Brighton Resort- it’s not just about skiing and snowboarding up there. Well maintained trails, numerous mountain lakes and easily attainable summits make the ski area a prime destination for summer hiking. We told you how to get above 10,000′ in our trail reports for Mount Millicent and Wolverine, and the peaks just keep on coming. Sunset Peak is ideal for beginner to intermediate level hikers but scenic enough to keep even seasoned mountaineers coming back.
The hike begins near the Majestic Lodge and follows the wide and well packed trail up towards the Brighton Lakes. Hikers will travel past Dog Lake before reaching Lake Mary one mile into the journey. Mary is popular with families looking for a short adventure, but those who want to bag a peak should continue on the trail by heading south along the shore. A few minutes of walking will bring you to Lake Martha, the smallest of the lakes in the area. Switchbacks ease the ascent through the gorgeous pine forest and fields of wildflowers provide plenty of reasons to stop for a rest. After two miles the trail splits: the left fork heads to Lake Catherine and the right fork will take hikers up to Catherine Pass.
Catherine Pass can get crowded as hikers from both Brighton and Alta favor it as a picturesque spot for lunch. From here it’s only 1/2 mile to the summit of Sunset Peak. The route follows the ridge to the west. Broken rock and sand make up the trail for the rest of the way. There are a couple of spots with some exposure, but the trail is suitable for just about anyone with a sense of adventure. The real problem is getting a spare moment to yourself on top; with such a short and easy approach, Sunset is often crowded with peakbaggers. Sunset Peak tops out at 10,648′. From the lodge to the summit it is just under 3 miles, and hikers should allow 3 to 5 hours to complete the trip.
Getting There: Take Big Cottonwood Canyon Road until it ends at Brighton Ski Resort. Park near the Majestic Lodge.
Maps: “Hiking the Wasatch” from U of Utah Press
Dogs: No dogs allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon