Mount Superior & Monte Cristo in Utah 2025

Mount Superior and its neighbor Monte Cristo are located in Little Cottonwood Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains. Thanks to incredible panoramic views and proximity to Salt Lake City it's a top-rated hiking destination. Mt. Superior is 11,132 feet (3,393 m) in height while Monte Cristo is 11,040 feet (3,365 m). Two picturesque peaks are towering over the town of Alta and Snowbird Ski resorts in the north side of the Little Cottonwood Canyon. Hiking season starts here in June when the snow melts off the trail and lasts through September. This route boasts wildflowers bloom during summer months. Later in fall, the temperatures drop, so only the brave ones can get to the top.

The 6-mile (10-km) Mt. Superior Trail begins in Alta, behind the Sheriff's office. It starts as a double track dirt road. The trail first leads to Cardiff pass or Telephone Pole pass. From there, hikers need to go west along the ridge line. Soon they will be able to see a direct route to Mt. Superior. Once on top, hikers will see panoramic views of the Salt Lake Valley, the Wasatch Range, and Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons. If you wish to proceed further, walk through the saddle before ascending on Monte Cristo. The elevation gain on this trail is about 2,500 feet (762 m). The hike is rated intermediate to advanced.