Sunset Peak is one of several high points that surround Alta at the head of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Sunset is unique, however, in that it is tucked away in the back, so to speak, making it less visible to the hordes at the ski area. It’s not until you crest Catherine Pass that the mountain reveals herself. A hike to the top offers some of the best, 360-degree views in the Wasatch with Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons to the west, the Southern Wasatch to the south, and the Heber Valley stretching away to the Uinta Mountains to the east.
The hike to Sunset Peak is pretty straightforward. You basically follow the trail to Catherine Pass. From the dirt parking lot near the top of Alta’s Sunnyside lift, locate the trail on the other side of Albion Basin Road. The path rises up at a low angle above the ski slopes and lifts before switchbacking onto the side of the mountain. From here, the trail narrows and traverses above the canyon, where excellent views of Sugarloaf Peak and Devil’s Castle loom to the south.
In about 0.75 miles, the trail come to a fork. Go left (northeast) and continue up the mountain. From here, the trail becomes a bit more steep but also widens as it ascends toward Catherine Pass. It soon levels out in a beautiful, large meadow below the slopes of Mount Tuscarora. On the opposite side of the meadow, the trail gets steep once again and switchbacks straight up to the crest of Catherine Pass. It’s around 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the pass.
On the other side of the pass you can see Lake Catherine, which is a worthy destination in itself. This is also where you’ll get your first view of the pyramidal Sunset Peak. To reach the summit, you go right (south) and follow the ridge as it climbs above the pass. In 0.2 miles from the pass, you’ll reach the top of a small sub-peak backcountry skiers call Rocky Point. The ridge drops down about 100 vertical feet, then begins to climb all to the way to the top of Sunset.
The path gets a little more technical here as it contours just below the jagged ridge on Sunset’s north-facing slopes. A little exposure keeps things interesting, but the trail is easy to navigate. This section does receive very little sunlight, so unless you’re hiking in mid-summer, expect to encounter snow and ice. Beyond this, the trail gets back onto the ridge, then traverses on the south slopes as it wraps around the east side of the summit before actively climbing to the top. Overall it’s a simple half-mile hike from Catherine Pass and 2 miles from the trailhead to the top of Sunset Peak.
The perch at the top is an excellent place to spend some time soaking in the view before burning those quads on the hike back down. For a longer day hike, you can easily link this with a jaunt down to Lake Catherine, Lake Martha and Lake Mary on the Brighton side of Catherine Pass.
Driving Directions:
From east Salt Lake City, take I-215 south and exit at 6200 South. Go south on Wasatch Blvd to Little Cottonwood Canyon Road (Highway 210) and follow it east up Little Cottonwood Canyon for 8 miles to the Town of Alta. At the end of the paved road, drive up the dirt Albion Basin Road for 2.15 miles to the Catherine Pass trailhead parking lot. It’s a small parking area with tremendous views and a forest service outhouse. The trail begins on the east side of the road.