Monte Cristo & Mount Superior - Little Cottonwood Canyon

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Monte Cristo 11,132'
Mount Superior 11,040'
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Wasatch Mountains
Hiking & Mountaineering

Climbing Mount Superior and Monte Cristo will result in an enjoyable day of scrambling. The mountains are relatively easy to summit for peaks which are over 11,000'.

There is a controversy over which peak is actually Mount Superior. The USGS maps list the higher 11,132 summit as Mount Superior. The locals and early maps refer to the higher 11,132' summit as Monte Cristo and the shorter summit 1/4 mile east as Mount Superior. Since I am a local, I refer to the higher summit as Monte Cristo.

It really doesn't matter which name you use since this route description includes the summit of both peaks. If you don't do both peaks you will really miss out on a bunch of fun and some great views at the cost of only a little extra effort. After climbing the first summit you have done all the hard work, the second higher summit is nothing more than a nice stroll.

General Information:
The summit of Mount Superior is 11,040; the summit of Monte Cristo is 11,132'. These peaks can be climbed in summer and fall by experienced hikers. This is also a popular winter and spring mountaineering route. An ice axe and crampons are highly recommended for anyone attempting the summits while there is still snow on the mountain. Reaching the summit of Mount Superior will require 2 1/2 hours. It will require an additional 20 minutes for the short hike over to the summit of Monte Cristo. This hike requires a fair amount of scrambling with moderate exposure. Navigation for this hike is easy. Mountain goats are often visable on this route to those who know where to look.

Trailhead Information:
From I-15 in Sandy, Utah take Exit #298 (9000 South) and head east on Highway 209 (9000 South) for 6.9 miles at which point Highway 209 joins Highway 210 (Little Cottonwood Canyon Road) at a Y-Junction. All mileage in this canyon is measured from this Y-Junction. The junction is identified be a huge flashing message board on the south side of the road and a park and ride lot on the north side of the canyon. The park and ride lot has a restroom.

From the Y-Junction at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon drive up canyon 8.2 miles and park near the Forest Service Garage on the left (north) side of the road. (N40 35' 25", W111 38' 15"). The Forest Service Garage is a stone faced building across the road from the Alta Lodge.

Route Information:
Summit of Mount Superior The trailhead begins on the paved road on the east side of the Forest Service Garage. Walk behind the Forest Service Garage and the road will fork. Take the right (east) fork in the road which passes in front of the Alta Sheriff's Office. Follow the road for approximately 200 yards to a spur road on the left. This spur leads to some cabins. Continue hiking the main road for an additional 100 yards until you come to a second spur road on the left. This is the road you want to take.

Begin hiking up the spur road. The route is very easy to follow and not difficult to hike. There are several short cuts across switchbacks, but I always just hike the road. The route generally follows the power lines to Cardiff Pass. About 2/3 of the way to Cardiff Pass the route splits. The better right fork leads to the Flagstaff Mine and the left fork follows the power lines to Cardiff Pass (N40 35' 45", W111 39' 05"). From near this juntion the road turns into a well traveled trail, which winds through a meadow as it climbs toward Cardiff Pass.

From Cardiff Pass follow the hiker made ridge trail west toward the summit of Mount Superior. In a short distance you will be rewarded with a great view of Mount Superior. Don't become intimidated looking at the summit, the route is easier than it looks. There are several ways to by-pass all obstacles. Just follow the hiker made trail to the summit. The easiest route is usually located 10 to 50 feet below the ridge on the Little Cottonwood Canyon side.

From the summit of Mount Superior ( N40 35' 32", W111 40' 01") it is an easy hike over to Monte Cristo (N40 35' 29", W111 40' 17"). Again the route usually follows below the ridge on the Little Cottonwood Canyon side.

Mountain Goat Optional Scrambling Route:
There is an obvious south ridge or arete which starts just above the highway near Snowbird Ski Resort and climbs steeply from the canyon floor, over two gendarmes, over the minor summit of Little Superior and on to the summit of Mount Superior. This is an exceptional scrambling route for rock climbers and experienced hikers. No rope or gear is required but this is not a route for beginners or intermediates.

From the highway the route looks more difficult than it is. The route involves a tremendous amount of scrambling with several sections of major exposure. With good route finding skills and common sense you should never find yourself in an inescapable position. The rock is reliable with abundant handholds. Just stay on or near the ridge and the route should require less than 4 hours from road to summit. The exit is to walk off using the traditional hiker trail, which leads down to the town of Alta. The hike down will require approximately 1 1/2 hours.

Nearly the entire route is visible from the tram deck at Snowbird. If you do this route during Octoberfest the crowds can follow your progress all the way to the summit. Afterwards you can enjoy beer with perhaps an autograph session at Snowbird.

Optional Scrambling Route Trailhead:
From the Y-Junction at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon drive up canyon 7.2 miles and park anywhere safe on the right (south) side of the road. (N40 35' 07", W111 39' 14"). There is no designated parking area but the south side of the road has a very wide and safe shoulder to park on. The trailhead is easy to identify since you are almost directly above the lower Snowbird tram terminal. This trailhead is 1.0 miles below the traditional hikers Mount Superior and Monte Cristo trailhead. If you have a shuttle vehicle you will want to park it at the traditional hikers trailhead and save yourself 1 mile of hiking down the road at the completion of the route.

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