Finally, after having been on the Grandeur Peak trail many times, I went back with the intention to reach the summit. Grandeur Peak is a favorite among residents of Salt Lake City simply because of its commanding position above the city. It is the last peak on the ridge separating Mill Creek Canyon from Parleys Canyon, and it seems to stand like a sentinel over South Salt Lake, watching every move in the city below. At 8,299 feet above sea level the peak is not particularly high, but from the ground it looks very imposing, and it's a beautiful hike that unfolds steadily before you as you approach the summit.Unfortunately, it is also the one (and only, so far) time that I got rained on while hiking in Utah. It doesn't rain here often, and when I left in the morning it was clear. I have to say, it was extremely cold in the wind and rain on top of the mountain, but it blew over quickly and I was able to enjoy the day. Since I made the summit more quickly than I expected, I had plenty of extra time so I went off-trail and worked my way over to the top of Church Fork Peak (8,306 feet), which looked very different from Grandeur (it was like being in a desert, on top of a mountain -- cool!). I had a wonderful time, and it was a relatively easy hike (6.0 miles round trip, elevation gain/loss 2.340 feet). A nice hike for someone who is working their way up to more challenging mountains.
Hope you enjoy!
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