Bonanza Benchmark - Wasatch Mountain State Park

Bonanza is a peak on the backside of the Wasatch Mountains towering above Wasatch Mountain State Park. It lies entirely inside the park and makes a great destination if weather is clouding in higher peaks. Due to high water in Pine Creek (it had been raining for 3 days), I was not able to cross but hiking the road beyond revealed one could easily drive a high-clearance 4WD car to within 300 vertical feet of the top. As of June 2009, the brush was not too bad but in several years it may encroach too far to drive a vehicle. Crossing the creek on foot required bushwhacking about 20 feet upstream to some rocks to hop on.

Bonanza Benchmark

If you hike from state route 224, just follow the road until you are just under the summit on the north saddle. Most of the route is in the open and would be hot mid-day. For the final 300 vertical feet, there is no trail...it's a bushwhack. The north ridgeline looks to be the best or you can bushwhack under the aspens that cover the east side of the summit area.

From the winter gate at Wasatch Mountain State Park on state route 224, drive around 2.2 miles up toward Park City. The pavement will end after a mile or so, then a short section of pavement on some switchbacks. The turn right is not too far after that. Once you make the turn, the dirt spur road splits. The left fork only goes a short distance to a camping area. Go right or park to hike. If you do attempt to drive up, the worst rocks are before the creek in the first mile. If you make it beyond the creek you will be fine to go all the way. I was able to park at the creek but turning around was tight.