Lifestyle Sports: [New post] Twin Peaks (American Fork)

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Twin Peaks (American Fork)

by atylerhowe

Distance: 4.2 Miles (8.4 Miles Roundtrip)
Elevation Gain: 3,681 Feet
Trailhead Coordinates: 40.57951, -111.65893
Rating: 3.5 Stars

It's a pity we weren't more clever with our mountain naming in the Wasatch. We have two mountains named "Twin Peaks" within sight of each other. One is the front-most peak that separates Little Cottonwood Canyon from Big Cottonwood Canyon. The other(this one) is the mountain that sits behind Hidden Peak that you see as soon as you get off the Snowbird Tram. It's often called Twin Peaks (American Fork) since half of the mountain resides in the American Fork Canyon. Of the two, Twin Peaks (American Fork) is the easier climb.

The ascent of Twin Peaks (American Fork) really begins from the summit of Hidden Peak. You can reach that point with a beautiful hike up Peruvian Gulch or by taking the Snowbird Tram to the top. From this point, the climb up Twin Peaks (American Fork) will look dangerously impossible. It's difficult to eye a route that doesn't seem alarmingly treacherous. However, the eye test at this point is rather deceptive, both in what seems treacherous and in what seems safe.

The steep ascent that appears so sketchy is actually rather quite tame whereas the relatively flat ridge line before the ascent that appears rather tame is actually quite sketchy. That being said, it is quite doable for even non-rock-climbing folk. It's listed as a Class 3 scramble. The sketchiest part is done once you reach the dark-colored boulders. From there, you have a hard, steep climb that will require hands and feet, but your path is fairly straightforward.

The distance from the top of the tram to the top of the second peak of Twin Peaks (American Fork) is only a little over a mile, but it will take you some time. The view from the top is impressive, but definitely not my favorite in the Wasatch. Most of the vista is gobbled up by the opposite twin no matter which one you stand on. Still, you're able to get a glimpse at Timpanogos, Box Elder Peak, the Pfeifferhorn, Lone Peak, Red Baldy, White Baldy, Mount Baldy, Sugarloaf Peak, Mount Superior, Monte Cristo, Dromedary, O'Sullivan, and even the other Twin Peaks. Well, golly, with that big of a list, maybe I'm underselling the view a bit. You can also see Silver Flat Lake in American Fork Canyon, but Silver Lake and Silver Glance Lake area hidden from view.