Moab/La Sal, Utah
Arches National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Mount Tukuhnikivatz : 12,489' 2.75 Miles one way
Difficulty: Very strenuous, but not too long.
To get to Mount Tukuhnikivatz from Moab:
From Moab, drive south on Highway 191 until you reach
Highway 46 to La Sal. Turn left or east down Highway
46. After driving about 6 miles you will reach the small town
of La Sal, continue for about 3 more miles until you reach
a dirt road on the left called "Two Mile Road".
Drive up Two Mile Road for a couple of miles until you reach
Road "073" or "La Sal Pass Road".
Follow this road for about 9 miles. Along the way, you'll
have to drive through La Sal Creek. It's not very deep, only
about a foot or so, but don't stop in it or you will get stuck,
just barrel through it and you should be good. You will also
probably encounter a lot of cattle along the way, these aren't
the smartest creatures, so be careful. They jumped in front
of us a few times.
Beautiful aspen groves will be seen on both sides of the road,
and after a while it becomes like a mini rollercoaster ride
through some incredible forests. See the video. Near the summit
of the pass, you will see a sign that says "Beaver
Lake" and "Medicine Lake", that
means you are getting close, keep going toward Medicine lake,
you'll then pass another side road that goes to a little ranger
station and the trailhead to Mount Peale. Continue on past
Medicine Lake and a large open meadow. There is a sign in
front of an old wood fence that says "Mount Peale".
Meadow Route:
You can park at the meadow and begin, or better yet, continue
down the 4WD road until you start to line up with the drainage
on the east side of the southeastern ridge. There is a trail
around here, but it's difficult to find. don't worry it's
easy cross-country walking through aspen groves.
Either way you start the Meadow Route, you will want to work
toward the eastern base of Tuk's southeast ridge. Route-find
your way up the easiest way that you can find, it will be
a bit steep and difficult no matter where you go, so don't
worry if your route isn't easy.
Stay on the east side of the ridge until you get to the huge
meadow hill up the southeastern ridge. Once on this steep
meadow, the trail should be visible, if not jut follow up
the side of the ridge until you reach it's spine. Continue
up the southeastern ridge's spine to the summit.
Drainage Route:
If you drive further down the 4WD road (To climb up via the
drainage on the west side of the southeastern ridge), you
will find a subtle ATV track going up a grassy hill to the
right. If you get to the sharp left turning switchback, you've
gone to far. At the time of this writing the road was washed
out about 300 feet from the trailhead. There was a difficult
ATV sideroad to circumvent the huge gash in the road. Once
you get to the grassy hill, just follow the easiest way up
the ridge. There are many animal trails that you can connect
together, to piece your route together.
From near Moab looking east toward Mount Tukuhnikivatz
Looking north toward Mount Tukuhnikivatz.
Little Tuk can be seen on the left.
Medicine Lake
Mount Peale, the tallest of the La Sal Mountains
Tukuhnikivatz
Flys and Thistle, two things you don't want to invite to a party.
Giant Root Borer Beetle warming his back to digest the cellulose.
The drainage route to Tukuhnikivatz
The steep hills on the left (west) side of the drainage.
Magenta Indian Paintbrush, with South Mountain to the south.
Alpine foliage.
Nearing the eastern saddle of Tukuhnikivatz.
Fun.
This is what you have to hike up.
It looks harder than it is, but it's still hard.
Check out the video of a first person view of the final 1000 feet
to the summit.
The area was a very rugged place to try to exist.
Spring Azure Butterfly
Looking to the north toward Gold Knob, Grandview Peak, and Horse Mountain.
These peaks sit at the northern reaches of the La Sals.
It gets really steep right here, but it's not hard if you just look
around,
there is a staircase made just for you.
Looking down below to the southeast to Medicine Lake
Looking southwest over Tukuhnikivatz and South Mountain toward Canyonlands.
Almost to the top of Tukuhnikivatz.
From the summit of Tukuhnikivatz looking northwest over Little Tuk
toward Moab.
Looking south toward South Mountain.
Just west of the summit, you might find these Buddhist Prayer Flags
Haystack Mountain
Behind is La Sal Peak and Mount Waas.
Manns Peak
This peak or Mount Tomasaki would be a good middle peak to see the
entire La Sal Range.
Looking southeast down into La Sal Pass Road,
at all the little lakes and aspen groves.
The Lake on the left is Beaver Lake.
Mount Peale.
Notice the trail, if you look carefully you'll see that it splits
when it starts up the ridge to the summit.
the lower trail is to hike up, the higher trail is to hike down.
Looking down the eastern ridge of Tukuhnikivatz toward Mount Peale.
The clouds were dancing all over the place,
leaving shadows and opening up colorful rocks.
The northern end of the La Sal Mountains.
Mount Mellenthin is the high point in the center,
Mellenthin is the 3rd tallest in the La Sals.
Mount Waas
Wildflowers on the eastern side of Tukuhnikivatz.
Looking up the ridge to the top of Mount Tukuhnikivatz
Looking toward Tukuhnikivatz
Looking east over Mount Peale.
Walking down the Tukuhnikivatz' southeast ridge looking toward South
Mountain.
Columbine Wildflowers (Honeysuckle)
Indian Paintbrush
Aspen light
Tukuhnikivatz
Mount Peale
Mount Peale and the turn off to the guard station.
The lush, dense aspen forests of the La Sal Mountains,
a stark contrast to the desolate red deserts all around.
Looking northwest toward Mount Tukuhnikivatz.
Notice the angled ridge, that's the normal route up.
