Difficulty: Most Difficult ♦︎
Length: 6.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,100 feet
Dog Friendly: Yes, as long as you don't cross over onto the Cottonwoods side of the slope
Trailhead coordinates (copy + paste): 40.6061, -111.5553
Directions: About 1.25 miles before you reach the trailhead, park at the new Bloods Lake lot on the right side of the road and walk up the road to the drop off zone. From the drop off zone, walk straight up the steep hill to your left to summit 10420 Peak (or stay on the main trail and cut around the summit). From here, continue to follow the trail Southward up Clayton Peak. Length and elevation counts include walking up the road. If you start at the drop off zone, it is closer to 4 miles and 1,500 feet. The Guardsmans Pass road is seasonal and can only be accessed from mid/late May through early November. Check UDOT's traffic website for current status.
This trail can be summed up in three words: short, steep, scenic. This hike is great if you don't have all day but want to feel some burn and try out an easy scramble to the summit. From the top, look directly down on Lackawaxen Lake and take in panoramic views of Guardsmans, Mount Timpanogos, and Big Cottonwood Canyon. Expect to encounter many bugs, watch your step on the steep parts (the dry dirt is slippery) and enjoy the climb.
