fast & light backpacking + peakbagging - garfield basin - uintas - September 4, 2026
This trip is fastpacking-inspired, but it is not primarily a running trip. The Uintas are often rocky, rough, marshy, and slow-moving, especially with off-trail peak objectives. The idea is to pack lighter than a typical backpacking trip, hike steadily, keep breaks and camp transitions efficient, and cover a remote loop with several 12,000' peak objectives. Participants should be comfortable with long days at altitude, carrying overnight gear, rough trail, off-trail travel, route-finding, loose talus, boulder hopping, and changing mountain weather.
This trip will be exploratory and physically demanding, but there is some flexibility in how people participate. If someone wants to join for part of the route, camp with the group, explore nearby lakes, or do the loop without all of the peaks, that can be workable depending on logistics. We may also explore lakes near camp if we have extra time and energy.
We will get early starts to give ourselves the best weather window for the peaks. Plans may change depending on terrain, water, timing, weather, and group condition. This will be a good trip for people who enjoy Type 2 fun, remote Uinta basins, and moving efficiently through less-traveled terrain.
Start: Swift Creek Trailhead
Coords: 40deg;36.0989' N, 110deg;20.8473' W
Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6AmTh45oEufRE6Nx8
Drive time: ~3 hrs from SLC
I did not find a lot of current information about the road to the trailhead. It is paved to Mountain Home, but that is as far as I have personally driven. I read that the last several miles to the trailhead are narrow, single-lane, and rough/rocky in places. It may be drivable in a car in good conditions, but medium/high clearance and AWD would be safer. We can coordinate carpools closer to the trip.
Full route GPX: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=12.0/-110.4200/40.7330&pubLink=CtxU4bT7k9Ew0ofgoqam2Wx0&routeId=0585f9b9-ccc0-4e91-bfb2-25ff38cd9bd1
Itinerary:
Fri, Sept 4 - Swift Creek Trailhead to Five Point Lake
We'll start early from Swift Creek Trailhead and follow the Center Park Trail toward Five Point Lake, where we'll set up camp. Approximate stats: ~14 mi, ~3,000' elevation gain.
Route GPX: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=13.2/-110.4841/40.7294&pubLink=KY2eSgFeA8i2843ZNZINvsWO&routeId=3b0d12f1-ff5e-4503-9419-5619e7d7d0a9
Optional Friday Side Quest: If time, energy, and weather allow, we may summit Stone Benchmark (12,573'). This would add approximately ~4.8 mi and ~1,700' elevation gain. From the route information I've found, this does not sound especially technical, but it is still an optional add-on after a long approach day. Others are welcome to relax at camp or explore lakes in the area instead.
Stone Benchmark route GPX: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=11.4/-110.4085/40.6617&pubLink=5HVj4IkYjT88BjU5rJzadgl4&routeId=9e8dbc8b-b1c4-43e0-a6a2-4693765d8ef9
Stone Benchmark route info: https://www.summitpost.org/mountain/445831
Sat, Sept 5 - Five Point Lake to Porcupine Pass / Yellowstone Creek
We'll follow the Center Park Trail toward Tungsten Pass, then take the Highline Trail west toward Porcupine Pass to summit Porcupine Mountain (12,716') and South Porcupine Mountain (12,760'). After the peaks, we'll descend, go over Tungsten Pass, and continue on the Yellowstone Trail as far as we reasonably can/want to go. The planned camp is somewhere along Yellowstone Creek, with the exact location depending on water, timing, and group condition. Approximate planned stats: ~15.4 mi, ~3,100' elevation gain.
If the group is moving well and conditions are favorable, we could continue farther toward Milk Lake, but that would make the day closer to ~19 mi and ~4,100' elevation gain. That is a possible stretch option, not the default plan.
Route GPX: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=12.2/-110.4153/40.7343&pubLink=xb0bTN2A4GIptJtkRAamteEJ&routeId=0225d70f-abee-41ba-a1da-155e42d0b168
Porcupine Mountain info: https://www.summitpost.org/mountain/444107
South Porcupine Mountain info: https://www.summitpost.org/mountain/444841
Sun, Sept 6 - Yellowstone Creek to Timothy Lakes
We'll follow the Yellowstone Trail to the junction with the Jackson Park Trail, then head up toward Bluebell Pass. From there, we'll summit South Timothy Peak (12,440') and North Timothy Peak (12,519'), then descend toward the Timothy Lakes and camp near East Timothy Lake. Approximate stats: ~10.6 mi, ~3,400' elevation gain.
The preferred descent is from the saddle between the Timothy Peaks down toward the Timothy Lakes, which will involve steep boulder hopping and off-trail travel with overnight packs. If that descent looks worse than expected, we may backtrack toward Bluebell Pass and use a safer route.
Route GPX: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=13.5/-110.3840/40.7166&pubLink=yXrMUzQnd1Ql3Hy6aEooNotC&routeId=d4a54ba8-9ccc-4288-bd83-8408967e6856
Timothy Peaks info: https://www.summitpost.org/mountain/661100
Mon, Sept 7 - Hike Out to Swift Creek Trailhead
We'll hike out from the Timothy Lakes area back to Swift Creek Trailhead. Approximate stats: ~10 mi, ~281' elevation gain, ~2,994' descent.
Route GPX: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=11.6/-110.3590/40.6545&pubLink=uHHKwsR6HRM8r8iqMCCagyuA&routeId=bde29c27-5133-44bd-aca5-4a7655e5844f
Total with all planned peaks: ~55.5 mi, ~11,282' elevation gain.
Required Gear & Expectations:
Participants should have backpacking experience and strong hiking fitness. Standard backpacking gear/10 essentials, adequate insulation and rain gear, water treatment, headlamp, navigation capability, and sufficient food/electrolytes are required. I'll have maps and GPX routes, but everyone should have their own navigation capability and should be prepared to manage themselves in remote terrain.
Food storage is required. Food must be stored away from sleeping areas using an appropriate method, such as a tree hang or Ursack. We will not keep food in tents.
The Uintas can have frequent afternoon thunderstorms, so we will start early for peak objectives and may change plans, skip summits, or turn around depending on weather. This route includes exposed alpine terrain, and safety will come first. The Uintas also have ongoing fire risk due to beetle kill and dry conditions, so we will not have any campfires.
Registration:
Send me an email if you want to join or have any questions! Please include:
1. Whether you are interested in the full route and peak objectives, or whether you may want to join for part of the route, camp, or do the route without all of the peaks.
2. A quick snapshot of your recent experience/ability level if we don't already know each other: backpacking trips, long hikes, peakbagging/scrambling experience, comfort with loose terrain, and experience carrying overnight gear over long days.
| Level: | MSD |
| Miles: | 56.0 |
| Vertical: | 11300' |
| Route: | Loop |
| Pace: | Fast |
| Organizer: | Reid Gardner |
| Date: | Fri Sep 4 2026 — Mon Sep 7 2026 |
| Meeting Place: | Register with the Organizer |
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