AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Gloria Falls–Dean's Delight, 3 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 1,265 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Gloria Falls–Dean's Delight, 3 sights is a 5.3-mile out-and-back near Alta, UT. The route reaches Gloria Falls at the turnaround, 2.6 miles in. It climbs 1,265 ft, with sections as steep as 20% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 3/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi7,635 – 8,393 ft · steepest grade: 20%6.2 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Whirley Bird 40.58580, -111.65043
Nearest town Alta, UT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Gloria Falls–Dean's Delight, 3 sights

5.3 mi · ▲ 1,265 ft · 2 hr 24 min

Elevation 7,635–8,393 ft

Out & Back

Trailhead: Whirley Bird · 40.58580, -111.65043

Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

Transit-accessible: Black Jack Lodge (Up) stop 264 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Whirley Bird, heading SW.
  2. 0.3 miBear right onto Creek Road, heading SW.
  3. 450 ftContinue straight onto Chauner's Loop, heading W.
  4. 150 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading W.
  5. 450 ftTurn left onto Peruvian Gulch Trail, heading S.
  6. 50 ftSharp right onto Creek Road, heading S.
  7. 100 ftContinue straight onto Dick Bass Highway, heading S.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading S.
  9. 100 ftContinue straight onto Observation Point Trail, heading SW.
  10. 300 ftTurn right onto Dean's Delight, heading SW.
  11. 0.6 miContinue straight onto Baby Thunder Trail, heading W.
  12. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dean's Delight, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto White Pine-Snowbird Link Trail, heading SW.
  14. 0.6 miTurn left onto White Pine Trail, heading SW.
  15. 0.8 miTurn left onto Red Pine Trail, heading SW.
  16. 150 ftContinue straight onto Gloria Falls Trail, heading S.
  17. 0.1 miReach Gloria Falls, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 0.1 miContinue straight onto Red Pine Trail, heading SW.
  19. 150 ftTurn right onto White Pine Trail, heading SW.
  20. 0.8 miTurn right onto White Pine-Snowbird Link Trail, heading E.
  21. 0.6 miTurn left onto Dean's Delight, heading E.
  22. 50 ftContinue straight onto Baby Thunder Trail, heading E.
  23. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dean's Delight, heading E.
  24. 0.6 miTurn left onto Observation Point Trail, heading E.
  25. 300 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading E.
  26. 100 ftContinue straight onto Dick Bass Highway, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading NE.
  28. 50 ftSharp left onto Peruvian Gulch Trail, heading E.
  29. 50 ftTurn right onto Creek Road, heading E.
  30. 450 ftContinue straight onto Chauner's Loop, heading NE.
  31. 150 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading E.
  32. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  33. 350 ftContinue straight onto Whirley Bird, heading E.
  34. 200 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/gloria-falls-deans-delight-out-back-3-sights-8-km-42d8

Trail surface

95% dirt5% paved

Weather

Sunrise 6:58 AMSunset 7:56 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.1 mi in (~52 min). Leave by 6:44 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Black Jack Lodge (Up) stop 264 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Whirley Bird Trailhead

Hikes near Alta, Utah