The Wasatch Mountains have a lot wonderful peaks that have great hiking and climbing routes. Whether you like snow, alpine, or rock climbing, it's all here within a short drive of the city. Big Cottonwood Canyon is mainly quartzite while Little Cottonwood Canyon is granite. These two canyons are very close to each other but quite different. There are world class ski resorts here too. They are at Brighton and Solitude in Big Cottonwood Canyon and Alta and Snowbird in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Cottonwood Ridge contains many of these beautiful mountains. It is the main ridgeline that divides Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. These two canyons provide access to the majority of the Central Wasatch and are the most popular areas near Salt Lake City. It is a great place for people who enjoy 3rd and 4th class scrambling with a little exposure. When you have a chance to get away from the popular peaks you will probably be alone. This is truly amazing, considering how many people live down in the valley below. The ridge runs west to east from Broads Fork Twin Peaks to Clayton Peak. Almost all of the ridge is above timberline with most of it being over 10,000 feet. The peaks are very rugged and boulder hopping is a constant challenge.

The Twin Peaks Wilderness was established by Congress in 1984 and consist of approximatley 11,000 acres. It is bounded on the south by Little Cottonwood Canyon, on the north by Big Cottonwood Canyon, on the west by Salt Lake Valley, and on the east by Mineral Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

You can often combine mountain climbs on Cottonwood Ridge. Of course, many people climb each peak seperately. If you're in really good shape then you could hike the entire ridge in one day. Most people will need more time and will want to break the ridge up into different segments. I have divided the information into three sections: The Triple Traverse, Cottonwood Ridge (West), and Cottonwood Ridge (East). Thanks to everyone who submitted pages and photos for these mountains.

The Wasatch Range

The Wasatch Range is part of the Rocky Mountains. The Wasatch Range rises to elevations of more than 11,000 feet and stretches for about 200 miles from Soda Springs, Idaho to Nephi, Utah. It starts with the Bear River Range in southeastern Idaho and northern Utah, then the Wellsville Mountains near the city of Mendon and Sardine Canyon, the Northern Wasatch above the cities of Ogden and Bountiful, the Central Wasatch above Salt Lake Valley, and Southern Wasatch, which has the highest mountains, from Provo to Nephi. The Wasatch Range is an imposing and important geographic feature in the western United States. From a geologic perspective, the mountains are a complex mix of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

From a demographic perspective, these mountains, and their western base, is a corridor known as the Wasatch Front. Over 80 percent of Utah's population lives within 15 miles of the Wasatch range. Salt Lake City lies between the Wasatch Range and the Great Salt Lake. Not only those that live in the areas around Salt Lake City but Logan, Ogden, and Provo have the Wasatch Mountains as a spectacular backdrop each morning. Hiking, rock climbing, skiing, camping, mountain biking, and fishing are a few things that the Wasatch Mountains have to offer. This mountain playground is an ideal place for all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts.

Mount Superior, Monte Cristo, and the Cottonwood Ridge

When to Climb

Spring is the best time to do steep couloirs and snow routes. Consolidated snow develops in the high basins. Early in the day, you will have firm and icy snow that allows for a fast ascent. In the afternoon, the snow softens and you will be plunge stepping all the way down. Glissading is the best way to descend most snowfields. This is also a good time to travel to areas with talus and boulderfields because much of the loose rubble will be covered in snow. The foothills are the safest place to hike during spring. South facing slopes will have small snow patches but will be passable by most people. Many trails will be muddy and wet. Popular mountains to climb in spring are the Triple Traverse Peaks, Storm Mountain, Wolverine and Tuscarora.

Summer is the normal climbing season in the Wasatch Mountains. It lasts from July to September. This is also when everybody else is out hiking and climbing. Like most areas, the season is determined by the amount of snow in the mountains. During a heavy snow year, it may be until late summer for snow to melt from sheltered areas. Going to the higher elevations is the best way to escape the heat. When the city temps are hot, it may be very windy and cold on top of a mountain. North facing slopes offer the most shade during summer. Popular mountains to climb in the summer are Broads Fork Twin Peaks, Sunrise Peak, Dromedary Peak, Mount Superior and Monte Cristo, Kessler Peak, Sunset Peak, and Pioneer Peak.

Fall is a great time to climb. Long hikes and climbs are made easier by the cooler temperatures. The amount of daylight will be shorter though. These mountains have spectacular fall colors which make even the less interesting mountains beautiful. In September, the first big snowstorm of the season usually hits the Wasatch. A period of nice weather usually follows before winter comes. Popular mountains to climb in fall are Flagstaff Peak, Honeycomb Cliffs, and Sundial Peak.

Winter has become a popular time to climb these mountains. This is generally from December to February. In the mountains, the season extends into March and April. Climbing the high peaks in winter should not be taken lightly because of the continuous threat of avalanches which have claimed several lives. An avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel are recommended, as well as the knowledge to use them. Winter usually requires that you walk longer distances because normal trailheads are closed. Most mountains in the Wasatch can be climbed in one long day. Popular mountains in winter are Mount Superior, Monte Cristo, Wolverine and Flagstaff.

Broads Fork Triple Traverse Peaks: Dromedary, Sunrise, and Twin Peaks

Getting There

The mountains above Salt Lake City are situated in one area so they are easy to get to for most people. Several canyons run east to west along the Wasatch and provide access to all of the peaks. You can get to almost all of these mountains from Interstate 15. This is the major highway that goes north to south all the way through Utah. From I-15, get off at I-215 exit and head east toward the mountains.

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon is located on Wasatch Boulevard at 7200 South (Fort Union Boulevard), about 12 miles southeast of downtown Salt Lake City. The best way to get there is by driving on the I-215 Belt Loop and following the signs for the Cottonwood Canyons Ski resorts.

Take the 6200 S exit- EXIT 6- toward SKI AREAS/Solitude / Brighton/Snowbird / Alta for 0.2 miles. Merge onto UT-190 E toward SKI AREAS/Solitude / Brighton/Snowbird / Alta and drive for 1.8 miles to the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

There is a Park'N Ride at the mouth of the canyon on the left side. This is a popular place for people to meet and carpool up the canyon. During winter ski buses run from the city up to the Ski Resorts.

Little Cottonwood Canyon

Little Cottonwood Canyon is located at the intersection of Highway 210 and South Little Cottonwood Canyon Road. The best way to get to Little Cottonwood Canyon is to get on the I-215 Belt Loop and follow the signs for the Cottonwood Canyons Ski resorts.

Take the 6200 S exit- EXIT 6- toward SKI AREAS/Solitude / Brighton/Snowbird / Alta for 0.2 miles. Merge onto UT-190 E toward SKI AREAS/Solitude / Brighton/Snowbird / Alta and drive for 1.8 miles to the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, which is at Fort Union Blvd & Wasatch Blvd. Continue straight through the stoplight and follow the road another 4 miles to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

At the mouth of the canyon is a Park'N Ride similar to the one in Big Cottonwood Canyon. During winter ski buses go from the city up to the Ski Resorts.

Check each mountain page for exact trailhead locations.

Avalanche debris in Broads Fork

Broads Fork - Triple Traverse

There are three main peaks located above Broads Fork. A fun day involves traversing all three of them. Broads Fork is very pretty especially in the summer when all of wildflowers are out. It is a popular hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It can also be a deadly place during winter when avalanches come crashing down the mountain sides. The most common way to do the Triple Traverse is to start with Broads Fork Twin Peaks, then climb Sunrise, and Dromedary. It can also be done in the opposite direction. In the summer, the easiest routes require 3rd class scrambling. One of the best spring snow climbs in the Wasatch is Tanners Gulch from Little Cottonwood Canyon. This route has a small time frame for safe conditions, usually from May through June.

Route information on the Triple Traverse and Tanners Gulch

Twin Peaks north face

Twin Peaks West Summit

Broads Fork Twin Peaks - (11,330 feet)

This is the highest mountain on Cottonwood Ridge. It stands out in all directions above Salt Lake City. East Twin Peak is higher than West Twin Peak by only two feet but most people climb both of them anyway. Many people think that this is the highest mountain in Salt Lake County but American Fork Twin Peaks to the southeast is higher by over a hundred feet. Many routes and variations exist. All of them involve considerable elevation gain to reach the summit. There are three routes from the east that start at the base of the mountain. They include Ferguson Canyon, Deaf Smith Canyon, and Hound's Tooth Ridge. These routes have over 5,000 feet of elevation gain. Stairs Gulch is a rugged off trail route on the north side of the mountain. The standard route is up Broads Fork or the Robinson Variation.

Sunrise and Dromedary above Broads Fork

Sunrise Peak

Sunrise Peak - (11,275 feet)

Sunrise Peak is the least climbed peak on the Triple Traverse. It is the triangle shaped peak located in between Twin Peaks and Dromedary Peak. The scrambling is a little more difficult to negotiate. The normal route from the Twin Peaks saddle goes up the west ridge and a couple of chimneys. An unnamed subpeak labelled 11,085 sits on its west ridge. The east ridge is the easiest route. It starts from the saddle in between Dromedary Peak and Sunrise Peak. It is steep but not difficult to climb. The north face is a sheer cliff that hasn't seen much climbing activity. This is probably due to the loose nature of the rock. It is sometimes referred to as O'Sullivan Peak but most people call it Sunrise Peak now.

Dromedary Peak

Dromedary Peak - (11,107 feet)

This is the peak that first comes into view when hiking up the Broads Fork trail. It is the lowest of the three peaks but the views are great. The normal route is to climb up from the saddle between Sunrise Peak. The route goes up a boulderfield full of loose rock and scree. The view into Little Cottonwood Canyon is spectacular. It looks down into Tanner Gulch. Most people will be staring at all of the Alpine Ridge peaks like the Pfeifferhorn that are visible. Dromedary Peak can also be climbed from Lake Blanche. This route heads up the grass covered gully to the obvious pass. The ridge is then followed to the summit.

Storm Mountain NE Face from Twin Peaks Ridge

Storm Mountain

Storm Mountain - (9,524 feet)

Storm Mountain is located to the west of Twin Peaks along Cottonwood Ridge. It isn't climbed as much because it isn't as high in elevation as the peaks to the east. It often blends in with the surrounding mountains except when viewed from certain angles. From the north it is a very prominent mountain with a lot of cliffs and rocky terrain. The most common way to climb Storm Mountain is by a short and steep route from Ferguson Canyon. All other routes are not climbed very often. The northeast face is has been known to have 2,000 feet of mixed climbing. You can climb Broads Fork Twin Peaks by following the ridge from Storm Mountain.

Cottonwood Ridge seen from Monte Cristo

Cottonwood Ridge (West)

This part of Cottonwood Ridge is located between Dromedary Peak and Cardiff Pass. It is a seldom visited place in the Wasatch Mountains. The ridgeline is narrow for most of the way. A few parts are knife-edged with some exposure looking down into Little Cottonwood Canyon. The scrambling isn't difficult but the rock is loose in many places. Mount Superior and Monte Cristo are the only named peaks on the ridge. There is some confusion as to which one is which but Monte Cristo is known as the higher peak. There are many other peaks or points along the ridge but they are not named. The ridge is a lot longer than it looks and some times the scrambling is a slow progress. There are a few places to bail if the weather gets bad. The easiest is to descend the north side of the ridge into the basin above Lake Blanche. The routefinding is staightforward but there are a few side ridges that connect with the main ridge. This is a great ridge scramble and one of my favorites in the Wasatch.

Route information on the Cottonwood Ridge Traverse

Cottonwood Ridge

Cottonwood Ridge Peaks

The ridge located east of Dromedary Peak and west of Monte Cristo is the most rugged part of Cottonwood Ridge. There are many other peaks and points along the ridge but they are not named. Notable unnamed peaks include Peak 10,910 a half mile east of Dromedary Peak. The next major point located to the east is Peak 11,033. This is the highpoint of the long ridge that extends south from Sundial Peak. There is a small point located farther east that you hike over. Another prominent unnamed peak is the one located west of Monte Cristo. It is photographed often from people who climb the mountain. The last half mile to Monte Cristo has fun scrambling on a narrow ridgeline.

Monte Cristo summit

Mount Superior

Mount Superior and Monte Cristo - (11,132 feet)

These peaks are the two prominent mountains to the west of Cardiff Pass. They are located close to each other so most people climb them both. Mount Superior is the lower of the two and has many routes to its summit. The south ridge is a fun rock scramble and a very nice winter climb. The jagged ridgeline to the north of Mount Superior is known as Cardiac Ridge. These two peaks are popular because of a short and direct approach from Cardiff Pass. It involves a lot of boulder hopping but isn't too hard. The normal route for both of these peaks is the east ridge. There are nice views down into Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Sundial Peak

Sundial Peak - (10,320 feet)

This is the majestic mountain that towers over Lake Blanche. It is really just a highpoint at the end of a side ridge that connects with Cottonwood Ridge. Sundial Peak is one of the most photographed mountains in the Wasatch. This is because of its location directly above the Lake Blanche trail which is very popular on summer weekends. A few rock climbing routes go up its north face. A route for scramblers is on the southwest side of the mountain and follows the ridge to the top. It goes around the lake and into the higher basin on the west side of the Sundial Peak. Most of it is 3rd class and the ridgeline is narrow in a few places. The actual highpoint is farther south of the point above the lake.

Kessler Peak

Kessler Peak - (10,403 feet)

Kessler Peak is part of the long ridge that stretches north from Mount Superior. This ridgeline seperates Cardiff Fork from Mineral Fork. The peak stands high above the Cardiff Fork trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The North Route is the shortest and most direct route up the mountain. It is a short and steep hike. The longer route from the Carbonate Pass ridge can be made into a loop hike with the north route. The summit provides good views of Cottonwood Ridge and the surrounding peaks. It has to be a cool mountain because SP member Scott named his son after it. Mockba says that it was originally called Kesler, after an early timber developer and area explorer. The second "s" was a USGS typo.

Cottonwood Ridge seen from Sunset Peak

Cottonwood Ridge (East)

This is the section of Cottonwood Ridge that is located east of Cardiff Pass. The terrain is gentle and much different from that of the higher peaks along the ridge. Most of the ridge is above or near timberline. This ridge can be broken into smaller hikes. The best option is either the Brighton Ridge Run or a another version of the hike called the Alta Ridge Run. These two hikes are for people who love peakbagging several mountains in one day. The good thing is that you don't need a car shuttle if you do them as a loop. Another nice ridge run is from Flagstaff Peak to Honeycomb cliffs. Few people hike this part of Cottonwood Ridge but you should start seeing people once you get to Twin Lakes Pass or Catherine Pass. The nearby ski resorts also give quick access to this area that allows you to have some nice winter climbs.

Brighton Ridge information for Pioneer Peak and Sunset Peak and Mount Wolverine and Tuscarora

Flagstaff Mountain

Flagstaff Mountain - (10,530 feet)

Flagstaff Mountain is the first peak to the east of Cardiff Pass. The trail starts near the Alta service garage. The large limestone cliffband near the bottom is known as the Hellgate Cliffs. This is an easy peak to climb because of the short approach. The Cardiff Pass trail branches off at a junction with a mine. This is the route to the south slopes. It basically climbs straight up from the mine on grassy terrein. It can be climbed directly from Cardiff Pass from the west ridge but requires some scrambling and routefinding through the cliffbands. You can continue on the ridge toward Honeycomb Cliffs. Flagstaff Peak can also be climbed from Days Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon. This canyon is full of history from the mining era.

Honeycomb Cliffs from the north ridge

Honeycomb Cliffs

Honeycomb Cliffs - (10,480 feet)

Honeycomb Cliffs sounds like a good place to go rock climbing. Unfortunately the rock is loose and not very stable for that. It is a good hike up to the top though. There are two summits on this mountain. They are about the same elevation. The cliffs that the mountain is named after face toward Brighton. Several steep couloirs make good ski runs during winter. It is climbed from Twin Lakes Pass by a trail up the south ridge. You can get there from either Alta or Brighton. This trail is in good condition and is not difficult. The north ridge near Prince of Wales mine can also be used to climb the mountain.

Mount Tuscarora as seen from Pioneer Peak

Wolverine East Bowl

Mount Wolverine and Mount Tuscarora - (10,795 feet)

These two peaks are right at the end of Little Cottonwood Canyon. They are located close to each each other and are usually climbed together. Tuscarora is the first mountain you will get to if you climb up from Catherine Pass. There is a trail along the ridge. Mount Wolverine is the highest mountain in the area around Brighton. It has a nice alpine cirque on its northeast side. From the summit, you can see down into both Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. They are good early season snow climbs. They can also be climbed from Twin Lakes Pass. These peaks are part of the Brighton Ridge Run.

Patsey Marley

Patsey Marley - (10,525 feet)

Patsey Marley is located near Mount Wolverine and Mount Millicent on Cottonwood Ridge. It sits just outside the boundary of Alta Ski Resort. The mountain is on the north east edge of the Wolverine Cirque. There are great views of Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and Brighton Ski Resort and Twin Lakes Reservoir. From Alta, Patsey Marley is most commonly accessed by Grizzly Gulch. In summer, you will see evidence left from the mining era in this canyon. The name of the mountain can be seen spelled as Patsy or Patsey Marley.

Mt. Millicent and Silver Lake

Mount Millicent seen from Pioneer Peak

Mount Millicent - (10,452 feet)

Mount Millicent is located on a side ridge on Cottonwood Ridge. It is on the east side of Mount Wolverine and Mount Tuscarora. It can be approached from Brighton near Twin Lakes Reservoir by climbing directly up the east ridge of the mountain. This mostly involves a lot of boulder hopping. Another approach is either from Twin Lakes Pass or Catherine Pass. This is part of the Brighton Ridge Run which usually involves climbing up Mount Wolverine and Mount Tuscarora and then descending down toward Mount Millicent. The summit consists of a large pile of boulders. The view has all of the major peaks above Brighton.

Sunset Peak

Sunset Peak View

Sunset Peak - (10,648 feet)

Sunset Peak is a popular peak located south of Catherine Pass. From the pass, the trail goes along the right side of a minor peak on the ridge. This peak is on the triple divide between Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, and American Fork Canyons. It is a nice peak to climb because there is a trail all the way to the top. It can be climbed from Brighton or Alta along the Brighton Ridge Run. Good views from the top include Devils Castle and American Fork Twin Peaks. The trail along the ridge is a little steep but easy to follow. A climb up Sunset Peak can be combined with Pioneer Peak.

Pioneer Peak

Pioneer Peak - (10,450 feet)

Pioneer Peak is located east of Sunset Peak on the same ridgeline. It is an easy peak to climb because there is a climbers trail most of the way to the top. It can be climbed from Brighton or Alta along the Brighton Ridge Run. It is closer to Brighton so that is the prefered route. Good views from the top include Mount Wolverine and Tuscarora and all the mountains on the eastern end of Cottonwood Ridge. Pioneer Peak is a small mountain that has great views especially of all the lakes in the area. It is located above Catherine Lake. The trail along the ridge is faded but not hard to follow. A climb up Pioneer Peak can be combined with Sunset Peak as a nice day hike.

Preston Peak

Preston Peak - (10,315 feet)

Preston Peak is one of the many peaks along Cottonwood Ridge. It is usually climbed as part of the Brighton Ridge Run and can be combined with other peaks in the area. The mountain overlooks Brighton Ski Resort. Preston Peak is actually within Brighton Ski Area boundaries. During the ski season Preston Peak is a short walk from the top of the Snake Creek Chairlift. During summer there is a small trail along the ridge. Preston Peak is located between Clayton Peak to the northeast, and Pioneer ridge which is connected to Pioneer Peak to the west. Maps of the Brighton area have Preston Peak labeled as 10,315 feet but the mountain is unnamed on the topo maps.

Clayton Peak seen from Deer Valley

Clayton Peak View

Mount Majestic (Clayton Peak) - (10,721 feet)

Clayton Peak is the last major mountain on the east end of Cottonwood Ridge. It stands to the southeast of Brighton Ski Resort. There are two routes from the parking lot. The most scenic route follows a trail toward Dog Lake. It takes the left fork twice at both intersections and starts ascending toward Snake Creek Pass. The other route follows a dirt service road where it meets up with the regular trail higher up. On a clear day you should get a great view from Snake Creek Pass. From the pass, follow the service road for 1/4 mile until you get to the west ridge of Clayton Peak. Hike up this steep trail to the boulder covered summit. The view includes all of the mountains above Brighton, Mount Timpanogos, and Heber Valley. Lackawaxen Lake is directly below and American Fork Canyon is to the south.

Cottonwood Ridge seen from White Pine

Peak Lists

Wasatch 11,000 foot Peaks List

Cottonwood Ridge in winter

East Broads Fork Twin Peak - (11,330 feet)
West Broads Fork Twin Peak - (11,328 feet)
Sunrise Peak - (11,275 feet)
Monte Cristo - (11,172 feet)
Dromedary Peak - (11,107 feet)
Sunrise Subpeak - (11,085 feet)
Mount Superior - (11,050 feet)
Cottonwood Ridge Peak - (11,033 feet)

Cottonwood Ridge 10,000 foot peaks

Cottonwood Ridge Peak - (10,910 feet)
Mount Wolverine - (10,795 feet)
Clayton Peak - (10,721 feet)
Mount Tuscarora - (10,650 feet)
Sunset Peak - (10,648 feet)

Monte Cristo

Reed and Benson - (10,561 feet)
Flagstaff Mountain - (10,530 feet)
Patsey Marley - (10,525 feet)
Honeycomb Cliffs - (10,480 feet)
Mount Millicent - (10,452 feet)
Pioneer Peak - (10,450 feet)
Kessler Peak - (10,403 feet)
Sundial Peak - (10,320 feet)
Preston Peak - (10,315 feet)
Davenport Hill - (10,120 feet)

Cottonwood Ridge 9,000 foot peaks

Twin Lakes Unnamed Peak - (9,993 feet)
Storm Mountain - (9,524 feet)
Montreal Hill - (9,380 feet)

Wolverine Massif on Cottonwood Ridge seen from Clayton Peak

Climbing Areas

Mount Superior

Wasatch Alpine Climbs

The Wasatch Mountains have a lot of alpine routes to choose from. Many of these climbs are classic routes that shouldn't be missed. This is a good page to look at if you want to climb something more challenging than the regular route up every mountain. Difficulty and quality ratings are stated on the page. They range from rock scrambles to snow and ice climbs. Winter ascents up a lot of the higher peaks have been done by some of the Utah SPers. Broads Fork Twin Peaks, Monte Cristo, and Mount Superior are a few of them. Check out some of their winter climbing pictures.

Little Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon

This is one of the most popular places to rock climb around Salt Lake City. Big Cottonwood Canyon has good quality quartzite routes that have both sport and trad climbing. Popular areas include Dogwood Crag, The Slips, and Storm Mountain. There are numerous routes in these areas from beginner to expert. Both Cottonwood Canyons are covered in Pellucid Wombat's pages.

Little Cottonwood Canyon

Little Cottonwood Canyon has multi-pitch climbs on granite featuring difficult slabs and cracks. Popular areas include Crescent Crack Buttress, the Gate Buttress, and Lisa Falls. Many difficult routes with little protection were climbed in the 1960's and 1970's. The Thumb is the largest buttress in the canyon and some of its routes are eight pitches long.

The Hound's Tooth

The Hound's Tooth

This is the prominant buttress that is located on the ridge between the North Fork of Deaf Smith Canyon and Ferguson Canyon. This place isn't climbed much and you will definitely be alone if you go there. The rock isn't as good of quality as Ferguson or Little Cottonwood Canyon. The approach is long and hard to get to. The West Ridge route is three pitches long and rated 5.6 on poor rock and bad protection. Sounds like fun, right? Descent is down the east face.

Ferguson Canyon

This is the next canyon south of Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is located on the west side of Storm Mountain. This narrow canyon has many granite crags and buttresses with good climbing routes. Almost everything here is one pitch long. The routes are steep and a lot more challenging than they look. Heart Wall and Guano Wall are the first crags you will pass by. The Watchtower is the most popular area. It has the highest amount of routes that are mainly in the 5.10 - 5.11 range with a couple of moderates thrown in. Higher up in the canyon is the Tower of Babel, The Cathedral, Goldenfingers Wall, and several others. Of course, if you feel like you need more exercise, you could always climb Storm Mountain while you're there.

Clayton Peak seen from Kamas Valley

Recommended Hikes

There are a lot of great hikes in the Wasatch Mountains so it is hard to choose a favorite one. I have listed a few that are part of the Cottonwood Ridge. The Big Cottonwood Canyon Road is about 15 miles long and ends at Brighton. There are many easy family hikes in this area. The Big Cottonwood Canyon side of the ridge has more hiking trails compared to the Little Cottonwood Canyon side. Little Cottonwood Canyon is is surrounded with steep buttresses and cliffs. The road is a little over 11 miles long and ends at Albion Basin campground near Alta. At the mouth of the canyon is the site where granite blocks were quarried in order to build the Salt Lake Temple. You can sometimes spot mountain goats on the rocky slopes above. Most destinations in these canyons go to high mountain lakes and several peaks have trails that lead to the top.

Dromedary Peak

Lake Blanche - (S-curve trailhead located 4.5 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Lake Blanche

This is one of the most popular hikes in the area. It follows the Big Cottonwood stream for a quarter mile and then the trail goes south into the Mill B South Fork drainage. The trail crosses a bridge onto the east side of the canyon. It stays near the stream for most of the way. It then starts climbing a series of switchbacks up to the ridge that holds Lake Blanche. The trail goes near several glacial carved boulders that have a red color. The first thing you'll notice is Sundial Peak which stands right above the lake. The trail also continues to Lake Florence and Lake Lillian.

Broads Fork - (S-curve trailhead located 4.5 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon)

The Broads Fork trail begins near the southwest end of the S-Curve trailhead parking area. It starts by going around the bend and then turning back east. It passes next to Broads Fork Wall which has a few 5.10 - 5.11 routes. The trail goes through a shaded forest to a bridge crossing over a stream. After that, the trail starts climbing more steeply. It leads to a nice alpine meadow below three mountains: Broads Fork Twin Peaks, Sunrise Peak, and Dromedary Peak. The view from the meadow is beautiful and usually where many people stop. There is an even higher meadow if you continue up the talus.

Broads Fork

Cardiff Fork - (Cardiff Fork trailhead located 9.3 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon)

Cardiff Fork is a long canyon that goes all the way to Cardiff Pass. It has a lot of mining history and many mines and equipment can be seen in this canyon. People can drive up farther into the canyon to a closer parking lot or park next to Big Cottonwood Canyon road. Hike past a place with summer homes. Kessler Peak is the large mountain on the western side of the canyon. The trail goes near the turnoff to Donut Falls. This is where the crowds will be going. Upper Cardiff Fork doesn't see very many hikers. Cardiff Mine is one of the largest mines in the canyon. There are also some nice places to camp in this area. After the mine, the trail climbs steeply up switchbacks to Cardiff Pass on the top of the ridge. You can descend down into Alta from here.

Honeycomb Cliffs

Brighton Area - (Brighton trailhead located 15 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon)

There are numerous trails that go to lakes in this area. Silver Lake is accessible to anyone and is a short stroll from the parking lot. The trail to Lake Solitude starts by hiking past Silver Lake up to a trail junction. The trail heads north around the side of a mountain. Lake Solitude is set in a steep mountain bowl and is quite shallow. The Solitude Tunnel is located right above the lake. It was used during the mining era as an entrance to a larger group of mines. Twin Lakes Reservoir can also be combined with this hike for a nice loop. The trail continues past Lake Solitude on a series of switchbacks above Twin Lakes. Follow the trail that goes around its north end. It was actually two seperate lakes that became one large lake after the dam was built on its eastern side.

The Brighton Lakes Trail up toward Catherine Pass has some of the more well known lakes in the area. It starts at the very end of the Brighton parking lot. A short hike will lead to Dog Lake. From the junction with Dog Lake is a turnoff to Lake Mary. It is a large lake that also has a dam. It was built in 1916 and created a reservoir for water supply. Lake Martha can be seen farther along the trail in the same area. The next lake on the trail is Lake Catherine located below Catherine Pass. Pioneer Peak is the large mountain above Catherine Lake. The trail continues to Catherine Pass which can also be reached from Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Wolverine Cirque is beautiful in winter

Skiing History

Patsey Marley

Mount Tuscarora

The Wasatch Mountain Club, still alive today, was formed in 1912. Club members began leading regular ski treks into the Wasatch Mountains. In 1915, the Norwegian Young Folks Society formed and began organizing ski jumping tournaments on the hills above Salt Lake City. During the early 1900's several organizations began to promote skiing in the Wasatch Mountains. Ski resort activity didn't take off until the 1940's. Resorts in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Park City soon opened. Downhill, slalom, and combined ski championships were held at these resorts. The Wasatch Mountains became a mecca for ski racing. Backcountry skiing has become popular in many areas. Many of the higher peaks are skied during the winter.

Two resorts are located in Big Cottonwood Canyon. They are Brighton and Solitude. Utah winter sports became even more well known when it was chosen to host the Salt Lake City 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Utah began construction of an Olympic caliber training and competition facilities in an effort to show its commitment to Olympic sports. The Utah Olympic Park was opened in 1993 with world-class jumping, bobsled, and luge facilities. New cross-country skiing facilities at Soldier Hollow and ice facilities in Salt Lake City were also constructed. Utah is famous for its deep powder and quality skiing and was given the slogan "Greatest snow on Earth."

Brighton Ski Resort

Brighton is Utah's oldest ski and snowboard resort and was established in 1936. It began when members of the Alpine Ski Club which is now known as the Wasatch Mountain Club designed and built a �skier tow� out of 1/2 inch wire rope and an old elevator drum. Brighton became the first serviced ski area in the state of Utah, among only a few in the country. It is located at the end of Big Cottonwood Canyon. It has a base elevation of 8,750 feet and summit elevation of 10,500 feet. Brighton receives over 500 inches of snow each season. It is a great resort for powder skiing and snowboarding. It has 66 runs spread over two mountains. The longest is over three miles long and offers plenty of backcountry terrein as well. Brighton also meticulously grooms many runs each night and offers more night skiing than any of the other ski areas. Brighton is located on public land and all of the resort's land is actually part of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. This means that the whole resort is open to the public year-round with nice hiking trails in the summer.

Solitude Mountain Resort

Solitude is located 12 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon below Brighton. In the early 1900s, silver miners gave the name Solitude to the geographic area that is now located at Solitude Mountain Resort. The ski area opened in the fall of 1957 with two chair lifts providing access to most of the area now skied on the front of the mountain. Solitude has over 1,200 acres of wide-open bowls, gladed runs, and steep chutes for skiers and boarders of all ages and skill levels. In 1982, Solitude built the Summit lift and opened Honeycomb Canyon to lift-served backcountry skiing. In 1989, they installed Utah's first high speed detachable quad chair lift. In the early 1990's they began construction of Solitude Villiage. This included six different places for overnight accommodations.

Cottonwood Ridge seen from North Thunder Mountain

Mining History

Prince of Wales Mine

In the mid-1800's, Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons were explored shortly after the arrival of the Mormon pioneers in the Salt Lake Valley. This is where they found most of their timber to supply in construction of their homes. Mills for processing timber were constructed near the mouths of each canyon and along streams. When the timber supply ran low, they found it necessary to construct mills further up into the canyons. Unfortunately, this unregulated logging together with overgrazing by livestock left many of Utah's mountain slopes denuded. Then by 1900 most of the timber had run out and lumber began to arrive by railroad.

Soon valuble minerals were found along the Wasatch Front that included gold, silver, and lead. Until the turn of the century more than half of Utah's mineral production was silver. By 1925, Utah mines accounted for 32 percent of the nation's silver. This marked the transition from a period of logging, to a period of prospecting and mining. Many wagon roads were carved out of side canyons to reach mine sites. They were called hills back then and had some familiar names like Peruvian Hill, Davenport Hill, and Snowslide Hill, which is now called Hellgate. Today, the Wasatch is filled with remnants of old mines that can be spotted from trails winding up the mountainsides.

In Big Cottonwood Canyon, the oldest trail in the area is the Argenta trail to Kessler Peak. It started as a logging flume route in 1854. Mineral Fork has a mining road that leads to an overlook above Wasatch Mine. There are several switchbacks above that lead across talus fields to Regulator Johnson Mine. Cardiff Fork is one of the best places to see old relics of the mining era. The main road goes near several mine dumps, weathered machinery, and collapsed buidings on the way to Cardiff Mine. There is a branch in the road that leads to Montreal Hill Mine on the east slopes of Kessler Peak. Days Fork is another good canyon to explore. A boiler in really good condition, a steam engine, and old mine tailings can be found in an alpine cirque near Days Fork Mine and the Eclipse Mine in Upper Days Fork.

Little Cottonwood Canyon has many places left from history of the mining era. The Cardiff pass trail up the south slopes of Flagstaff Peak goes past several mine dumps. Grizzly Gulch is an old logging road that starts from Alta. One of its well known mines is the Prince of Wales shaft on the north ridge of Honeycomb Cliffs. It was installed in 1872 and the old steam boiler can be seen in the photo above. Brighton and Alta have many logging roads that are now hiking trails in the area. Above Alta, Peruvian Gulch was a place of major mining activity. The discovery of Emma Mine in Gad Valley above Snowbird went down in history as one of the largest producers of silver ore in the Wasatch Mountains. It produced more than $3.8 million in silver.

Dromedary, Sunrise, and Broads Fork Twin Peaks

Mountain Wildlife

There are a wide range and variety of animals living in the Wasatch Mountains. Bear, elk, moose, deer, and mountain goats are among the larger animals. Mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, fox, porcupines, raccoons, beaver, badgers, rabbits, weasels, squirrels, and pikas make up many of the smaller animals. Birds are abundant too, including eagles, owls, and hawks. Closer to the ground are lizards and rattlesnakes.

Bears

In the state of Utah, black bears are present in most of the forested mountain areas and canyons. A few exceptions include the Raft River Mountains, Pilot Range, Deep Creek Mountains, and Henry Mountains. There are about 8.7 million acres of black bear habitat that is mostly on National Forest land. Utah has a low black bear population of about 800 to 1,000 black bears. Nevada has the lowest black bear population of all the western states with about 300 total. About 80% of bear sightings in the Wasatch Mountains have occurred between 7,000 feet and 10,000 feet in elevation.

There are no grizzly bears in Utah. The last grizzly was known as Old Ephraim. He was an enormous bear that lived in the Bear River Mountains near Logan, Utah. Old Ephraim was killed on August 22, 1923, and there have been no grizzly bears ever since. A popular hiking and mountain bike trail can be taken to see the bear's grave. A stone monument stands at 11 feet tall and represents the height of Old Ephraim when he stood up on his hind legs. Click on this link for more information.

Deer, Elk, and Moose

Bull Moose

Silver Lake Moose

The mule deer is seen throughout the state of Utah. They can be found in many types of habitat, ranging from open deserts to high mountains to urban areas. Mule deer often migrate from high mountainous areas in the summer to lower elevations in the winter to avoid deep snow. The white-tailed deer is rarely seen in Utah.

Elk are common in most mountainous regions of Utah, where they can be found in mountain meadows and forests during the summer, and in foothills and valley grasslands during the winter. The seasonal changes in elevation allow elk to avoid deep snow and find food year-round. Elk may be active during day and night, but most activity occurs at dusk and dawn.

The moose population in the mountains above Salt Lake City is plentiful. If you do enough hiking in the area you are guaranteed to see a few of these animals. Moose are docile animals and do not usually bother people. There are some circumstances when moose can become dangerous like getting too close to a cow moose and her calf. Their parental instincts make the cow moose protective of its offspring and these situations should be avoided.

Not only are the cow moose dangerous, but the bull moose commands respect as well. If you see one it's a good idea to keep a safe distance away. The four-county area above Salt Lake City is home to 1,000 of Utah's estimated 4,000 moose. The big animals have been spotted in some residential areas along the Wasatch, leading experts to believe that the moose herd needs thinning. Although, some people would say that too many people are building their houses too close to the mountains.

Mountain Goats

Mountain Goat

Mt. Superior Mtn Goat

The mountain goat was likely native to Utah in the past, but it did not occur in the state during recent times until the late 1960s, when the animal was first re-introduced to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon. There probably isn't any other animal that is as symbolic to the mountains as the mountain goat. They are a common sight in the Wasatch Mountains.

Mountain goats prefer extremely steep and rugged areas above the timberline, and are excellent rock climbers. They typically migrate to lower elevations in the winter. Females give birth during the months of May or June. Interestingly, young baby goats are able to follow their mothers through rocky cliffs shortly after birth.

Mountain goats are occupants of the highest alpine environments in Utah. They are frequented at high elevations during the summer. Even in winter, they may live as high as as 11,000 feet on windblown ridges. Both male and female mountain goats have beards, short tails, and long black horns. Males tend to be a little larger is size. Mountain goats are protected from the elements by their woolly white coats of fur. In the winter, their coats help them to withstand temperatures as low as -50 degrees and winds of up to 100 mph.

Confrontations between mountain goats and humans are rare but it's a good idea to keep a safe distance and remember that they have very sharp horns. Mountain goats eat a variety of grasses and shrubs, as well as lichen, mosses, and conifers. They love eating salt. Mountain goats can be seen on the rocky slopes of Mount Superior and Monte Cristo. They enjoy hanging around the cliffbands of mountains on Cottonwood Ridge. Cardiff Pass is a good area to see mountain goats.

Mountain Lions

The mountain lion is also known as a cougar, puma, panther, and catamount. Utah has an alpine and desert environment so it is an ideal place for mountain lions to live. The chances of seeing a mountain lion are slim and they are sure to see you before you see them. They are common in some areas but are extremely shy and secretive. However, mountain lions occasionally wander into cities or other areas where they may come into contact with people. Mountain lions are found distributed throughout the state except in the barren salt flats west of the Great Salt Lake. They are most often found in habitats where there is abundant prey.

In the Wasatch Mountains, mountain lions like to be near boulders and brushy areas. Within these habitat types, lions prefer areas where there are rocky cliffs, ledges, and tall trees or brush that can be used for cover. Mountain lions often climb trees to avoid detection and danger. Generally, lions avoid areas of sagebrush and low-growing shrubs, areas used for agriculture and pasture lands, and any other areas without adequate tall cover. Female lions with kittens prefer areas with large conifers, boulders, and dense shrubs that provide shelter and protection for the kittens.

Great Basin Rattlesnake

Rattlesnakes

The most common rattlesnake in Utah is the Great Basin Rattler, which is typically light tan or light gray in color, with dark blotches on its back. On average, these snakes live 10 to 20 years and can grow three to five feet long. The Great Basins aren't known for a real high venom toxicity but their bite is usually very painful. Getting bit by a rattlesnake may result in an allergic reaction but it depends mostly on the person and the situation.

Rattlesnakes are notoriously calm and don't like to bother people unless they are being antagonized or feel threatened. They also don't like to be stepped on either. The number of snake bite victims in the Salt Lake valley varies from year to year, but the Utah Poison Control Center usually hears of at least 12 to 15 bites. The foothills are a common place to see rattlesnakes during the summer. Nearby Mount Olympus and Wildcat Ridge are well known for their rattlesnake population.

Cottonwood Ridge seen from Alpine Ridge

Salt Lake City

From the earliest of times, Utah was occupied by nomadic tribes. These included the ancient Anasazi Indians (1 A.D. to 1300), who were the ancestors of the modern Pueblo people. "Anasazi" is a Navajo word meaning "The Ancient Ones." The Anasazi lived in cliff dwellings, and the largest of which can be found today in Arizona. Navajo also roamed this region, as did the Ute Tribe, from which the state of Utah takes its name. Other native americans who lived in the Great Basin desert included the Paiute and Shoshone people. There is much evidence from petroglyphs and pictographs left behind from the Indians.

Cottonwood Ridge

In 1846, the Mormons left Nauvoo, Illinois because of religious persecution and went searching for a place where they could practice their religion freely. They were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They traveled across Iowa and went to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. On April 5, 1847, an advance company led by Brigham Young set off from Winter Quarters on their trek across the country, 1,040 miles to a new home. They traveled on what is now known as the Mormon Trail. This trail actually paralleled the Oregon trail. Their purpose was to establish a religious utopia in the wilderness.

Salt Lake City was founded in 1847, on July the 24th, by the Mormons. When they arrived their religious prophet Brigham Young reportedly stated, "This is the place." At first it was called the State of Deseret referring to the honey bee in the Book of Mormon. Then they named it the Great Salt Lake City after the salty inland lake that dominated the desert in the west. In 1868, the word "Great" was later dropped from the name. In 1848, more emigrants came to the valley. But a late frost, drought, and a plague of crickets nearly destroyed the harvest. Flocks of seagulls consumed the crickets and enough of the crop was saved to enable the settlers to survive the winter of 1848-49. In gratitude, the seagull was later designated Utah's state bird.

Only four days after arriving in the Salt Lake Valley, Brigham Young designated the site for the Salt Lake Temple, the main temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was constructed on Temple Square, in the center of the city. The temple took 40 years to complete and was dedicated on April 6, 1893. The city was built on a grid system based on the four streets bordering Temple Square. Other important sites were the Mormon Tabernacle, the Utah State Capitol Building, and the Salt Lake City and County Building.

Today, Salt Lake City is Utah's largest city and serves as the industrial, financial, and commercial center of Utah. It has a strong economy and a successful business industry. Salt Lake City has experienced many changes since being settled. It is now the most diverse city in Utah. People from all walks of life have moved here for work and outdoor recreation. The Central Wasatch Mountains are located on the eastern side of the Salt Lake City Valley. The outdoor possibilites are endless because one person could spend their whole life hiking and climbing in this state and still not see everything.

Mount Millicent and Mount Superior in winter

Salt Lake City Weather

Dromedary Peak

Sundial Peak

Salt Lake City has a varied weather climate. It has warm, dry, and sunny summers and a cold winter climate, with snowy weather. It is located in a large valley separated by the Wasatch Mountains to the east and the Oquirrh Mountains to the west. The metro area below the mountains is known commonly as the Wasatch Front. The Wasatch Faultline runs along the eastern benches of the city along the foothills. The valley floor is the lake bed of the ancient Lake Bonneville.

Springtime in Salt Lake City is warm, although the weather and climate can be variable, with sudden showers occurring. During spring, temperatures warm up drastically and days are marked by the highest humidity and some of the wildest daily temperature swings of the year. The first summer-like weather usually comes in mid-to-late May. The last snowfall of the winter season usually occurs in early or mid-April. Snow has been recorded as late as the date of May 18 in 1977. Significant snow can fall anytime during winter but measurable snow lasts from November through mid-April.

The summer season in Salt Lake City last from June through mid-September. The hottest months of the year are July and August, when daytime temperatures can reach around 90 �F, followed by lower temperatures at night. Summer thunderstorms can occur, with wet weather and occasional downpours. The low humidity and the altitude combine to produce a large daily range in temperatures, and rather cool nights in summer. The warmest month is July, with an average temperature of 77.0 �F. Salt Lake City's record high temperature was 107 �F, first set on July 26, 1960 and again on July 13, 2002.

The season of Autumn weather and climate begins in September through November, when unsettled weather can be experienced. The wet weather doesn't last long and it is usually a pleasant season with warm, sunny days and cool nights. During Fall, temperatures drop drastically, with a 50 �F maximum average temperature drop being experienced within three months. The first winter-like weather is usually experienced in early-to-mid October. Salt Lake City's average yearly temperature is about 52 �F, and the freeze-free period lasts an average of 167 days, from April 30 to October 15.

Winter in Salt Lake City runs from November through to early March and the coldest months are December and January, when daytime temperatures drop to 37 �F. Night temperatures are much colder and snowy weather occurs from December onwards, with heavy snowfalls in the mountains, but much less in the city. In winter, temperatures are moderated by the Great Salt Lake to the northwest of the city and the Rocky Mountains to the north and east of the state, which serve as barriers to the frigid arctic air. Salt Lake City temperatures seldom fall below 0 �F for any length of time. January is the coldest month in the city, with an average temperature of about 29 �F. Salt Lake City's record low temperature was -30 �F, set on February 9, 1933.

Sunset Peak and Pioneer Peak seen from Mount Tuscarora

Mountain Conditions

Monte Cristo and Superior

Afternoon thundershowers

Summer is the normal hiking season for these mountains. This is usually from July through mid-September but experienced climbers can climb year round. Summer temperatures can range from near 90 degrees in the daytime to 30 degrees at night. Occasional summer thundershowers can be expected.

In winter, temperatures are 30-40 degrees but can be much colder in the higher elevations. Be prepared with full winter gear if you plan on climbing any mountains.

Here is the local weather forecast for Salt Lake City and another one from the NWS website

Here is the weather forecast for Brighton and Alta.

Red Tape

These mountains are located in Wasatch-Cache National Forest. No permits or passes required.

The following rules apply: Group size of 10 or less, no shortcutting trail switchbacks, and no disposing of garbage.

No dogs are allowed in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons.

Cottonwood Ridge Peaks above Lake Blanche

Contact information can be found here.

USDA Forest Service

Wasatch-Cache National Forest
8236 Federal Building
125 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, UT 84138
Phone: (801) 236-3400

Public Lands Information Center

For all your recreation questions
on the Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Phone: (801) 466-6411
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday
10:30am - 7:00pm

Salt Lake Ranger District

6944 South 3000 East
Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121
(801) 733-2660

Camping

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Sunrise Peak

Besides having three campgrounds, there are also a number of picnic areas. The Dogwood Picnic Area is the first one in the canyon. The Dogwood crag is located nearby and many rock climbers can be seen climbing up its many routes. Ledgemere is the next picnic site and 1.4 miles up the canyon. A number of picnic tables and grills are next to the river. The Penetentiary crag is located just up the steep hill. The Birches picnic area is located 1.7 miles from the sign. This is another area that is next to the river. Storm Mountain Island is the most developed picnic area in the Big Cottonwood Canyon. It has picnic areas, a playground, and fields. There is some really good rock climbing walls located here. Moss Ledges is the highest of the picnic areas and located 4.9 miles past the sign.

Spruces is the lowest of the campgrounds. It sits at an altitude of 7100 feet and 9.4 miles from the mouth of the canyon. It can get a little chilly even in the summertime. It's a big campground with over 90 individual sites and 9 group sites. The sites vary from being very close together to large secluded areas. The creek wanders throughout the campground. Nearby hiking trails lead off to Donut Falls in Cardiff Fork. Redman campground is located 12.7 miles from the mouth of the canyon. It is located at an altitude of 8100 feet. There are a little over 30 sites available. The reservable sites in both of these campgrounds are usually taken well in advance. You have to be there early to ensure a "first come first served" site for the weekend. The area is popular with the locals.

Each individual site is $14.00 per vehicle, additional vehicles are $5.00.

Campground reservations can be made at Jordan Pines and Spruces and Redman.

Little Cottonwood Canyon

Sundial Peak

Both of the campgrounds in Little Cottonwood Canyon can only be visited in the summer. Tanner�s Flat is located at 7200 feet. This campground is the lower of the two and can be accessible earlier in the season than Albion Basin. This campground is located in the forest below the road.. There are 36 sites available here which provide your typical campground accommodations. Albion Basin is a wonderful campground to visit in the summer. While it is still summer down in the valley you can see the flowers of blooming at Albion Basin. Devils Castle has a commanding presence over the area. There are 24 different sites and you have to get up early to get one. This campground is located on the Alta ski area. Get there by continuing up the dirt road with switchbacks.

Each individual site is $14.00 per vehicle, additional vehicles are $5.00.

Campground reservations can be made at Tanners Flat and Albion Basin.

Backcountry Camping Regulations:

Camp 1/2 mile from any road, 200 feet from any water source, and 200 feet from any trail.

Camping is allowed for a period of 3 days at an individual site. Practice leave no trace techniques.

No open fires are allowed in the (Lake Blanche) Mill B South Fork drainage within the Twin Peaks Wilderness.

The mountains above Broads Fork: Dromedary, Sunrise, and Twin Peaks

Books and Maps

Utah Mountaineering Guide

By Michael R. Kelsey. Descriptions are brief but this is the best book available for an overall guide to many of the major mountains in Utah. There is a sketch map and photo of each peak. He also describes winter routes up many of the mountains.

Hiking the Wasatch

By John Veranth. This is the book to get for hiking and climbing in the Wasatch Mountains. It describes hikes from the foothills to many of the highest mountains above Salt Lake City. The book focuses on the areas of Millcreek Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, and Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Wasatch Eleveners Climbing Guide

By Randy Winters aka Summitpost member rmjwinters . This is a new book that is about climbing all of the 11,000 foot peaks in the Wasatch Mountains.

The Chuting Gallery (Backcountry Skiing)

By Andrew McLean. Steep backcountry skiing guide to the Wasatch Mountains. If you want to ski off the north face of Mount Superior, then this is your book.

Hiking The Wasatch (Wasatch Mountain Club)

This is the official map of the WMC. It shows all of the canyons from Millcreek Canyon to Lone Peak with great detail. It is durable and waterproof.

External Links

Utah Avalanche Center

Avalanche conditions, advisories, lists, and accidents for the state of Utah. Updated every morning during winter.

Mick's Mountain Page

Mick's website has trip reports and photos for mountains in every area in the Wasatch Mountains.

Marauders Mountain Album

The Mauraders website has trip reports and photos for the Central and Southern Wasatch Mountains and other places as well.

Lane Pollock's Website

Lane's website has photos for the Central and Southern Wasatch Mountains, Southern Utah, and mountains in many other states and places.