Monte Cristo Peak and Mount Superior via Cardiff Pass Trail

Wasatch-Cache National Forest, UT Central Wasatch Mountains

Trip stats

Distance
4.8 mi
Net Gain
2,900 ft
Time
3-5 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 3
Route
Out/Back
Peaks
3

Ratings out of 10

Effort
3.7/10
Personality
5/10
Beauty
6/10
Solitude
2.4/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

Ridgeline of the 3 summits in route order 01 02 03
  1. Cardiff Peak
    10,277′ elevation · N/A prominence
  2. Superior Peak
    11,040′ elevation · 40′ prominence
  3. Monte Cristo Peak
    11,132′ elevation · 452′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

40.590450, -111.636364

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Sep 15, 2017 — Mt. Superior and Monte Cristo Peak are two Wasatch 11ers with great views of the higher peaks around Alta. I would recommend ascending Mt. Superior via South Ridge, but if you're not cool with Class 3/4 scrambling, this route is nice too. From the trailhead an old dirt road took me most of the way to Cardiff Pass, where a trail leads south around Cardiff Peak and then brought me back to the west ridge leading to Mt. Superior. There's some easy Class 3 on the way up, but I highly recommend staying along the trail (which stays close to the ridge the whole time), or you may end up doing some more serious scrambling. From Mt. Superior, Monte Cristo Peak is a short scramble away. On the way back, I summitted the baby Cardiff Peak summit.

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Photos

27 photos

  1. An old dirt road takes you up most of the way to Cardiff Pass.
  3. Looking back toward Alta.
  4. Almost at Cardiff Pass.
  6. Looking back along the ridge after gaining it.
  7. Heading up toward Mt. Superior, shrouded in clouds.
  8. Lots of fog.
  10. Looking back toward Alta, on the right.
  13. Looking back along the ridge.
  14. There are small points of scrambling, but most of the route has a trail.
  15. Looking back along the ridge.
  17. A Class 2/3 section.
  18. Looking back along the ridge.
  21. Almost at the summit of Mt. Superior.
  22. Mt. Superior summit, the ridge to Monte Cristo on the left, Cardiac Ridge on the right.
  23. Close-up into the Cardiff Mine Basin.
  24. Heading to the saddle of Superior and Monte Cristo.
  25. Almost at Monte Cristo.
  26. Monte Cristo ahead. My summit photo was too foggy to see anything.
  27. Gorgeous sunset on the way back.

Photo 1 of 1

Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

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