooth Canyon. The round-trip distance for this route is roughly 10+ miles and will take most folks around 4-6 hours to complete.
Getting There
From Salt Lake City, drive south on 1-15 for approximately 80 miles and get off on Exit #228 (UT-28). Drive west on UT-132/US-6 West and follow the signs to the town of Delta. From Delta, drive west on US-6 West for 40 miles, and turn right on Notch Peak Loop Road towards the House mountain range (the turn is near mile marker 46). Drive north for 4 miles, then turn left on Miller Canyon Road. Drive for 5 more miles until you see a sign that points left to Sawtooth Canyon. Park near the old log cabin and continue up the dirt trail on foot until you reach the mouth of Sawtooth Canyon.