Nebo Bench Trail #8117

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · Views · Wildflowers

There is nothing quite like verdant summer in the Wasatch mountains. It just smells good! And here on a weekday at least, you can largely have it to yourself. Peak baggers will take the nearby North Peak Trail but if you want something easier or are bringing children, the Nebo Bench Trail has much to offer and may be just as beautiful.

The trail is largely flat but starts with a drop through aspens to cross Left Fork Salt Creek. Most sections are easy hiking but there are short slippery sections that merit the int/diff rating and make hiking boots preferable.

After gaining the bench 1.6 miles in, you are afforded a long stretch of excellent views. We turned back after 3.0 miles at the closest approach to the Mt. Nebo where narrow traverses of steep scree fields proved the limit of my wife's tennis shoes, but I've included the whole trail to where it intersects the Nebo Peak Trail.

From the 3.0 mile mark the trail switchbacks dramatically to gain about 450 feet before losing it over the next 1.5 miles, with yet another climb to finish around 9940 feet.

Larkspur, Indian paintbrush