FYI, the only legal route to Flat Top is "with a helicopter". Ran into several members of the Ault family today. They own a huge amount of land in the southern Oquirrhs. My route took me up and over Lewiston and along the ridge to Flat Top. The family has two hunting camps along the ridge and I was told emphatically that I was trespassing and unwelcome. I ran in to a total of five hunters, all with the family. They hunt deer and elk, with bows, muzzleloaders, and rifles, so they are up there from late summer to late fall. They say their private property even crosses the ridge up to Lewiston. And, you cross private property just getting to the 8,000' trailhead.
Bummer. I was told by one of the Aults that that route was OK (that was after a run in with him when four of us went up from another way) He indicated that the way over Lewiston was the only
legal way but it looks like he wasn't speaking for the rest of the family.
I don't believe you are crossing private property any more on the way up to the 8000' trailhead. There is a 'Loop Trail' and signage the whole way. Locals were very friendly in letting us know we were in the right place and giving us the trail conditions.
The rest of the trail had Cairns and seemed legal to me. I wonder if there is a public easement on the ridge and if the Ault's actually have any right to keep people off the ridge between Flat Top and Lewiston. My guess is they do not and I would be shocked if any hiker minding their own business was ever charged for trespassing on the ridge but who knows. My experience on the mountain was positive---there were no 'No Trespassing' signs at any point along the way and the route seemed legitimate.
I climbed up Lewiston and Flat Top Mountains on 9/3/2016 and wanted to give everyone an update as the latest information I found was from 2013. I went up the new route on the way up as seen if you read runbyu1's update from 2013. Part of the way up I noticed private property signs as we got into the rich forest portion of the trail. I immediately headed back and then bushwacked back up to the saddle where you start to head up the ridge to Lewiston peak. From there it was smooth sailing and I assumed we were off of the private property. After summiting both Lewiston and Flat Top and getting back to that same saddle, we ran into two men who were at the Fuel Cache with their horses and dogs. One of them came up to me and let me know that I was on private property. He said that he worked for the Ault family and was actually really nice. I told him I thought that as long as I stayed south and took the older trail that I wasn't trespassing and he let me know that any way you go up the mountain you are trespassing. He said that they have no real problem with hikers, but that they had problems with hunters as they left garbage and poached animals off of their land. He also showed me an old rock down the way that showed engravings from the Aults from back in 1935, which was really cool. He told me that if you look at On-x maps for hunting you will see where their land ends and where it goes back to BLM land and that it is easy to tell that I was trespassing. After about 20-30 minutes of talking he showed me the best way back down the trail and told me that if I ever want to hike there again that all I needed to do was reach out to Weston Ault of Cedar Fort and ask him if he would be okay with me hiking on his land and he said that Weston would have no problem with it if I asked first. I actually had a great talk with the man (think his name was Justin) and was with him when he saw a hunter trespassing and told me he needed to go so that he could catch him and write him a ticket. Long story short, it was a great hike but if anyone wants to go they will need to get Weston Ault's permission before doing so or there is a chance you will get a ticket for trespassing. Although, if you are a nice hiker I am guessing they will let you go through. One other thing to note, I did download the app for On-X maps and looked at it and it is clear as day that they own the whole Lewiston Ridge and summit and most of the way to Flat Top. I thought Flat Top's summit would be BLM, but it actually looks like it might be owned by another family from the other side of the mountain. So, be warned, no matter which way you go you will be trespassing. But, if you really want to hike this mountain then you can talk to them and I am sure they will let you. If anyone wants to see screenshots I took from the maps showing that they own the land then send me a message and I will get them to you.
Thanks for taking the time to share your update. Its too bad that this mountain has the private property issues it does but if people will take the time to contact Weston Ault and get his permission, it sounds like the way to go. I'd like to move your info to the RED TAPE section. Thanks again.
Flat Top Peak property [Parcel # 58:060:0013]is owned by Marilyn Pratt of 15 East Nova Drive, American Fork, and Utah 84003
AULT FARM PROPERTIES, LLC
Owner of Lewiston Peak Property [Parcel # 58:061:0002] among many other properties.
Utah County Parcel Map Viewer: Scroll in to see actual parcel numbers.
http://maps.co.utah.ut.us:8080/ParcelMap/ParcelMap.jsp
Utah County Online Property Search Generally
http://www.co.utah.ut.us/LandRecords/Index.asp
See Ault Farm Properties, LLC company info and attorney contact below to gain permission across property adjacent to trail along the ridge. https://secure.utah.gov/bes/action/details?entity=6742124-0160
Ault Farm Properties, LLC: Property listings with Utah County
http://www.co.utah.ut.us/LandRecords/NameSearch.asp?av_name=Ault+Farm+Properties&av_valid=%25
Registered Agent or Attorney for Ault Farm Properties, LLC. Marc A Austin
Utah Bar Registered Attorney Contact info. http://www.utahbar.org/forms/members_directory_search.html
Name: AUSTIN, MARC A
Member ID: 08138
Member Type: Attorney
License Status: Active
Firm: MARC A AUSTIN PC
Address: 3521 N UNIVERSITY AVE STE 200
Provo, Utah 84604
United States of America
Phone: 801-374-8925
Fax: 801-374-0199
E-mail: (Private)
Law School: Brigham Young University
Graduated: 1997
Bar Admission: 10/20/1998
Looks like from reading a bunch of posts that the trail to the summit is over private land once you leave the access ATV road. I wrote to both Mt. Austin and Mr. Ault asking permission and never heard anything back. I respect their land and property rights, but it would be a very nice community service for them to allow hikers to traverse just the narrow trail to get to the top. Does anyone have any ideas? I offered to donate to a charity of their choice. I wonder if enough people ask politely if they would permit hikers on their property on just the narrow trail???
I emailed Weston Ault [ aultw at msn.com ] on a Wednesday requesting permission asking permission for the weekend to hike around Lewiston Pk. In 2 sentences, short and simple, didn't waste time. In 2 hours he replied with printable permit, and advised which of his people would be up there. The ridge over to Flat Top is not posted.
powderdave - Sep 30, 2010 11:25 pm - Hasn't voted
Flat Top MountainFYI, the only legal route to Flat Top is "with a helicopter". Ran into several members of the Ault family today. They own a huge amount of land in the southern Oquirrhs. My route took me up and over Lewiston and along the ridge to Flat Top. The family has two hunting camps along the ridge and I was told emphatically that I was trespassing and unwelcome. I ran in to a total of five hunters, all with the family. They hunt deer and elk, with bows, muzzleloaders, and rifles, so they are up there from late summer to late fall. They say their private property even crosses the ridge up to Lewiston. And, you cross private property just getting to the 8,000' trailhead.
Must be nice to own the mountains.
Dean - Sep 30, 2010 11:53 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Flat Top MountainBummer. I was told by one of the Aults that that route was OK (that was after a run in with him when four of us went up from another way) He indicated that the way over Lewiston was the only
legal way but it looks like he wasn't speaking for the rest of the family.
runbyu1 - Jul 8, 2013 3:04 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Flat Top MountainI don't believe you are crossing private property any more on the way up to the 8000' trailhead. There is a 'Loop Trail' and signage the whole way. Locals were very friendly in letting us know we were in the right place and giving us the trail conditions.
The rest of the trail had Cairns and seemed legal to me. I wonder if there is a public easement on the ridge and if the Ault's actually have any right to keep people off the ridge between Flat Top and Lewiston. My guess is they do not and I would be shocked if any hiker minding their own business was ever charged for trespassing on the ridge but who knows. My experience on the mountain was positive---there were no 'No Trespassing' signs at any point along the way and the route seemed legitimate.
Rifeadventures - Sep 6, 2016 1:06 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Flat Top MountainI climbed up Lewiston and Flat Top Mountains on 9/3/2016 and wanted to give everyone an update as the latest information I found was from 2013. I went up the new route on the way up as seen if you read runbyu1's update from 2013. Part of the way up I noticed private property signs as we got into the rich forest portion of the trail. I immediately headed back and then bushwacked back up to the saddle where you start to head up the ridge to Lewiston peak. From there it was smooth sailing and I assumed we were off of the private property. After summiting both Lewiston and Flat Top and getting back to that same saddle, we ran into two men who were at the Fuel Cache with their horses and dogs. One of them came up to me and let me know that I was on private property. He said that he worked for the Ault family and was actually really nice. I told him I thought that as long as I stayed south and took the older trail that I wasn't trespassing and he let me know that any way you go up the mountain you are trespassing. He said that they have no real problem with hikers, but that they had problems with hunters as they left garbage and poached animals off of their land. He also showed me an old rock down the way that showed engravings from the Aults from back in 1935, which was really cool. He told me that if you look at On-x maps for hunting you will see where their land ends and where it goes back to BLM land and that it is easy to tell that I was trespassing. After about 20-30 minutes of talking he showed me the best way back down the trail and told me that if I ever want to hike there again that all I needed to do was reach out to Weston Ault of Cedar Fort and ask him if he would be okay with me hiking on his land and he said that Weston would have no problem with it if I asked first. I actually had a great talk with the man (think his name was Justin) and was with him when he saw a hunter trespassing and told me he needed to go so that he could catch him and write him a ticket. Long story short, it was a great hike but if anyone wants to go they will need to get Weston Ault's permission before doing so or there is a chance you will get a ticket for trespassing. Although, if you are a nice hiker I am guessing they will let you go through. One other thing to note, I did download the app for On-X maps and looked at it and it is clear as day that they own the whole Lewiston Ridge and summit and most of the way to Flat Top. I thought Flat Top's summit would be BLM, but it actually looks like it might be owned by another family from the other side of the mountain. So, be warned, no matter which way you go you will be trespassing. But, if you really want to hike this mountain then you can talk to them and I am sure they will let you. If anyone wants to see screenshots I took from the maps showing that they own the land then send me a message and I will get them to you.
Dean - Sep 6, 2016 5:52 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Flat Top MountainThanks for taking the time to share your update. Its too bad that this mountain has the private property issues it does but if people will take the time to contact Weston Ault and get his permission, it sounds like the way to go. I'd like to move your info to the RED TAPE section. Thanks again.
PeterVonTrapp - Aug 8, 2012 6:04 pm - Hasn't voted
Flat Top Owner SolvedFlat Top Peak property [Parcel # 58:060:0013]is owned by Marilyn Pratt of 15 East Nova Drive, American Fork, and Utah 84003
AULT FARM PROPERTIES, LLC
Owner of Lewiston Peak Property [Parcel # 58:061:0002] among many other properties.
Utah County Parcel Map Viewer: Scroll in to see actual parcel numbers.
http://maps.co.utah.ut.us:8080/ParcelMap/ParcelMap.jsp
Utah County Online Property Search Generally
http://www.co.utah.ut.us/LandRecords/Index.asp
See Ault Farm Properties, LLC company info and attorney contact below to gain permission across property adjacent to trail along the ridge. https://secure.utah.gov/bes/action/details?entity=6742124-0160
Ault Farm Properties, LLC: Property listings with Utah County
http://www.co.utah.ut.us/LandRecords/NameSearch.asp?av_name=Ault+Farm+Properties&av_valid=%25
Registered Agent or Attorney for Ault Farm Properties, LLC. Marc A Austin
Utah Bar Registered Attorney Contact info. http://www.utahbar.org/forms/members_directory_search.html
Name: AUSTIN, MARC A
Member ID: 08138
Member Type: Attorney
License Status: Active
Firm: MARC A AUSTIN PC
Address: 3521 N UNIVERSITY AVE STE 200
Provo, Utah 84604
United States of America
Phone: 801-374-8925
Fax: 801-374-0199
E-mail: (Private)
Law School: Brigham Young University
Graduated: 1997
Bar Admission: 10/20/1998
CharPatton - Sep 26, 2017 5:21 pm - Hasn't voted
? All Private PropertyLooks like from reading a bunch of posts that the trail to the summit is over private land once you leave the access ATV road. I wrote to both Mt. Austin and Mr. Ault asking permission and never heard anything back. I respect their land and property rights, but it would be a very nice community service for them to allow hikers to traverse just the narrow trail to get to the top. Does anyone have any ideas? I offered to donate to a charity of their choice. I wonder if enough people ask politely if they would permit hikers on their property on just the narrow trail???
richh - Jul 5, 2018 12:57 am - Hasn't voted
Re: ? All Private PropertyI emailed Weston Ault [ aultw at msn.com ] on a Wednesday requesting permission asking permission for the weekend to hike around Lewiston Pk. In 2 sentences, short and simple, didn't waste time. In 2 hours he replied with printable permit, and advised which of his people would be up there. The ridge over to Flat Top is not posted.