The Hamongog Area

About a half-mile west of the Dry Creek Canyon trailhead is the Schoolhouse Springs trailhead, which leads through an area known as the Hamongogs.  A hamongog is a Biblical term that refers to a valley where the Army of Gog and Magog was buried (see Ezekiel 39:11-15).  In the case of this mountain trail, it is more of a flat open meadow area surrounded by denser forested areas.  Due to recent development in the area, greater efforts have been necessary to maintain public access to the Lone Peak Wilderness Area, which begins at the wilderness sign at the First Hamongog.  Each year during the Alpine Days events in August, there is supposedly a community hike to Lake Hardy that begins at the Schoolhouse Springs trailhead at around 5:30am.  The year I attempted to go on this hike with them, however, the event was canceled, and I was basically left on my own to do the hike.  Since this hike is located on a south-facing slope, it is important to bring lots of drinking water and take this hike during the cooler times of the day.  The autumn season is a particularly delightful time to hike the Hamongog area when temperatures are more moderate and the leaves are changing color.

Reaching the Schoolhouse Springs trailhead is very similar to reaching the trailhead for Dry Creek Canyon.  Coming from the west along SR 92, turn left (north) onto 5300 West, which becomes Main Street going into the town of Alpine.  Continue straight through the traffic circle along Main Street and turn right (east) at 200 North.  Turn left (north) again onto Grove Street (200 East) and follow it approximately 1.6 miles to Alpine Cove Drive.  Now turn left (northward) onto Alpine Cove Drive and then left (northward) again onto Aspen Drive.  Continue following the graded dirt road to the gate and parking area near the Lehi water tanks.  If coming from the east along SR 92, turn right (north) onto 4800 West, which curves and turns into Canyon Crest Road to the traffic circle (about 1.25 miles from SR 92).  At the traffic circle, turn right (north) onto Main Street and follow the remaining previous directions to reach the trailhead.

Directional sign in the First Hamongog
area just beyond the wilderness sign

View of the Second Hamongog
with Big Horn Peak in the background

From the water tanks to the First Hamongog, the trail is basically an old graded road that switchbacks up the mountainside – a 1,500-foot elevation gain in about 1.8 miles.  Much of this area is private property; so it's important to stay on the established route as much as possible.  Upon reaching the First Hamongog and continuing into the wilderness area, the trail splits – the left (west) fork leads to the Second Hamongog while the right (east) fork leads to the Dry Creek Canyon area.  Taking the left fork, the trail ascends approximately 1,100 feet for about 1.4 miles to reach the 8,130-foot elevation of the Second Hamongog meadow.  Here you are surrounded by pine trees and the spectacular backdrop of the Draper Ridge to the north.  This is a good stopping point for those lacking the strength to hike further and/or for spending the night.  The route to Lake Hardy continues by taking the right (east) fork in the Second Hamongog meadow, which ascends up the drainage towards the ridgeline to Big Horn Peak.  As the vegetation becomes sparser with increasing altitude, cairns mark the path to take.  The last time I hiked this trail, I made it to a point that I refer to as "Ridge Viewpoint," which offers great views of the surrounding landscape.  Years earlier, I hiked to the south summit of Lone Peak from the Second Hamongog with my hiking partner, Joe.  We took the left (north) fork of the trail towards Lone Rock for a ways and then veered more towards the north up a very steep drainage.  Though this may be considered the shortest hiking distance to the summit of Lone Peak, it is certainly the steepest as well – which is quite brutal on your legs and feet.  Total distance from the Schoolhouse Springs trailhead to the Second Hamongog is about 3.2 miles one-way with an elevation gain of 2,600 feet.  To the south summit of Lone Peak the distance is approximately 4.8 miles one-way with an elevation gain of around 5,700 feet.

View of Box Elder Peak from the Ridge
Viewpoint along the Lake Hardy Trail

View looking northwest at the north summit
of Lone Peak – Photo credit: WordPress