Lowe Peak

South of the Bingham Canyon Mine, the Oquirrh Mountains are much more spectacular and offer greater scenic beauty.  In the higher elevations, it is not uncommon to see herds of deer and elk, and watch hawks soar overhead.  Among the half-dozen or so peaks that rise above 10,000 feet elevation, Lowe Peak sits as the second highest point in the entire Oquirrh Range.  From the Salt Lake Valley, Lowe Peak is recognizable along the southwest horizon if you know where to look (see photo below).  As with the northern part of this mountain range, what public land that remains in the southern part is also administered by the BLM.  Ophir Canyon on the west side of the range provides the easiest access to the Lowe Peak area, which allows you to drive through the little town of Ophir.  If you happen to be into mining history and have a little extra time, take a good look around Ophir – it's quite a fascinating place.  There are also a few camping sites in Ophir Canyon located between the town and the trailhead should you choose to spend the night.  Check for camping availability and restrictions beforehand at the restored Ophir Town Hall and respect private property.

To reach the trailhead for Lowe Peak from the northern part of the Salt Lake Valley, take I-80 west to the Tooele City exit (Exit 99).  Take the exit onto SR 36 and drive southward approximately 24.1 miles through Tooele and Stockton.  Turn left (eastward) onto SR 73 and continue for approximately 4.6 miles to Ophir Canyon Road.  Make another left (east) turn onto Ophir Canyon Road and drive for about 3.5 miles through the town of Ophir to reach the trailhead.

From the southern part of the Salt Lake Valley, take Redwood Road (SR 68) southward through Bluffdale and Camp Williams and turn right (west) onto SR 73.  Continue on SR 73 for approximately 31.6 miles through Cedar Fort and Fairfield to reach Ophir Canyon Road.  Turn right (east) onto Ophir Canyon Road and drive for about 3.5 miles through the town of Ophir to reach the trailhead.  The road turns to dirt upon leaving Ophir up the canyon, but most vehicles can make it.

Lowe Peak as viewed from the South
Valley Regional Airport (Airport #2) in
the Salt Lake Valley

Hiking up a drainage on the
southwest face of Lowe Peak –
Photo credit: Aaron Oliver

The trail begins by crossing the stream on logs and rocks to the other side.  This is repeated a dozen times or so for the first mile-and-a-half of the trail in the lower part of the canyon.  During runoff conditions, be prepared to get your feet wet as the stream can be running quite high.  We also came across some grazing cattle and their evidence of "cow pies" along the trail.  At about 1.5 miles, a meadow comes into view towards Lowe Peak (eastward), where you will veer from the trail to begin the climb up the drainage.  This is the steepest part of the hike where over 2,000 feet of elevation is gained in a little more than a mile.  Don't be ashamed to take frequent rests along the way and take in the spectacular views unfolding before you.  Keep an eye out for deer and elk herds on the upper slopes.  After hiking up the drainage for awhile, eventually work your way to the ridge on your left (northward).  When the main ridgeline is finally reached and the Salt Lake Valley comes into view, hike up the remaining ridge to reach the summit.  Distance from the trailhead to the 10,589-foot summit of Lowe Peak is approximately 2.8 miles one-way with an elevation gain of approximately 3,500 feet.  When we descended Lowe Peak, we dropped about 800 feet to a saddle northwest of the peak and followed the upper drainage back into Ophir Canyon, which added another 0.7 miles to our route.  Another option can be to also ascend Rocky Peak (500 feet elevation gain from the saddle) and descend by way of a ridge slightly west and to the south of the Rocky Peak summit.  This adds an additional one mile to the original Lowe Peak route.

View looking south over Flat Top
Mountain (31 feet higher) from Lowe Peak

View looking northwest over Rocky Peak
to the Stansbury Range from Lowe Peak