Bullion Divide

Approach

Albion Basin/Cecret Lake TH
Take the 6200 South exit (exit #6) off I-215 and follow highway 190 south-east approximately 2 miles to the intersection with Big Cottonwood Canyon road. Continue straight through the stoplight and follow the road another 4 miles to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, where an electronic billboard on the right provides current road and/or weather conditions.

Continue east up Little Cottonwood Canyon approximately 9 miles past the billboard to the eastern end of the Alta ski area. The pavement ends at a well maintained dirt road, which can be followed approximately 3 miles to the Albion Basin Secret Lake trailhead.

White Pine TH
Take the 6200 South exit (exit #6) off I-215 and follow highway 190 south-east approximately 2 miles to the intersection with Big Cottonwood Canyon road. Continue straight through the stoplight and follow the road another 4 miles to the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, where an electronic billboard on the right provides current road and/or weather conditions.

Drive about 2/3 of the way up Little Cottonwood Canyon, approximately 30 min from Salt Lake City. There are signs marking the turnoff on the south side of the road for the trailhead parking lot.

Stats

Distance: 10.77 mi
E-W Elevation Gain: 4,673'
W-E Elevation Gain: 6,390'

Route Description

The Bullion Divide is one of the classic Wasatch ridgeruns. In its entirety the Bullion Divide route tops Sugarloaf Pk, Mt Baldy, Hidden Peak, the American Fork Twin Pks, Red Top, Red Baldy, and White Baldy.

It has many variations depending on how much of the ridge you want to do. Because the route is a ridgerun one does not arrive at the same TH that one had departed. Because of this, a car shuttle needs to be set up. The more ambitious hiker will begin at the White Pine TH for more elevation gain, but the route is mostly done from E-W from the Cecret Lake TH. Because of this, the route will be described heading E-W.

Cecret Lake TH - Sugarloaf Pk
Distance: 1.37 mi
Elevation Change: +1,641' -0'
Take the East Ridge route to the summit of Sugarloaf Pk. This is steep but follows a maintained trail to Cecret Lake and then a well-defined use-trail to the saddle between Sugarloaf Pk & Devil's Castle. (cl. 1-2)

Sugarloaf Pk - Mt Baldy
Distance: 0.76 mi
Elevation Change: +513' -465'
Descend the North Ridge of Sugarloaf Pk to a saddle. This route goes through some brush on the west side of Sugarloaf Pk as it descends base-ball size scree. Once at the saddle, hike along the beginnings of a ridge to the NE of a ski lift coming out of Mineral Basin. A use-trail becomes apparent. Ascend this trail to the summit. (cl. 2)

Mt Baldy - Hidden Pk
Distance: 0.7 mi
Elevation Change: +341' -376'
Head down the SW side of Mt Baldy. When the saddle is reached, either use the cat-track roads or stay on a use-trail that keeps to the ridge. Hike up to the Snowbird Tram atop "not-so-hidden" Hidden Pk.
Ammon adds:"Also, just because hidden peak has a pay phone and running water on it doesn't mean it doesn't deserve to have a mountain page (hehehe...) "

Hidden Pk - American Fork Twin Pks
Distance: 1.13 mi
Elevation Change: +843' -392'
Descend the cat-track on the west side of Hidden Pk. Eventually this cat-track splits at a rocky ridge. The left fork heads into Mineral Basin. The right fork heads into Gad Valley. Take neither road, but head straight up a use-trail that follows the spine of this ridge. This becomes the North East Ridge route. Some fun and mildly exposed scrambling is encountered (cl. 3) before the prominent ridge is absorbed into the east side of the American Fork Twin Pks. From there, it is just a talus slog to the shorter eastern summit and a stroll to the higher western summit.

American Fork Twin Pks - Red Top
Distance: 0.29 mi
Elevation Change: +140' -219'
From the summit of the American Fork Twins it is just a hop and a skip on some talus to reach the summit of Red Top (aka. Red Stack)(cl. 1-2).

Red Top - Red Baldy
Distance: 0.89 mi
Elevation Change: +518' -780'
Descend the West Ridge of Red Top (cl. 1-2) to the saddle and ascend the East Ridge of Red Baldy (cl. 3). This takes you over a small buttress to the south and then up a nice but loose scramble up a knife-edge ridge to the summit.

Red Baldy - White Baldy
Distance: 1.08 mi
Elevation Change: +657' -510'
Head over the shorter west summit of Red Baldy and descend the West Ridge (cl. 2). The red quartzite rock gives way to granite blocks as one nears White Baldy. Ascend the East Ridge (cl. 3) to the summit. The route begins as a class 2 scramble on large granite blocks, initially on the north side of the ridge and then dropping to the south side. The final portion of the ridge to the summit is a solid class 3 scramble.

White Baldy - White Pine TH
Distance: 4.55 mi
Elevation Change: +20' -3,648'
Scramble along the ridge to the lower west summit. The rock becomes more loose here. Descend the North West Ridge. This ridge is very tedious, filled with large blocks that require constant detours (cl. 2-3). Once the large gendarms are reached, either drop to the south to persevere to meet up with the route up the Pfeifferhorn, or declare that you've had enough for the day and drop directly to Upper Red Pine Lake. Head down the canyon. If one makes sure to stay to the east (right) of Red Pine Lake, the maintained trail will be found. From there it is an easy hike down to the trailhead.

Essential Gear

Summer
10 Essentials. Water!! No water is available for most of the route.

Winter
Snowshoes or skis. Ice axe. Avalanche probe, beacon, shovel, and training.

Miscellaneous Info

If you have information about this route that doesn't pertain to any of the other sections, please add it here.

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

Viewing: 1-4 of 4

Ammon Hatch - Jul 30, 2005 3:45 am - Hasn't voted

Route Comment

The ridges in the trail sections for sugarloaf are reversed. For Cecret Lake TH - Sugarloaf Pk it should be the east ridge, and for Sugarloaf Pk - Mt Baldy it should be the North ridge. I didn't notice this until consulting my printout on top of sugarloaf when attempting the divide.

Also, just because hidden peak has a pay phone and running water on it doesn't mean it doesn't deserve to have a mountain page (hehehe...)

PellucidWombat - Aug 1, 2005 10:51 am - Hasn't voted

Route Comment

whoops! I must have been dozing - I'll make the correction right away!

dillweed - May 8, 2006 4:46 am - Hasn't voted

HIdden peak

Hey man - I saw what you said about adding Hidden Peak on SP - I know that it is not really a destination for climbers/hikers, but I wanted to post a mountain page and get some power points. besides, it has some interesting history, and it gives me the opportunity to plug some of the other great mountains in the area. also, almost all of the peaks in the wasatch already have pages dedicated to them. anyways, you have some great stuff on SP, i enjoy reading your TRs and all that. Peace.

max5480 - Sep 22, 2013 1:24 am - Hasn't voted

Great Hike

The peaks have always intimidated me but after climbing up them I realized there is nothing too treacherous to fear!!! I highly suggest! Best hike in the Wasatch to date!

Viewing: 1-4 of 4