Trip Report: Fall Foliage Mini Peak Bagging Day Hike
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Fall Foliage Mini Peak Bagging Day Hike By Eve Kovacs |
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| HIKE | 10/04/2026 | MOD+ |
| Spectacular colors were visible all along our loop hike starting and ending at Butler Fork Trailhead and following the ridge from Soldier Peak to Gobbler's Knob. A moose sighting in Butler Fork was an added bonus! Five of us (Josh R., Marsha S., Justin S., Ri Anna B. and Eve K.) gathered at Butler Fork Trailhead on Sunday morning, where, judging by the lack of parking, it seemed most of Salt Lake City had chosen to hike that day. Fortunately, we headed up the much less crowded east fork and were delighted to see two moose munching on foliage not far from the trail. The colors were already good in the basin and kept improving all the way up to the ridgeline where we turned west briefly to follow the Desolation Trail. After a very short bushwack we gained the grassy slopes on Soldier Peak and soon topped out to see amazing views in all directions. After a brief refuel we headed down, then up the quite steep goat trail to gain out next objective of Wilson Peak. More refueling and more views prepared us for the next leg down the east ridge of Wilson Peak and up another short steep climb to gain the summit of Gobbler's Knob. Here we enjoyed another snack and headed down through some amazing aspen groves to Baker Pass and back to the Desolation Trail. The colors in Mill A blended fiery reds and yellows with dark green pines. The snapped off aspen trunks in the slide paths off the south side of Gobbler's were also quite impressive. We finished off the day by tagging Circle Awl peak and returning to our cars via the more popular west Butler Fork trail. This was a spectacular hike and a great way to enjoy the fall colors. Everyone agreed that it would be worth making this one an annual event! |
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