Outbound Collective logo

Brighton, Utah

Looking for the best hiking in Brighton? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Brighton. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Hiking Spots in and near Brighton

  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Catherine Pass

    4 mi / 1115 ft gain
    Catherine Pass is a must do if you are in the Salt Lake vicinity in July. The wildflowers are mind-blowing. But it’s a great hike to do in the Spring, after Alta Ski Resort has closed, and the Fall as well.  It costs $6 per vehicle to drive to the trailhead, or $10 per person to ride the lift (if...
    Read more
  • Alta, Utah

    Backcountry Ski Grizzly Gulch

    1.5 mi / 1400 ft gain
    To get to the Grizzly Gulch trailhead, drive up Little Cottonwood until you reach Alta Ski Resort. Keep left along the road and park in the upper Alta parking lot. Head up the cat track with all the cats and snowmobiles parked to the side. About 100 yards up, you'll take a left and head up the st...
    Read more
  • Alta, Utah

    Cecret Lake from Albion Basin

    4.9
    4.48 mi / 1214 ft gain
    The out-and-back trail from Albion Basin to Cecret Lake climbs a gentle slope and along the way there are interpretive signs with information about the basin, its plants, animals and geology. From the lake you can return the same way you came, or explore the area more. If you head there during t...
    Read more
  • Alta, Utah

    Albion Meadows Trail

    4.9
    2.86 mi / 696 ft gain
    At Albion Basin, wildflowers you will see include lupine, Indian paintbrush, American bistort, sunflowers, fireweed, and many more! Drive to the very top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and park at the Albion Grill. There is a trail just behind the Grill that takes you through a variety of wildflowe...
    Read more
  • Alta, Utah

    Hike Mt. Superior and Monte Cristo

    5.0
    6.25 mi / 2500 ft gain
    Mt. Superior, and its close neighbor, Monte Cristo, are two of the most iconic peaks in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Looming over Alta and Snowbird Ski resorts from the north side of the canyon, these two peaks dominate the Little Cottonwood skyline. Mt. Superior tops out at 11,132 feet, and Monte C...
    Read more
  • Alta, Utah

    Hike and Scramble Mount Superior

    5.0
    5 mi
    This is an intermediate to advanced hike. Scrambling up the ridge is more difficult but can be done by anyone with patience and a few maneuvering skills. It is best climbed in the summer months when the ridge is free of snow. However, it makes for a good winter climb for more technical experience...
    Read more
  • Alta, Utah

    Stargazing and Night Photography at Hellgate Spring

    From the base of Little Cottonwood Canyon, follow the road approximately 7 miles until you reach the area between the Snowbird and Alta ski resorts. Looking north, several mountain peaks are visible, including both Mount Superior and Hellgate Spring. The mountain face of Hellgate Spring (GPS coor...
    Read more
  • Park City, Utah

    Hike Empire Pass Ridge

    3.25 mi / 800 ft gain
    Starting at an elevation of 8,960 feet at Empire Pass, the trail follows the ridge to the west. It starts off on a gravel road, but quickly turns into a single-track trail once you pass the buried water tank. For the most part, you will stay on the ridge and have great views of Clayton Peak, Deer...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Hike Days Fork

    5.0
    7.5 mi / 2494 ft gain
    To get to the trailhead drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon to Spruces Campground. Once in the parking lot, walk to the southwest corner of the parking lot and go up the road past the bathrooms. The trailhead will be next to the overgrown baseball field.  The trail is awesome single track the whole wa...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Backcountry Ski Days Fork

    3.2 mi
    Days Fork is on the south side of Big Cottonwood Canyon behind the Spruces parking lot. The trail head begins on the south west corner of the parking lot. The approach to Days Fork is long, but gradual. Continue south along the skin track until you reach the end of the Days Fork Basin. Here you c...
    Read more
  • Sandy, Utah

    Hike and Climb the S. Ridge of Mt. Superior

    4.5
    4.5 mi / 1800 ft gain
    Approach: Start by parking on the side of the road just above the Snowbird Cliff Lodge. Then there will be some bushwhacking as you work your way up the southern slopes of Mount Superior following the path of least resistance until reaching the winter avalanche path under the south face and to th...
    Read more
  • Sandy, Utah

    Backcountry Ski Suicide Chute on Mt. Superior

    5.0
    0.6 mi / 1245 ft gain
    First of all it's not as scary as it sounds, or as scary as it looks. That being said it's a steep chute in dangerous avalanche terrain so only experienced skiers with backcountry skiing knowledge/equipment should attempt this route.Suicide Chute is located on the South face of Mt. Superior in L...
    Read more
  • Sandy, Utah

    Photograph Little Cottonwood Creek at Snowbird

    2.0
    Little Cottonwood Creek flows right through Snowbird Ski Resort and there are a few beautiful locations to go shoot the river at. The best place to start hiking down the river is right by where the tram takes off. That is just below the Cliff Lodge and right by the Peruvian Lift. There's a res...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Donut Falls

    4.1
    1.53 mi / 413 ft gain
    The Trail Follow the trail for just a little bit and when it forks, stay to the left and you will arrive to Donut Falls. Once at the waterfall, climb up the rocks to get to the cave at the top, which is not visible from the bottom. To take pictures inside of the cave, you will most likely get yo...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Kessler Peak in Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon

    4.7
    4.66 mi / 2733 ft gain
    Kessler Peak is a 10,403-foot peak located in Big Cottonwood Canyon. From the top, you can see all the way to the Uintas to the East, The tram at Snowbird to the south, and the Salt Lake Valley to the west. To the north is Mount Raymond and Gobblers Knob.  Kessler Peak is the terminus and highes...
    Read more
  • Salt Lake City, Utah

    Snowshoe to Cardiff Mine

    7 mi / 1500 ft gain
    The trail starts from the same trailhead as Donut Falls which is extremely popular. In the winter, the gates are closed and you need to park just off the highway. Follow the road and crowds along the trail but once you cross the bridge continue straight ahead instead of following the trail that c...
    Read more