Gorilla Pass–Big Mountain Trail Loop, 9 sights is a 5.6-mile loop near Alta, UT. The route reaches Gorilla Pass. It climbs 2,671 ft, with sections as steep as 35% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 19/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.
Elevation
0 mi8,147 – 10,847 ft · steepest grade: 35%6.5 mi
Getting there
Trailhead: Blackjack Road 40.58450, -111.64890
Nearest town Alta, UT
Directions
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Gorilla Pass–Big Mountain Trail Loop, 9 sights
5.6 mi · ▲ 2,671 ft · 3 hr 12 min
Elevation 8,147–10,848 ft
Loop
Trailhead: Blackjack Road · 40.58450, -111.64890
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:54 PM
Transit-accessible: Black Jack Lodge (Up) stop 282 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Blackjack Road, heading S.
- 450 ftSharp left onto Blackjack Return, heading SE.
- 50 ftSharp right onto Blackjack Road, heading S.
- 0.6 miTurn left onto Peruvian Gulch Trail, heading S.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Peruvian Gulch Road, heading E.
- 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
- 250 ftContinue straight onto Peruvian Gulch Trail, heading SW.
- 0.2 miTurn left onto Peruvian Gulch Road, heading S.
- 0.7 miBear right, heading SW.
- 0.3 miPass Gorilla Pass.
- 0.2 miContinue straight onto Cirque Trail, heading E.
- 250 ftSharp left onto Regulator Johnson Trail, heading W.
- 150 ftContinue straight onto Big Mountain Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Regulator Johnson Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Big Mountain Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Regulator Johnson Trail, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear right onto Big Mountain Trail, heading S.
- 100 ftBear left onto Regulator Johnson Trail, heading S.
- 500 ftSharp right onto Big Mountain Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Regulator Johnson Trail, heading NW.
- 450 ftTurn right onto Big Mountain Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Regulator Johnson Trail, heading NW.
- 150 ftBear left onto Gad Valley Road, heading NW.
- 0.4 miBear left onto Big Mountain Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftBear left onto Gad Valley Road, heading W.
- 0.7 miBear right onto Big Mountain Trail, heading E.
- 50 ftContinue straight onto Gad Valley Road, heading E.
- 0.1 miSharp right onto Dick Bass Highway, heading E.
- 0.5 miBear right onto Chauner's Loop, heading S.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Dick Bass Highway, heading S.
- 300 ftBear right onto Mid-Way Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftBear left onto Dick Bass Highway, heading NW.
- 100 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading NW.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Peruvian Gulch Trail, heading NW.
- 50 ftTurn right onto Creek Road, heading NW.
- 450 ftContinue straight onto Chauner's Loop, heading NW.
- 0.1 miBear left onto Blackjack Return, heading E.
- 0.4 miSharp right onto Blackjack Road, heading NE.
- 50 ftThe loop closes back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
61% dirt39% unspecified
Weather
Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:54 PM
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.7 mi in (~86 min). Leave by 6:08 PM for the 7:54 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:50 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Transit-accessible: Black Jack Lodge (Up) stop 282 m from the trailhead
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Blackjack Road Trailhead
- Blackjack Waterfall via Blackjack Return 1.1 mi · ▲ 410 ft
- Dick Bass Highway 1.9 mi · ▲ 397 ft
- Dean's Delight & Observation Point Trail 2.2 mi · ▲ 482 ft
- Creek Road 2.3 mi · ▲ 627 ft
- Creek Road 2.4 mi · ▲ 627 ft
- Creek Road 2.5 mi · ▲ 688 ft
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