Black Crook Peak - Sheeprock Mountains

Black Crook Peak is the highest peak in the Sheeprock Range. Surprisingly, there is a class 3 scramble route that when snow covered, offers a real change of pace from the typical desert climb in the region. This summit also makes it onto the Utah Prominence List of 84 peaks. The views are amazing but my camera froze on a crisp winter morning climb so I had to borrow a few pictures from giagiels, another Utah peakbagger.

Although there are several routes up, including a class 2 route from a lower elevation on the north side, this drainage access point is the most common. On the map below, I parked where I hit snow. If I could have driven higher I would and accessed the ridge from there. My route followed the road up a bit to a major switchback. I left the road there at a brushy drainage, climbing a game trail about 100 feet upslope to get out of the brush. Then, I traveled on a mix if rock and dirt west under an east trending rocky ridge until I hit the main ridge crest. There were several game trails that made this a fairly easy task. Once on the main ridge, it is a beautiful ridge traverse to the summit. Several bumps must be climbed up and over but none are difficult. The rocky crags with snow make this a really scenic scramble, I bought a new camera that night!

Just south of Vernon at the large bend on Highway 36, the signed Benmore Road goes south for 5 miles to a T intersection. Signs to the left say Vernon Reservoir, go right instead (Harker Road). Follow for 2.8 miles where Harker Road turns south. Go straight (over a cattle guard) and follow this over and up into North Oak Brush Creek. High clearance will be needed to make it to the start of the route.