Jared wrote a journal entry of our experience hiking Baldy we did to train for our Kings Peak hike in July. I thought it deserved its own post.
June 19, 2026 – Baldy Adventure and Evening Ride
Heather and I both had the day off for the Juneteenth holiday, and we decided to take advantage of the beautiful day by hiking Baldy with our goats, Bandit and Beau. We started from the Battle Creek trailhead and were on the trail by about 7:00 a.m. The hike was beautiful from the very beginning. The lower meadows were especially lush, with bright green grass, thick stands of aspens, and vegetation flourishing from the abundant spring moisture. Heather led the way through several open meadows while Bandit and Beau happily browsed along the trail whenever they found a particularly tempting patch of grass.
The west side of the mountains is incredibly dry this time of year, but as we gained elevation and entered the trees, everything changed. The landscape became vibrant and green, with grasses nearly shoulder high along parts of the trail. Looking across the canyon, we were treated to spectacular views of the steep ridges, cliffs, and forested slopes surrounding Battle Creek. There is a significant climb to reach the saddle between Baldy and Mount Timpanogos, and from there it is another seven-tenths of a mile west to Baldy's summit.
As we climbed higher, the views became even more impressive. The trail wound through green mountainsides with Mount Timpanogos rising dramatically above us. The final approach followed a steep ridgeline beneath a brilliant blue sky. From the summit we enjoyed sweeping views of Timpanogos, Battle Creek Canyon, and the valley stretching far below. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch on top of Baldy and took time to soak in the stunning scenery.
For our descent, we decided to try a trail we had never taken before, dropping down the west side of Baldy toward Dry Creek. On paper it appeared to be a little shorter and potentially faster, but it quickly became clear that neither was true. Looking down from the ridge, we could immediately see how steep and exposed the terrain would be. The trail was extremely steep, rocky, and in places somewhat dangerous. At its steepest point, the grade reached an incredible 49%. Loose rock, dusty switchbacks, and long stretches without shade made every step deliberate.
Heather and I did a good job staying hydrated, but we made a mistake by not bringing enough water for the goats. Bandit wasn't keeping up, so I kept him close beside me. Beau lagged behind repeatedly and often stopped in patches of shade. Both goats were panting heavily, and I felt terrible for them. By the time we reached the Dry Creek parking lot, I was genuinely concerned. We managed to make it to civilization (top ridge of Lindon) but didn't realize Beau had stopped following us some ways back. Thankfully, a kind man gave us water. Bandit drank nearly two quarts. Meanwhile, I headed back up the mountain to search for Beau. Fortunately, my friend Bart happened to be riding his horse nearby. He found Beau standing alone off the trail and helped bring him down the hill so we could get water into him.
We finally made it home, sore and exhausted. Our quads were aching, our feet had developed blisters, and we both had bruised toenails from the long descent. We didn't finish the hike until about 1:30 p.m., and temperatures were probably between 90 and 95 degrees. Despite the challenges, it was a marvelous hike. Covering more than 10 miles and climbing nearly 4,000 feet, it was one of the more demanding adventures we have taken in these mountains. It feels like another important step toward our goal of hiking Kings Peak later this year. Our hiking app recorded just over 10 miles for the day, nearly 4,000 feet of elevation gain, and a maximum downhill grade of 49%. Looking back, those numbers help explain why the hike felt so challenging, especially the descent.
Later that afternoon, Wendy and Keith joined us for an e-bike ride. We rode the Murdock Canal Trail north to Highland Glen Park, where Heather had packed a wonderful picnic. We enjoyed dinner in the shade beside the reservoir and visited together before riding home. By then the fatigue from the day's adventures was definitely catching up with us. After more than ten miles on the mountain, another sixteen miles on our bikes, and the summer heat, we were running on determination. Heather enjoyed a well-deserved rest during the picnic before we headed home. We finished the day thoroughly exhausted, grateful for adventure, friendship, beautiful scenery, and the blessing of living at the foot of these remarkable mountains.
