Hike North Wah Wah Mountains High Point North Wah Wah Mountains BLM, UT

May 17, 2021 — The North Wah Wah Mountains High Point is one of the easier-access peaks in Utah's West Desert, but it's a steep slog in a relatively short distance. The turn-off from UT-21 is here (38.51732, -113.54519), and the road should be okay for most vehicles. However, even though the road does continue for a little over half a mile, it enters a poorly-marked wilderness area so please stop where I did and hike the rest.

The south face of the peak is more or less just a jumble of cliffs. At the end of the road, I started into a drainage, leaving it shortly after to head north along the slopes with absolutely no idea where the route would lead. It might be tempting to stay in the drainage, but it's more straightforward to just head north and slowly ascend on the wide slope. The wide slope introduces some tiny sections of light Class 2, but otherwise has just some easy tree-dodging. After a somewhat flatter section on the approach, I started to be able to make out the standard route up the peak, which was a disheartening-looking steep and rocky gully amidst some small pinnacles. The slope/ridge I took became progressively steeper and I found myself clawing at the dirt/scree once in a while as I made my way up to the gully. The slope sort of naturally led into the gully, and I headed in once the slope started to become riddled with rock outcrops. The gully didn't seem as bad now that I was looking at it from directly below, but I recommend doing this section alone or wearing helmets if you have a buddy, because the gully is loose and steep and there's plenty of talus to kick down. I found myself pulling a few Class 2+ moves on big boulders to avoid particularly steep sections of scree or to avoid brush. It's steep, but honestly not as unpleasant as others seem to report.

The gully narrowed and emerged onto steep and forest terrain above. I just continued gaining elevation until I made it to the ridge crest. I highly recommend making sure you remember where the gully is as you ascend. It was difficult for me to locate on the way back and I had to refer to my GPS to make sure I didn't descend some other cliffy nonsense. Anyway, once along the ridge, some tree-dodging and light bushwhacking leads to the high point. The views west are somewhat nice due to the vastness of the desert below, but there's not much to be excited for.