If you are looking for a good day hike in the Uintas, this may be it. Allow for 2.5 - 3 hours to the summit.
Follow the approach info to the Iron Hayden Wall. From the base of the wall head right and up into a wide couloir. Hike up this couloir until it ends staying mostly on the left side and following a staircase of mostly solid rock. At the top, climb a short 4th class step on the left to get out of the couloir. Continue up a ridgeline heading for the summit (South) ridge. Follow the South ridge to the summit.
Descent: Reverse the route.
Location
Hayden Peak west face.
Protection
This route consists of mostly hiking with some scrambling and lots of exposure. In spring and early summer much of this route will be under snow. Bring appropriate gear for exposed snow climbing at that time.
[Hide Photo] Looking down the actual Stairway to Hayden. Easy but exposed snow climbing.
[Hide Photo] Early season snow Oct 2022. Powder makes this rather exciting, plowing through occasional thigh high drifts while scrambling/dry tooling steps. Probably better left as a spring hard packed couloir…
[Hide Photo] Another view of the South Ridge Direct.
[Hide Photo] Looking down the short 5th class section of the Direct South Ridge.
[Hide Photo] The Direct South Ridge climbs through this exposed section of easy 5th class. Someone has placed a fixed rope here to aid in ascent/descent. As seen in this photo, the wind can render it useless.