Squaw Peak

The Trail
This moderate trail is about 3.8 miles long with around a 2,700 foot elevation change. With its decent climb and beautiful varied scenery, it has long been a personal favorite of mine.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail starts at the Rock Canyon Trailhead. The first part of the trail follows a paved road, although there are also side trails that are dirt that meet up with the road later. The road is easiest to follow, as the dirt trail intersects with other paths and can be a bit confusing sometimes.

Trailhead

As the canyon narrows, the path goes around a green gate. Then about a mile up the trail, the path crosses a wooden bridge with a number 1 in the left corner (marked with a red flag in the topographical map). There are a few more bridges to cross as the path follows the stream up the canyon before hikers reach an intersection about 1.7 miles from the trailhead. Heading right (shown in red in the maps above) will take hikers up to the campground and to other possible trails and destinations, such as to Cascade Saddle.

First Bridge

Another bridge

The trail to Squaw Peak is marked with a rock, but the lettering on it labeling this path is faded and easy to miss if you aren't paying attention or looking for it.

Intersection for Squaw Peak

Rock with faded label marking path to Squaw Peak

The trail heads up more steeply after this intersection, leading hikers through a pleasant umbrageous forested area.

Wild currents growing along trail

As the trail gets closer to the ridge, it begins to cross small open meadows.

After coming up to the ridge, the trail opens up and hikers can catch some views of Mount Timpanogos to the north and Freedom Peak to the southeast. The trail heads back behind the ridge line again and circles around to climb to the peak.

The impressive view from the peak is definitely rewarding. To the west below the nearly 3000 foot sheer plummet to the valley floor, Utah Valley stretches out in a great yawning expanse before viewers. Y mountain sits directly south, and off to the north rests Mount Timpanogos.

The corner of Y Mountain and a portion of the view of Utah Valley

Mount Timpanogos to the north

I particularly enjoy the views to the east of Shingle Mill, Freedom, and Provo Peaks jutting up above Rock Canyon and the other surrounding valleys.

View of Peaks to the east

After soaking in the panoramic scene, you can head back down the way you came. As you make your way down Rock Canyon be sure to appreciate Squaw Peak perched above you...the high point you just came down from.

View of Squaw Peak from Rock Canyon

Dogs are permitted on this trail. There are restrooms at the trailhead. There is a continuously running water fountain 0.9 mile up the trail (and another one after the turn-off for Squaw Peak) marked with the faucet symbol in the topographical map.

Directions
This trail is located in Utah County near Provo, Utah. To get to the trail head at Rock Canyon, take exit 269 off I-15 for University Parkway. Head east along University Parkway to 900 East. Turn left at 900 East, go to Temple View Drive, and turn right. Then turn right at 2300 North. When the road turns off to the right, stay straight to enter the parking area for the Rock Canyon Trail. GPS coordinates: N40° 15.878' W111° 37.790'