Towering above Utah's west desert at 12,087' this remote peak challenges climbers not just with relentless uphill gain but also navigational challenges as there is not a continuous trail to the summit. Ibapah Peak is Utah's 8th most prominent peak, the highest point in the Deep Creek Range, and the 6th most isolated in the state.
The route to the summit has multiple starting points depending on the capability of one's vehicle. I propose the official FKT route start at the theoretical highest point a vehicle could park so as not to give 4x4 owners an advantage in a speed attempt.
An old jeep road gives way to a faint (and at times hard to follow) trail up a steep drainage for the first section until a meadow is reached. From there no trail exists and it is up to the discretion of the athlete which route they chose to reach the summit cone. A social trail is found where the ridgeline meets the summit cone and offers a smooth ride to the finish at the beautiful, unique, and seldom visited summit.
Links to various sources below. Many more blog posts exist as well. Enjoy!
https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/utah/ibapah-peak
https://www.roadtripryan.com/go/t/utah/westdesert/ibapah-peal-juab-county-highpoint
https://girlonahike.com/ibapah-peak-2.html
https://quincykoetz.com/2020/11/ibapah-peak-hike-utah/
