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Mount Ellen Summit - 3 members in 3 triplogs have rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
3 triplogs
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Sep 23 2021
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 Guides 99
 Routes 1,484
 Photos 16,072
 Triplogs 1,374

male
 Joined Jan 07 2017
 Fountain Hills,
Mount Ellen SummitSouthwest, UT
Mount Ellen Summit
Southwest, UT
Hiking avatar Sep 23 2021
DixieFlyer • Triplogs 1,374
Hiking6.00 Miles 2,115 AEG
Hiking6.00 Miles   4 Hrs   15 Mns   1.87 mph
2,115 ft AEG   1 Hour   2 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Mount Ellen had been on my peak list so I decided to head to Utah and hike it.

I had called the BLM beforehand to inquire as to the best road to drive in on, and they suggested taking Sawmill Basin out of Hanksville. The dirt road was in really good shape for about half of the 25 mile ride to the TH, but it was slow going on the last half.

In addition to hiking to Mount Ellen, I continued on to Mount Ellen Peak. Of course, that meant having to hike up to Mount Ellen again on the way back.

The views were nice on the hike, and there were lots of yellow aspen leaves. They aspens weren't quite at their peak, but they were close.

I enjoyed the hike but having to drive 50 miles RT on dirt roads is a bit much for a 6 mile hike. It took me somewhere between 3.0-3.5 hours to do the round trip drive.
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Autumn - Color Foliage
_____________________
Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there
  1 archive
Jul 19 2018
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 Guides 73
 Routes 176
 Photos 10,174
 Triplogs 2,324

46 male
 Joined Sep 08 2006
 
Mount Ellen SummitSouthwest, UT
Mount Ellen Summit
Southwest, UT
Hiking avatar Jul 19 2018
Jim • Triplogs 2,324
Hiking5.65 Miles 2,037 AEG
Hiking5.65 Miles   4 Hrs      1.41 mph
2,037 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Went to both summits and enjoyed the hike. Very long drive. This summit and area are best enjoyed in fall when it isn't humid, storms are not present, and the view is long. I had poor visibility of the various ranges around, the canyons, and fold area. If you come here for this, you want to see them!

Came in the west road, which is the best one per the BLM office, but at present there are some deep washouts in a few wash crossings. One cut the road nearly a meter deep. I went around in a sandy spot with a 2 track cut by others. If you do this, check the BLM office in Hanksville for road updates. If you go the way I did, just follow the signs for McMillian Campground and then continue to the pass, it is obvious. Leave from the Notom Rd near Sandy Ranch. it is also about 25 miles from pavement to the pass/ trailhead, and expect it to be rough unless recently graded. Guaranteed to be rough in summer with the rain and the steep grades. Mostly, there are a lot of loose rocks.

Ran into the buffalo, it was nice. Lots of deer, too.

I'm no longer a big fan of high altitude. Everything passes.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Bison (American Buffalo)
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🍭
  2 archives
Sep 26 2017
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 Guides 44
 Routes 162
 Photos 24,766
 Triplogs 2,411

75 male
 Joined May 04 2004
 Mesa, AZ
Mount Ellen SummitSouthwest, UT
Mount Ellen Summit
Southwest, UT
Hiking avatar Sep 26 2017
CannondaleKid • Triplogs 2,411
Hiking4.20 Miles 1,391 AEG
Hiking4.20 Miles   2 Hrs   56 Mns   1.47 mph
1,391 ft AEG      5 Mns Break20 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners partners
trixiec
Perfect ascent weather... sunny, 45 degrees and just wisps of wind so the hike to the summit was reasonably easy. Although we originally planned to continue on to Mount Ellen Peak, between a slight headache and terrain which belied the Topo map we chose to skip it.
(On the Topo map it appeared there was a gradual dip and ascent but in reality there were two more dips & ascents, the last ascent being rockier than anything we already encountered.)

After an early lunch at the summit of Mount Ellen we headed back to the trailhead, where we decided to follow an old BLM road in search of Bison, which a deer hunter we encountered on the ascent had told us about. On that hike we would encounter a pair of bison bulls.
Bison Video
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Bison (American Buffalo)  Mule Deer
_____________________
CannondaleKid
  1 archive
average hiking speed 1.58 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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