Bald Mountain - Level 1
Bald Mountain is a short backcountry road in Wasatch County, Utah, that climbs onto a forested ridge. It is mainly used for dispersed camping, and there are several pull-offs and camp areas along the way, from large open flats to small spots tucked into the trees.
The road is quick to drive and is a good choice for a casual outing or an overnight camp close to the Wasatch Back. Plan to look over the first stretch before committing if you are towing.
Trail Summary
- LocationWasatch County, Utah
- Distance3.4 miles
- DifficultyLevel 1
- Elevation8,488 ft to 9,048 ft with a 560 ft change
- Travel Time13 minutes
Difficulty
Suitable for high clearance 2WD
Rated Easy (level 1), suitable for high clearance 2WD. Stock equipment is enough. Expect dirt and rocky surface with obstacles under 5 inches, such as rocks, dips or ruts, and slight grades with good traction. The log says the road does not look very hard, and the hardest spot photographed was still a level 1. The one thing the log flags is the start: water-control cuts have pretty deep dips and humps, which may be hard for long trailers or low-clearance trailers. The driver suggests looking at them before going up.
Terrain
The road begins as a shelf road that the log describes as wide enough for one vehicle. Water-control cuts across the surface form dips and humps. Higher up, the route passes through a mix of open ground and stands of trees. One camp area sits under power lines in a wide open clearing, and another is on the mountain well off the road, with a dirt circle and no trees.
Highlights
Camping is the main draw. The first big area holds roughly five to eight rigs but is open and not private, with a little morning shade on one side. Another large area sits under the power lines. Treed sites near the road give shade but little privacy. The most private spot in the log is the one up on the mountain, off the road quite a ways, which suits one or two rigs, or more if you park outside the dirt circle. Farther along, smaller sites sit back in the trees and get shade for part of the day.
Map
The interactive map needs JavaScript. Every waypoint is also listed below.
Waypoints
Waypoint 1 (40.04458, -111.21236)
Start of the Baldy Mountain Trail.
Waypoint 2 (40.04620, -111.20715)
The road starts as a good shelf road, wide enough for one vehicle. Water-control cuts have deep dips and humps that may be hard for long or low-clearance trailers, so look before you go up.
Waypoint 3 (40.03759, -111.20127)
Large camping area that holds five to eight rigs easily. It is open and not private, with a little morning shade on one side.
Waypoint 4 (40.03590, -111.20002)
Another large camping area under power lines. Wide open, with no privacy or shade.
Waypoint 5 (40.03119, -111.19726)
Camp spot with trees next to the road. You get shade but not much privacy.
Waypoint 6 (40.02634, -111.19077)
Good camp spot up on the mountain, off the road quite a ways. No trees or shade, but private. Fits one to two rigs, more if you park outside the dirt circle.
Waypoint 7 (40.02657, -111.18889)
Small camp spot, about one and a half rigs. Shady with trees, but next to the road.
Waypoint 8 (40.02452, -111.18611)
The road does not look very hard here. The hardest spot on the trail was photographed here and is a level 1.
Waypoint 9 (40.02265, -111.17517)
Small campsite back in the trees, with shade for part of the day.