Climbing Cascade Mountain in Orem

Towering over Orem is Cascade Mountain. It's astounding how many people around there have no clue what the name of the peak with the massive face and vertical cliffs is called. At 10,908 feet, it almost makes it onto the Wasatch Front 11,000 list. The peak has 2 official summits, the north one being highest. Get an early start, this is a long day.

The first few miles is pretty boring stuff, through forest on an old dozer road. Soon the trail breaks out into meadows under Freedom Peak. This is a nice area, pretty cool that students at BYU can walk here from the Y trail near campus. The trail climbs up an erosion bar to just above a saddle at 9,500 feet. From here, you can look NW a long way to the true summit of Cascade Mountain. Drop down to the saddle and follow the climbers trail as best as possible along the ridgeline. There will be several ups and downs with the trail sometimes traversing to avoid extra elevation gain. Most of the route has a climbers trail so if you aren't on it, you've lost it. Both places I lost the trail on the way up I found on the way back. There are also goat trails that don't always go the best way. From the south summit, you'll be dropping 320 feet but the north summit is a short easy climb so keep going. There's not a whole lot on the summit but outstanding views in every direction. The city is so close you think everyone is looking at you.

Cascade Mountain

Drive up Provo Canyon looking for a sign for Squaw Peak Road. Follow this narrow paved road until it splits. A sign points to the right for a city view overlook. Go left, road becomes gravel shortly after. Follow this until just past Rock Creek Campground where a trail crosses over the road. This should be signed Dry Fork Canyon Trail. There is parking for about 5 cars.