Hike Delano Peak: 12,169' and the Skyline National Recreation Trail, Tushar Mountains

If you like short, Class 1 hikes to the highest summit of a spectacular mountain range, this hike in the unfrequented Tushar Mountains is for you.  While you're there, sample the meadows and forests of the Skyline National Recreation Trail for a good dose of solitude.

Looking like I'm going to fly away in Delano Peak's high winds.

Related in Explorumentary:
​​List with Links for Utah Hikes/Bikes
Hike Mount Nebo - On Top of the Wasatch

Delano Peak route maps

Trailhead

Trip Stats for Delano Peak
Location:  Fishlake NF, Tushar Mountains, Trail #224, near Beaver, Utah.  Fishlake National Forest - Beaver Ranger District.
Prominence:  4,689'.
Distance/Elevation gain:  West ridge approach = 3 miles round trip - 1,625' gain.  Trailhead = 10,500',  summit = 12,169'.
Difficulty:  Moderate Class 1 on cairned trail to Delano Peak.  
Coordinates:  Trail head =  38.36753, -112.39561              Delano Peak = 38.36917, -112.37137
Date Hiked:  8/1/22
​Maps and Apps:  AllTrails Delano Peak,  Fishlake National Forest Beaver and Fillmore Ranger Districts Travel Map - USDA.
​Considerations:  most passenger cars can drive the graded dirt/gravel road to trailhead (FR 123).  This road is also part of the Paiute ATV trail, so there is some ATV use on roads nearby.  No motorized vehicles allowed on hiking trails.
History:  named  after Columbus Delano (1809–1896), Secretary of the Interior during the Grant administration.  He was instrumental in establishing Yellowstone National Park after supervising the first federally-funded scientific expedition into Yellowstone in 1871, and the first Secretary of the Interior to request congress to protect preservation of a nationally important site (from Wikipedia).
Geology:  The Tushar Mountains are remnants of volcanos whose first eruption period was 22-35 million years ago (Bullion Canyon Volcanics) and second eruption 21 million years ago (Mt. Belknap Volcanics).  Delano Peak resides in the Bullion Canyon Volcanics.  It is the highest point on the edge of Big John's Caldera, a concealed structure on Delano's west side that subsided ~ 23 million years ago during ash flow eruptions.  This caldera filled and eroded over time.  The second eruption created the source rock for the mined uranium of the Marysvale mining district north and east of Delano Peak. (See "For the Geocurious" below).

The Skyline National Recreation Trail Links
Ramblers - Beaver County, Utah
​How to Day Hike Three Different Sections of the Scenic 23-Mile Skyline Trail - Utah - Life Elevated

On the morning drive up FR 123 to the trailhead.

Delano Peak
We had planned to hike a loop on on the Tushar range's highest ridge to Delano Peak and Mount Holly further down the ridge, but when we got to Delano's summit, we could barely see each other, let alone the ridge.  A few times, Fred got ahead of me and vanished into the huge clouds that engulfed the summit.  The terrain below was occasionally revealed as sunny and bright green, but not for long.  Getting cold with the wind blowing us around, we descended the short trail to our truck and drove to the Skyline National Recreation Trail trailhead.  Mount Holly can be accessed from this trail.

Delano Peak is the highest summit in the Tushar Mountains - the third-highest range in Utah, after the Uinta and the La Sal Mountain ranges.  The Geologic Map of the Tushar Mountains looks like a chaotic Jackson Pollock painting and one that would bring a sparkle to any geologist's eyes.   It's a symphony of color blotches and random hatched lines that represent almost all major forms of volcanic rocks and structural features.  Red Hills Tuff, Grey Hills Rhyolite and Blue Lake Rhyolite are just a few of the members of volcanic assemblages.  Thrust faults, caldera walls and breakaway scarps scatter about this complicated terrain.  Delano Peak's summit sits at the top of Big John Caldera.  Four more calderas exist, as well as eight major mining centers.

We were surprised that such a large, gorgeous wilderness area with more than a few peaks over 11,000 feet had so few visitors.   While hikers flock to the Wasatch and Uinta ranges, the Tushars are not as well-known.  There are ATV trails that course through parts of this range, but there are plenty of hiking trails where they are not allowed.  

This is a quick hike on a trail through grass and small rocks - only 1.5 miles to the summit.  It is a bit challenging because you start at 10,000 feet.  Delano Peak can also be summited from the northeast; in fact, this trail continues from the summit down to the base of Mt. Brigham.  We plan on giving our loop another try.

Skyline National Recreation Trail
The SNRT is an 8.3-mile trail that is part of the panoramic Tushar Skyline Trail stretching 23 miles and passes under Delano Peak, the highest mountain in southwestern Utah.  It takes you through streams, meadows, and forests.  In 1986 and 1988, 25 mountain goats were introduced into the Tushars from the Wasatch range in northern Utah and Olympic National Park.  They have prospered to number 120 goats, and some have been transplanted to other areas.   They can be seen on the Delano-Holly ridge line.  

We entered the SNRT where it intersects with FR 123, ~ 1 mile south of Delano Peak trailhead and hiked toward Mt. Holly's base.  The high Tushar's grassy slopes don't appear intimidating; no major cliffs or talus slopes.  By this time, the clouds had retreated from the high ridge, but we decided to enjoy a rambling hike rather than a climb up Mount Holly.  Ah, maybe we are getting soft in our "old age"!!  Any time out in the wilderness, whether we get to our planned destination or not, is cherished.

​"Why do they say we’re over the hill?  I don’t even know what that means and why it’s a bad thing.  When I go hiking and I get over the hill, that means I’m past the hard part and there’s a snack in my future."   
​        - Ellen DeGeneres

Keep On Exploring!  Keep Moving!  Your Body and Mind will Love you for it!

For the Geocurious:  Volcanos and the creation of Uranium
​Just east of the Tushar Mountains, the Mount Belknap Volcanics erupted radioactive lava flows and ash-flow tuffs (rocks of consolidated ash) ~ 21 million years ago.   Unique geologic processes then created the uranium deposits that formed in a shallow water vein system in the Central Mining Area near Marysvale, a short distance from the Tushars.  The veins formed 19 million years ago above a magma chamber, filling in open spaces and fractures with fluids rich in fluorine, molybdenum, and uranium.  Hydrothermal fluids and rock reacted to precipitate uranium.  Nine mines in the Central Mining area produced uranium.  Because of decreased demand for uranium, Utah's mines were closed before 2000.

A small part of the geologic map of the Tushar Mountains that shows rock units and structural features of the highest part of the range.
click on photo for complete geologic map of the Tushar Mountains

Delano Peak trail head, elevation 10,533'.

Fleabane

Liking the cool moist air!

Are you sure this isn't Scotland?

Nearing Delano Peak's summit.

Looking down from near the summit.

Clouds beginning to clear on the lower hike down.

Grouse

Breccia

On the way to the trailhead

Some cool stuff on the trail.

Columbian monkshood found near small streams.
These wildflowers like to grow in rich, moist soils - water use is high.  They are poisonous to humans if ingested.

Skyline National Recreation Trail heading southeast toward Mt. Holly on right horizon.

 

Google Earth image of our GPS tracks to Delano Peak.  North points to the top left of the photo.

Caltopo image of our GPS tracks:  North points to top of photo.  Mount Holly located on ridge lower right.

AllTrails map with GPS tracks on the Skyline National Recreation Trail:  Big Flat Trailhead (south) to Mud Lake (north).
click on map for link to AllTrails website.

References:
Cunningham, C.G., Rasmussen, J. D.,  Steven, T.A., Rye, R.O.,  Rowley. P.D.,   Romberger , S.B., Selverstone. J.  1998.   Mineralium Deposita, 33:477.
Delano Peak - Wikipedia
Geologic map of the Tushar Mountains and adjoining areas, Marysvale volcanic field, Utah.  USGS National Geologic Map Database.
Mindat.org.  Marysvale Mining District.
​Plant Database:  Aconitum columbianum.  The University of Texas at Austin website.
​Ringholz, R. C.  Uranium Mining in Utah.  Utah History Encyclopedia.
​Steven, T.  2013.  Igneous Activity and Related Ore Deposits in the Western and Southern Tushar Mountains, Marysvale Volcanic Field, West-Central Utah: USGS Professional Paperback.