Nelson Peak / Farnsworth Peak? Oquirrh Mountain Range

[sLcREX]

Do any of you know if these trails are accessible to vehicles? I was looking at my google maps and I see trail routes leading up to them but when I googled the names it gives me some info about hiking them vs driving them. So I was wondering if they're are only hikable or not.

Im just looking to see if I can explore mountains closer to home or not.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I recommend getting a Benchmark Atlas, it highlights legal roads close to home. $20 and TONS of possibilities.

 

[sLcREX]

Is it sold at common stores? I'm not very savvy with a map though, is it pretty self explanatory?

 

[sixstringsteve]

it's time to get map savvy.

Yes, it's very self-explanitory.

 

[Kevin B.]

Is it sold at common stores? I'm not very savvy with a map though, is it pretty self explanatory?

Any truck stop or book store will have one. Cabelas and REI and Sportsmans, maybe even at a grocery store. Also get the Backcountry Navigator app for your phone and pay for the Accuterra topo overlay - it shows land ownership status. I agree with Steve, you need to be map fluent if you're going to explore.

The Tooele side of the Oquirrhs is BLM land, you might find a road up that way. You won't find a road without a gate on our side though - believe me, I've looked.

 

[sLcREX]

Alright thanks guys, I'll look for the benchmark this week.

I was afraid of that being the case, I did read some reports saying its private land on this side so it's only accessible through the tooele side, which defeats the purpose of exploring my back yard lol

 

[Houndoc]

I believe that almost the entire east side is private (Kennecot). I know anything they do own they are very strict about access.

Speaking of the northern part of the range, most all the west side (above Lake Point, Erda and Tooele) is public, with access from several different canyons- on foot or horse only. The summit is usually the boundary between the public and private sections. I do not think actual trails go very far.

There have been some good articles recently in the Tooele Transcript Bulletin (may be able to find the articles online) about hiking various sections.

Nothing that can be driven to my knowledge except main road up Bufferfield (east) and Middle (west) Canyons.

There are more roads and trails from the west side into the southern parts of the range, such as Ophir Canyon, but still lots of private land to be aware of.

 

[sLcREX]

Alright thanks for that info Houndoc, I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for exploration.

 

[Houndoc]

Alright thanks for that info Houndoc, I guess I'll have to look elsewhere for exploration.

I know it is not what you wanted to hear....

 

[Tacoma]

Nelson's has a trail going up to it and is semi-accessible to vehicles. DOSS and I did an unmarked route around the bowl, which I do NOT EVER recommend us or anyone doing again, but there is a trail going straight up the middle. You could also hike over from the top of the overlook if you wanted I suppose. Or over from Bates Canyon. Be warned that it is very vertical hiking. If you are not on an obvious trail, you will encounter scrote-biting fire ants, and there are eagle's nests in the rocks, with vigilant eagley residents. Also, the trees are filled with spiders and inchworms and they descend en masse if it rains.

 

[frieed]

First I've heard of fire ants in Utah...
If they really are fire ants, it's a sad day.

 

[sLcREX]

Nelson's has a trail going up to it and is semi-accessible to vehicles. DOSS and I did an unmarked route around the bowl, which I do NOT EVER recommend us or anyone doing again, but there is a trail going straight up the middle. You could also hike over from the top of the overlook if you wanted I suppose. Or over from Bates Canyon. Be warned that it is very vertical hiking. If you are not on an obvious trail, you will encounter scrote-biting fire ants, and there are eagle's nests in the rocks, with vigilant eagley residents. Also, the trees are filled with spiders and inchworms and they descend en masse if it rains.

None of that sounds appealing at all

It's safe to say this idea is OUT! I didnt know so many of you guys already had traveled this or investigated the area, glad I asked here.

 

[Kevin B.]

you will encounter scrote-biting fire ants, and there are eagle's nests in the rocks, with vigilant eagley residents. Also, the trees are filled with spiders and inchworms and they descend en masse if it rains.

You're confused. Hiro asked about the Oquirrhs, not Mordor.

 

[Tacoma]

hahahah they are indistinguishable above 8,000'. They might not have been fire ants-- but they were red, and bit like a M-F'er, and got bit in the junk twice, once while downclimbing a semi-sketchy precipice. I had to TAKE IT, and it sucked. It was like that time I went to jail, only worse.

I could swear DOSS did a write up. We called it "Death March '09". We went right before I left for Afghanistan, and it made my time there seem easy.

 

[sLcREX]

Tried searching for that gnarly title but came up empty lol

 

[sixstringsteve]

Nelson's has a trail going up to it and is semi-accessible to vehicles. DOSS and I did an unmarked route around the bowl, which I do NOT EVER recommend us or anyone doing again, but there is a trail going straight up the middle. You could also hike over from the top of the overlook if you wanted I suppose. Or over from Bates Canyon. Be warned that it is very vertical hiking. If you are not on an obvious trail, you will encounter scrote-biting fire ants, and there are eagle's nests in the rocks, with vigilant eagley residents. Also, the trees are filled with spiders and inchworms and they descend en masse if it rains.

Best. Post. Ever.

 

[RogueJeepr]

Ive always wanted to go up to the radio towers ya see from I-80 .

 

[DOSS]

HAHAHA... That Hike Was Epic!! Tacoma can scream like a girl when he is getting sac bit and can't do anything about it!! best part was coming down in a deluge that turned the trail into a river after we had been hiking in 90* weather through scrub brush all day long I can't find where I did the write up here.. may have only posted on Bogley... Yeah none of the trails on the Tooele side don't go all the way up and will leave you with a full scramble to get to the top.


The hike to the radio towers is fun (no trail and you have to jump a couple of fences).

 

[sLcREX]

Hahaha that was an awesome story although crazy. Good to see pictures of the area too. You guys are crazy, and the vertical hike sounds like a recipe for burning legs and then some.

 

[DOSS]

Hahaha that was an awesome story although crazy. Good to see pictures of the area too. You guys are crazy, and the vertical hike sounds like a recipe for burning legs and then some.

The crazy part is the fact that I have since then done the hike again