First Hamongog Route

(Trail highlighted in light blue)

First Hamongog Route: 2 mi. Strenuous
Most hikers access First Hamongog not from an official USFS trailhead, but from a neighborhood street in Alpine near Schoolhouse Springs (Alpine Cove Dr. and Aspen Dr.) at around 5,400ft elevation. From here, hikers approach First Hamongog using a road which accesses Lehi City's water supply. This road used to be accessible to the public for quite some distance but was closed to protect watershed. Residents living near the trailhead report that the installation of the lower gates has restricted access to people previously partying and trashing the area. Please be considerate of the residents are you to hike from this point and make sure to keep the area clean. The road begins with a mild 3/4 mi. approach before reaching the first of four large switchbacks. This is where most of your elevation is gained. Following these switchbacks, a final half mile stretch will bring you to First Hamongog at 7,000ft. elevation, making the total distance a little over 2 miles. The road is steep, loose and exposed to the sun making it a very hot afternoon hike. I've seen more rattlesnakes here than anywhere and even seen another type of snake eat a baby rattler live and fighting. This road is blocked to motorized use by four different gates. Despite this, motorcycles occasionally violate Wilderness regulations and ride well into the Wilderness, beyond First Hamongog. Riding a motorcycle in a Wilderness area is a potential $500 fine.
First Hamongog is a junction point of the North Mountain Tr. #042 and the Second Hamongog Tr. #200. The North Mountain Tr. heads East out of First Hamongog. It can be used to access Lake Hardy (via Tr. #176) and ends above Horsetail Falls in Dry Creek Canyon on Tr. #043. The Second Hamongog Tr. leaves First Hamongog heading Northwest and ends after gaining 1,000 ft and 1.5 mi at Second Hamongog.