The highpoint of Sevier County, Fishlake Hightop, is just a few miles up the highway from Bluebell Knoll, Wayne County’s highpoint, which I had visited yesterday. I chose to tackle Fishlake Hightop from the south and west, instead of the more traditional east approaches directly above Fish Lake itself. A good gravel road comes off of highway UT-25 and runs up the range’s southwest flanks; after a few miles it enters into some forest and provides some nice camping options. I found one cleared area off the road, all to myself, arriving about 4 p.m. It had been a long day, starting with a 4 a.m. departure from Arizona and 600 miles of overall driving, so I spent the remainder of daylight enjoying my campsite. The flies and skeeters were annoying, but not too bad. Amusement was provided by a couple hauling a trailer, getting themselves stuck in the spot next to mine, and trying to back the whole apparatus out. They did, but it took awhile and at one point the guy came within feet of plowing his trailer into my truck.

Early the next morning I got dressed and fed and drove up the remaining 3 miles or so past Hancock Flat and up some switchbacks to a road junction with the left turn going up the mountain, and straight going to Na Gah Flat. I parked here, at a large clearing that has obviously been used as a campsite before. It was 6 a.m. when I started the hike.

The road (to Gashew Spring) winds somewhat steeply up the hillside, gaining about 500 feet in half a mile. Parts of it looked good enough to drive, but small segments were pretty torn up, too much for my truck. Once on top the plateau, the summit rose way off to the north, about 3 miles distant. From here, I had a very enjoyable ridge-top hike along the road, with very gentle gradients. I made great time, and enjoyed the early-morning sunlight, clear skies and pleasant temperatures. Not a soul was anywhere to be seen – I seemingly had the whole upper mountain to myself.

After a brief descent into a broad saddle, the final mile and a half gains an easy 500 feet and eventually comes astride the summit, which sits atop a long ridge of huge boulders, seemingly placed atop the plateau as its own separate hill. I could not find any set trail, but the cross-country seemed simple enough, so at some point I left the road and walked across the grasses and odd rocks to the base of the boulders. Here, I started looking for a way up, running up some dead ends, more often than not getting ‘brushed out’ than cliffed out. But gaining the top of the summit ridge wasn’t difficult, and once on top, it was just a matter of finding the winning boulder. I started clambering up the biggest rocks, only to see larger ones up the way. I’d climb up these, only to see bigger ones just a few feet farther. Finally, however, I found the highpoint, marked by a good-sized rock cairn and wooden survey apparatus. I gained this boulder and signed in, then spent some quiet time enjoying the sights. Yesterday’s highpoint, Bluebell Knoll, was ‘visible’ as an indeterminate point on the huge Aquarius Plateau to the southeast. Some peaks (Hilgard one of them) loomed to the immediate northeast, seemingly higher than my position. The map says Fishlake Hightop is higher, though, but not by much.

I began the descent, taking some time to work my way off the rocks, then once back on the road, made fast time. Just before the steep descent off the ridge back to my truck, I met up with an ATVer, the only other person I saw on the mountain. The descent down the steep section of road was enlivened by some amazing mountain and valley views, a mélange of long ridges and high 12,000-foot peaks. Mount Nebo stood tall in the far northwestern horizon. I was back to my truck at 9 a.m. From here I continued with my plans, heading north and planning to tackle Sanpete County’s South Tent Mountain.