Trail Descriptions- Jacobs Ladder Tr. #186

(Trail highlighted in light blue)


Jacobs Ladder: 4.6 miles Very Strenuous
For this trail, the best access would be to start via the Orson Smith Trail Head, 12601 So. Highland Dr. (via Draper City). Be careful not to confuse the old dirt road up Jacob's Ladder to Lone Rock with the old dirt road to Movie Rock, which lies further to the West. Movie Rock is the site of a film shoot that took place about 50 years ago. The sign indicating the actual start of the Jacobs Ladder Tr. sits at 7,020 ft. (40º 29' 59.92891" N 111º 74' 20.38359" W) just downslope and to the West of Lone Rock. From here, the trail switchbacks very steeply up the mountain for about 1.5 mi. until reaching the ridge at 9,114 ft. This portion is a very strenuous grind. At times, it seems like you can feel the oak brush breathing hot air onto you. The trail is at times loose, dusty, dry, and rutted. And your pack is likely heavy, because you need to carry a lot of water. Upon victoriously reaching the ridge near Ennis Peak, a non-system trail from Corner Canyon ties in. Here the trail turns East and heads in the direction of the Lone Peak cirque. One half mile from this junction is a common camping area located in a fir stand (LNT.org). Another .25 mile beyond this campsite the dirt trail becomes a route across granitic surfaces marked by rock cairns. It stays like this for about 1.25 mi. until reaching the cirque. Several options exist for reaching the actual summit from here. I have always chosen to approach the summit by heading north out of the cirque and following the ridge up in an Easterly direction (as shown on the map). Use caution through this portion as the final approach to the summit is a scramble around large granite boulders and is fairly exposed. From the Wilderness boundary below Jacobs Ladder to the summit, this route is about 4.6 mi. This route is considered the most direct way of reaching Lone Peak summit and is also considered one of the most difficult trails on the Lone Peak Wilderness. Lightning is a common hazard.