AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
Donut Falls 13.jpg
Leijurv · CC BY-SA 4.0
Twin Peaks Wilderness

Monte Cristo–Cardiff Peak, 7 sights

10 mi · ▲ 4,317 ft · 5 hr 30 min

Monte Cristo–Cardiff Peak, 7 sights is a 10-mile out-and-back in Twin Peaks Wilderness near Mounthaven, UT. The route passes Montreal Spring, Cardiff Pass and Cardiff Peak before reaching Monte Cristo at the turnaround, 5 miles in. It climbs 4,317 ft, with sections as steep as 42% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 26/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi7,313 – 11,116 ft · steepest grade: 42%11.5 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Lower Loop 40.64356, -111.64144
Nearest town Mounthaven, UT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monte Cristo–Cardiff Peak, 7 sights

10 mi · ▲ 4,317 ft · 5 hr 30 min

Elevation 7,315–11,116 ft

Out & Back · Twin Peaks Wilderness

Trailhead: Lower Loop · 40.64356, -111.64144

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 6:59 AM · sunset 7:52 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Spruces (Down) stop 373 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Lower Loop, heading SW.
  2. 100 ftTurn left, heading S.
  3. 50 ftSharp right, heading W.
  4. 350 ftBear left, heading NW.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Donut Falls Connector, heading NW.
  6. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Donut Falls Trail, heading SW.
  7. 0.9 miContinue straight onto Cardiff Fork Trail, heading S.
  8. 1.1 miPass Montreal Spring.
  9. 0.4 miBear left, heading SE.
  10. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  11. 300 ftTurn right, heading S.
  12. 0.9 miPass Cardiff Pass.
  13. 300 ftPass Cardiff Peak.
  14. 450 ftTurn right onto Cardiff Pass Trail, heading S.
  15. 50 ftBear left onto Mount Superior Trail, heading S.
  16. 0.9 miPass Monte Cristo.
  17. 0.2 miReach Cardiff Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  18. 1 miBear left, heading NE.
  19. 250 ftBear right onto Cardiff Pass Trail, heading E.
  20. 50 ftTurn left onto Cardiff Fork Trail, heading NE.
  21. 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
  22. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  23. 300 ftBear right, heading N.
  24. 1.8 miContinue straight onto Donut Falls Trail, heading N.
  25. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Donut Falls Connector, heading NE.
  26. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  27. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  28. 350 ftSharp left, heading NE.
  29. 50 ftTurn right, heading NE.
  30. 50 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/monte-cristo-cardiff-peak-out-back-7-sights

Trail surface

95% dirt2% paved3% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 6:59 AMSunset 7:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 5.0 mi in (~209 min). Leave by 4:03 PM for the 7:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:10 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Transit-accessible: Spruces (Down) stop 373 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Lower Loop Trailhead

Hikes near Mounthaven, Utah