Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area
Mount Van Cott–Black Mountain Trail, 7 sights
13.9 mi · ▲ 6,303 ft · 7 hr 47 min
Mount Van Cott–Black Mountain Trail, 7 sights is a 13.9-mile out-and-back in Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area near Margarethe, UT. The route reaches Mount Van Cott at the turnaround, 7 miles in. It climbs 6,303 ft, with sections as steep as 39% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 46/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Mount Van Cott–Black Mountain Trail, 7 sights
13.9 mi · ▲ 6,303 ft · 7 hr 47 min
Elevation 5,024–8,042 ft
Out & Back · Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area
Trailhead: Meadows Trail · 40.82453, -111.79371
Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 79°F / low 59° · precip 1% · wind 16 mph · sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: University Hospital stop 311 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Meadows Trail, heading E.
- 0.4 miTurn right onto Smuggler's Gap Trail, heading S.
- 1.1 miContinue straight onto Black Mountain Trail, heading W.
- 2.6 miTurn left onto Uncle Effer Trail, heading W.
- 0.8 miTurn left onto Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Dry Creek Section, heading SE.
- 1 miContinue straight onto Popperton - BST Access Trail, heading SW.
- 150 ftTurn left, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear right onto Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Mount Van Cott Section, heading SW.
- 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
- 0.1 miTurn left onto Mount Van Cott West Trail, heading S.
- 0.2 miTurn left, heading N.
- 0.8 miReach Mount Van Cott, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1 miTurn right onto Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Mount Van Cott Section, heading S.
- 0.1 miBear left, heading SW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Popperton - BST Access Trail, heading S.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Dry Creek Section, heading S.
- 1 miTurn right onto Uncle Effer Trail, heading N.
- 0.8 miTurn right onto Black Mountain Trail, heading N.
- 2.6 miContinue straight onto Smuggler's Gap Trail, heading E.
- 1.1 miTurn left onto Meadows Trail, heading N.
- 0.1 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~122 min). Leave by 5:35 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:21 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- No dogs on part of this route
- Transit-accessible: University Hospital stop 311 m from the trailhead
- Toilets at the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Meadows Trail Trailhead
- Smuggler's Gap Trail 3 mi · ▲ 1,759 ft
- Meadows Trail 10.2 mi · ▲ 2,128 ft
- 19th Avenue (Upper)–Avenues Ridge Trail, 7 sights 11.7 mi · ▲ 4,898 ft
- Avenues Ridge Trail–Black Mountain Trail, 6 sights 12.5 mi · ▲ 5,360 ft
- Black Mountain Trail–Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Twin Peaks Section, 6 sights 13.3 mi · ▲ 5,243 ft
- Overlook–Canyon Overlook, 9 sights 14.4 mi · ▲ 5,800 ft
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