Mount Superior (also known as Superior Peak) is an 11,045 feet (3,367 m) mountain peak in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National ForestinSalt Lake County, Utah, United States.
| Superior | |
|---|---|
Mt. Superior as seen from Little Cottonwood, April 2009
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 11,045 ft (3,367 m) NAVD 88[1] |
| Coordinates | 40°35′32″N 111°40′01″W / 40.592166°N 111.667046°W / 40.592166; -111.667046[2] |
| Geography | |
  Superior Location in Utah Show map of Utah Superior Superior (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | Salt Lake County, Utah United States |
| Parent range | Wasatch Range |
| Topo map | USGS Dromedary Peak |
With prominent visibility from Utah State Route 210inLittle Cottonwood Canyon, and being only 35 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, it is a popular hiking, climbing, and skiing destination.
There are many ways to access the summit of Mount Superior, with the two most popular options being via the Cardiff Pass and South Ridge trails.
| Summit: | 11,045 feet (3,367 m) |
| Estimated Starting Elevation: | 8,675 feet (2,644 m) |
| Elevation Gain | 2,370 feet (722 m) |
| Average Total Distance: | 4.8 Miles |
| Rating: | Difficult |
The Cardiff Pass trail follows a well-maintained route starting in the town of Alta until it reaches Cardiff Pass. Once the pass has been reached, it skirts around Cardiff Peak along a ridge line to the summit.
The summit can also be reached via the South Ridge.[3] Considered a 5th class[4] scramble or rock climb, the ascent can be made, depending on ones climbing experience and conditions, free solo or with ropes and other rock climbing equipment.
There are various skiing and snowboarding lines that descend Mount Superior on all aspects.
This descent is included in Fifty Classic Ski Descents of North America[5] and is rated S4[6] with slopes 35–45°[6] with dangerous fall potential and a few terrain obstacles. It is also a part of The Chuting Gallery: A Guide to Steep Skiing in the Wasatch Mountains,[7] a skiing guidebook for various Wasatch Range chutes.
An obvious and prominent east-facing chute seen from Little Cottonwood Canyon, this line has been known by a few names, but is most commonly referenced as Suicide Chute.[8] This descent has slopes upwards of 40° and is rated S4.[6]
Media related to Mount Superior (Utah) at Wikimedia Commons