Jul 16, 2019 — This overall nice loop in a lesser-visited area of the Wasatch Front visits Lookout Peak and Black Mountain. It follows two trails and a ridgeline, requiring some minor bushwhacking, though not particularly unpleasant. This Black Mountain is not to be confused with the more popular "Little Black Mountain" to the west - this Black Mountain is more remote and probably less fun. I'm not really sure what got me feeling extra antsy about bagging this peak, but it was on my to-do list and it was right along my route, but if you don't feel strongly about it, the route is more of a good time if you skip it, honestly.
I recommend parking along Pinecrest Canyon Road (see map) because Killyon Canyon Road has no parking signs everywhere. I couldn't locate the official trailhead parking area, but since I planned on this being a big loop, I suppose it didn't matter where I parked along the paved section of my route. From here, walk to the Killyon Canyon Trailhead and follow signs that point to Lookout Peak. These were the best views of the day and Lookout Peak was a pleasantly beautiful surprise overall. From the summit, I glanced west at the ridgeline I intended to take. A winter satellite map made the ridge appear to have a nice social trail, but I suppose I didn't take into account the lush summer greenery. I hesitated, but decided I could use some character-building. Overall, this was a fairly easy ridge to navigate, and the social trail was definitely visible for the most part. I encountered 2-3 major brushy sections.
After the ridge, I found myself on a bump that marked the top of my descent trail. I believe the trail is called the Emigration Canyon Miner Trail, but I'm not certain. Here I took a minute to decide if I wanted to stroll down the mostly pleasant trail, or bushwhack up to Black Mountain, which looked much rougher than my ridgeline traverse I just completed. I decided to go for it; yay for character-building! Although a social trail existed, it was so overgrown with brush higher than my head that it wasn't particularly pleasant and only memorable because of the slight misery. The summit didn't have particularly interesting views.
Back at the top of the Miner Trail, I took this slightly overgrown, but welcomed trail, to the heavily-traveled Pinecrest Trail, then back to the trailhead.
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