Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area

Black Mountain Trail–Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Twin Peaks Section, 6 sights

13.3 mi · ▲ 5,243 ft · 7 hr 3 min

Black Mountain Trail–Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Twin Peaks Section, 6 sights is a 13.3-mile out-and-back in Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area near Margarethe, UT. It climbs 5,243 ft, with sections as steep as 42% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 57/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.

Elevation

0 mi4,885 – 8,042 ft · steepest grade: 42%14.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Meadows Trail 40.82453, -111.79371
Nearest town Margarethe, UT

Directions

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Black Mountain Trail–Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Twin Peaks Section, 6 sights

13.3 mi · ▲ 5,243 ft · 7 hr 3 min

Elevation 4,885–8,042 ft

Out & Back · Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area

Trailhead: Meadows Trail · 40.82453, -111.79371

Weather Sep 4: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Toilets at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Meadows Trail, heading E.
  2. 0.4 miTurn right onto Smuggler's Gap Trail, heading S.
  3. 1.1 miContinue straight onto Black Mountain Trail, heading W.
  4. 3.1 miBear right onto Twin Peaks Trail, heading SW.
  5. 0.7 miBear right onto Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Twin Peaks Section, heading W.
  6. 50 ftTurn right onto City Creek Pipeline Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.7 miBear left, heading NW.
  8. 250 ftTurn left onto City Creek Trail, heading W.
  9. 300 ftContinue straight onto City Creek Pipeline Trail, heading NW.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto City Creek Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.5 miReach Smuggler's Gap Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  12. 0.5 miBear right onto City Creek Pipeline Trail, heading E.
  13. 50 ftContinue straight onto City Creek Trail, heading E.
  14. 350 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  15. 250 ftBear right onto City Creek Pipeline Trail, heading E.
  16. 0.7 miTurn left onto Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Twin Peaks Section, heading SE.
  17. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  18. 100 ftContinue straight onto Twin Peaks Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.7 miBear left onto Black Mountain Trail, heading E.
  20. 3.1 miContinue straight onto Smuggler's Gap Trail, heading NE.
  21. 1.1 miTurn left onto Meadows Trail, heading NE.
  22. 0.2 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

100% dirt

Weather

Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~119 min). Leave by 5:38 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:18 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Meadows Trail Trailhead