Tooele Guide
Deseret Peak hiking guide
The 11,031-foot high point of the Stansbury Mountains, reached from South Willow Canyon above Grantsville.What it is
Deseret Peak is the highest point in the Stansbury Mountains at 11,031 feet, and the centerpiece of the Deseret Peak Wilderness. From the top you can see the Great Salt Lake, the Salt Flats and, on a clear day, far into Nevada.
Don't mix it up with the Deseret Peak Complex, which is the county's event and recreation center in the valley.
The hike
The trail starts at the Loop Campground at the top of South Willow Canyon. Most people hike it as a loop of about 8 miles with roughly 3,600 feet of climbing. It's a full day and a hard one, with a steep stretch up to the ridge. The trail passes through aspen and fir, then open bowls above the tree line.
How to get there
From Grantsville, drive south on West Street (Mormon Trail Road) for about 5 miles and turn right on South Willow Canyon Road. The road turns to dirt and climbs about 7 miles to the trailhead, passing through a narrow rock gorge on the way. Most cars can make it when the road is dry.
Best time to go
July through early October. The canyon road is closed in winter, and snow hangs on near the top into early summer. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August, so start early and be off the ridge by early afternoon.
What to bring
- Plenty of water. There's none you can count on along the trail.
- Layers. It's cold and windy on top even in August.
- A map saved to your phone. There's no cell service in the canyon.
Camping
The Forest Service runs several small campgrounds along South Willow Canyon Road, including Cottonwood and Loop. They're simple sites with no water hookups.
More to see near Deseret Peak
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Bonneville Seabase
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A set of warm, salty spring-fed pools near Grantsville stocked with tropical ocean fish, where you can scuba dive or snorkel hundreds of miles from the sea.
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Clark Historic Farm
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A preserved pioneer farmstead in Grantsville run by a local nonprofit, with a historic home and barn, farm animals, and community events through the year.
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A small museum in an 1860s adobe schoolhouse holding items the Donner-Reed Party abandoned while crossing the salt desert in 1846. Open by appointment.
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Grantsville Reservoir
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A reservoir southwest of Grantsville at the foot of the Stansbury Mountains, popular for trout fishing, paddling and camping.
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Iosepa Historic Site
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The site of a town settled by Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander Latter-day Saints from 1889 to 1917 in Skull Valley. The cemetery and a memorial pavilion remain, and descendants gather here every Memorial Day weekend.
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Utah Motorsports Campus
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A world-class road racing facility in the Tooele Valley with a full road course, a kart track and off-road courses. Watch a race weekend, or book karting and driving experiences.
DetailsCottonwood Campground (South Willow Canyon)
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The first of six small Forest Service campgrounds along the creek in South Willow Canyon, southwest of Grantsville. No water.
DetailsDeseret Peak Trail
Bucket List Hikes
Grantsville, UT
The classic hike in Tooele County: a steep loop of about 8 miles from the top of South Willow Canyon to the 11,031-foot summit of Deseret Peak, the highest point in the Stansbury Mountains. Usually snow-free from July through September.
DetailsLoop Campground (South Willow Canyon)
Camping
Grantsville, UT
A Forest Service campground at the end of the South Willow Canyon road, at about 7,400 feet, right at the Deseret Peak trailhead. No water; the road is gravel and narrow in places.
DetailsFood near Deseret Peak
4 listings
American Burgers (Grantsville)
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A local burger stand on Grantsville's Main Street with burgers, fries and shakes.
Java Bean
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A coffee stop on Main Street in Grantsville.
Virg's Restaurant (Grantsville)
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A local family restaurant on Grantsville's Main Street known for breakfast and comfort food.
Places to stay near Deseret Peak
0 listings
No local listings match all of those.