We saw paintbrush, blue bells, wild parsnip, wild geranium, columbine and penstemon on this magnificent hike to Santaquin Peak (the bare peak on the right of the two side by side).
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Overview: Enjoy lots of June wildflowers and grand views of central Utah's Wasatch Mountains from this small but prominent peak, one of the "Wasatch 7" summits, after a long nearly six-mile hike that takes you from aspens to firs and possible mountain goat sightings.
Location: Uinta National Forest near Provo, Utah. Trailhead: Loafer Mountain Trail #098 reached from Payson, Utah, from the Mount Nebo Scenic Loop. Distance/Cumulative Elevation gain: 11.9/3700'. Trailhead = 7,700'. Coordinates: summit Santaquin Peak = 39.98348 -111.62375. Loafer Mountain Trailhead = 39.94070 -111.64406 Date Hiked: 6/16/2026 Maps/Apps: Trails Illustrated Wasatch Front South #701, AllTrails, Caltopo. Geology: The summit is Oquirrh Formation ~ 300 million years old, the prominent defining rock of the Wasatch Mountains, most recognizably massive Mount Timpanogos. It consists of alternating sedimentary beds of limestone, sandstone and quartzite which are observed as light and dark layers. Quote: "To explore is to travel without a hypothesis." -Don Walsh, American oceanographer who was the first to travel to the deepest place on Earth, the Mariana Trench at 35,798'. Summary of Santaquin Peak Hike via Loafer Mtn Trail #098
Mile 0 - 1.0: trailhead to intersection with Bennie Creek Trail (a mountain bike trail). Mile 1.0 - 2.5: traverse along flank of hill to gain 650' Mile 2.5 - 3.3: walk up steep rocky ridge to gain 1,100' elevation (in less than one mile) to saddle and first view of Santaquin Peak. Mile 3.3 - 4.4: traverses across open meadows to intersection with Deer Hollow Trail. Mile 4.4 - 5.9: final ascent circling around Santaquin's exposed southern flank. Santaquin Peak is one of the "Wasatch 7", a peakbagger challenge comprised of seven summits over 10,000 feet in elevation that look over the Utah Valley near Salt Lake City. Besides Santaquin, Lone Peak, Mount Nebo, Mount Timpanogos, Provo Peak, Cascade Mountain and Spanish Fork Peak are on the list. We have summited Nebo and Timpanogos and now have four more to complete the list! Besides training for our Italian/Swiss Alps eight-day hike around the Matterhorn coming up in a few weeks, we also wanted to hike in Utah's high country to see forests and wildflowers - smell the pines and see meadows full of red, purple, yellow, white and orange. We weren't disappointed on this hike and discovered new trails. Named after the son of a local native American chief (Guffich) in the mid 1850's, Santaquin is a Utah town directly west of Santaquin Peak. Chief Guffich and Benjamin Johnson, the original pioneer leader, became good friends. Chief Guffich warned Johnson of an impending raid by young braves, including his son Santaquin. Peace was made between the settlers and the native Americans. A request was made to name the town after Guffich, but he instead asked that the settlement be named "Santaquin" in honor of his son (from Utah History Encyclopedia). The views of Utah Lake and Utah Valley are fantastic from it's small summit made up entirely of angled rocks. Loafer Mountain's higher summit (by a few feet) can be added on the way to Santaquin Peak. At 4.5 miles into the hike on the Loafer Mountain Trail, a side trail goes off to the right to ascend Loafer's southwest ridge, just after the saddle and intersection with Deer Hollow Trail. As the hike profile shows, there were a few times when you recover lost elevation gain. There's a long ridge walk and also a steep and long grade between miles 2 and 4. This portion was not so bad ascending, but a bit annoying on the way down because of the loose rocks on the trail. The last summit block ascent is narrow and exposed over a long, steep escarpment. There's a supreme point where the trail reaches a turn to walk east on Santaquin's final, short ridge and the view of Utah Valley's cities and Utah Lake pop up suddenly. Santaquin Peak has the largest summit register container I've ever seen: a huge mailbox cemented onto the rocks, its opening closed by a big bungee. By the amount of registers with tons of signatures, you can see how popular the peak is. We celebrated our hike with a treat at Pinguino's Artisan Gelato in Provo where I had the browned cookie butter gelato in a cone - the best gelato I've ever had! This was one of our best trips for 2026. A beautiful peak, we had the trail to ourselves except for two other people, the ridge bursting with wildflowers and the best gelato. Keep on exploring! |
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Sue and Fred
Exploration documentaries – "explorumentaries" list trip stats and highlights of each hike or bike ride, and add interesting history or geology. Years ago, I wrote these for friends and family to let them know what my husband, Fred and I were up to on weekends, and also to showcase the incredible land of the west. My favorite websites:
Beyond my Couch Daring Dayhikes Earthline: The American West Glenn Suokko - Vermont Artist MishMoments: Joy of Photography Rangewriter - What Comes Next? Stav Is Lost surgent.net (hiking) |
Summiting Santaquin Peak video
Caltopo map and profile of our tracks.
Beginning the hike in aspens and balsamroot.
The first few miles of the hike traverses through a beautiful forest, meeting up with Bennie Creek Trail and then beginning the steep climb up to the saddle where Santaquin Peak finally comes into view.
Looking behind us at Mount Nebo on the left is the highest peak in the Wasatch Mountains at 11,928'.
We got to see Nebo the entire ascent.
We got to see Nebo the entire ascent.
A long steep ascent to the saddle at the top of the photo where Santaquin Peak is first seen.
Castilleja (Indian Paintbrush), bluebells and Santaquin Peak (the bare peak on the right of the two peaks).
Long ridge approach to the cirque just below Santaquin Peak. Loafer Mountain on the right.
Near the turn-off for Loafer Mountain which is on the right of this photo.
Santaquin Peak - easier and less intimidating than Nebo or Timpanogos.
Looking down a glacier-carved cirque toward toward the southwest and Mount Nebo.
What we found at the summit. Geology information from Rockd app.
Santaquin's summit register mailbox is not going anywhere! Not a lot of protection against winds on this summit!
Looking at Utah Lake in the Utah Valley - cities of Payson and Santaquin.
Looking at Utah Lake in the Utah Valley - cities of Payson and Santaquin.
City of Santaquin in Utah Valley below as well as Utah Lake.
Descending the summit dome on a narrow trail.
Narrow ridge connecting Sanataquin's summit to the route around the cirque and Loafer Mountain.
Heading down; ridge to Loafer ahead on left side of photo.