Hiking to Summit Park Peak

Look on any map, and you will see the official name as “Point 8,618”. Because Summit Park Peak looks down on Summit Park, UT, the name is fitting. From the summit you will have beautiful 360 degree views of the Wasatch; on a clear day you can see as far West as Antelope Island and Stansbury Island.

To the North you can see Grandview Peak, and to the East, the High Uintas. Summit Park Peak is accessible year round, and is popular in Winter for back country skiers, due to the low angle terrain with low avalanche danger. Be sure to grab your microspikes and hiking poles, and get ready for a short but sweet climb to the peak.

The Snyderville Basin Recreations District serves as the managing department for over 140 miles of non-motorized trails. The majority of trails in the Basin are on private property, and the connectivity of the trail system can be attributed to these land owners. By staying on designated trails, outdoor enthusiasts can help preserve public access on private lands. For a list of the Basin Trails, click here.

There are four starting points for this Summit Park Peak

Inssbruck Strausse TH

Matterhorn Drive TH

Matterhorn Terrace Drive

Lambs Canyon

I will be referring to the way I went, starting at Innsbruck Strausse Road in Summit Park, Utah.

Directions

From SLC drive East on I-80 through Parley’s Canyon. Take exit 140 towards Summit Park. At the bottom of the ramp, turn Right. At the first stop sign, turn right again at the Sinclair Gas Station, which will now be Aspen Drive. Continue on Aspen Drive, as it turns into Maple Drive, which turns into Crestview Drive, and then will turn into Innsbruck Strausse Drive. Park at the end of Innsbruck Strausse Drive, where the dirt road begins. You will see an electrical box on your right, and a neighbor’s little red storage unit. This is where you will want to park. This area only fits about 4-5 cars. There are no restrooms.

Here’s a driving map from SLC.

UPDATE 2022

There are now several “no winter parking between Nov 15 & May 15”. This is such a bummer. I don’t like hiking here in summer because there are too many bikes for my liking.

I asked some ladies standing around where I should park now, and they didn’t know either they were trying to figure it out. But they did say parking enforcement just left as they pulled up. The car already there had a ticket on it. I looked at it, and it said “$0 – first ticket is a warning”. So just be aware that winter hiking is no longer accessible – its not worth whatever that ticket will cost.

Trail Info

Distance: 2.7 miles one way

Elevation gain: 1250 ft

Time: 2-4 hours

Dog friendly? Yes, off leash

Kid friendly? Yes, but it may be steep for them

This is the parking area for the trail. Begin by walking up the dirt road about 100 yards, and look for the TH on your right side (in warm months you can drive up further and park right at the TH).

The trailhead will have a sign saying “motor vehicles strictly prohibited”.

December 2018 – there is now a dogs on-leash sign but nobody does in winter.

And will also show a map of the area.

There initially 7-8 switchbacks, with a moderate climb. The trail is very well shaded for this portion of the hike.

The trail begins to open up more, and spots on the trail were muddy from the recent snow melt.

At about 0.7 miles you will come to the first of 3 trail splits. At this first one, stay left to continue up the switchback, and you should now be heading South.

As the trail heads south, you will now have a great view of Summit Park Peak!

Continue past the Grease Mark Trail.

Oh, the life of a trail dog! Charlie has a blast running in snow.

Soon you will now be on the South facing slope, with small trees, and a more exposed trail. At the 2nd trail split, veer right.

At the 3rd trail split, if you continue straight onto the “Trail to WORS” and up a wide road, as did me and Charlie, you will be walking above a green water tank. This is NOT the correct way.

Charlie and I ended up going off trail, following ski tracks. We ended up in knee deep snow! I decided the best option was to backtrack to where I had split off, and continue up the “correct” way, which was following a packed trail to the ridge.
So the correct option is at the 3rd trail split (Over Easy Trail – it may be buried in Winter), to head directly right (up & west) to the ridge.