AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Twin Peaks Wilderness

Monte Cristo–Cardiff Peak, 5 summits

4.9 mi · ▲ 3,082 ft · 3 hr 10 min

Monte Cristo–Cardiff Peak, 5 summits is a 4.9-mile out-and-back in Twin Peaks Wilderness near Alta, UT. The route passes Cardiff Pass and Cardiff Peak before reaching Monte Cristo at the turnaround, 2.4 miles in. It climbs 3,082 ft, with sections as steep as 45% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi8,698 – 11,116 ft · steepest grade: 45%5.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Upper Albion Meadows Trail 40.59171, -111.63156
Nearest town Alta, UT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Monte Cristo–Cardiff Peak, 5 summits

4.9 mi · ▲ 3,082 ft · 3 hr 10 min

Elevation 8,698–11,116 ft

Out & Back · Twin Peaks Wilderness

Trailhead: Upper Albion Meadows Trail · 40.59171, -111.63156

Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 66°F / low 49° · precip 1% · wind 13 mph · sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

Transit-accessible: Snowpine Lodge (Down) stop 51 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Albion Parking Lot Road, heading NW.
  2. 50 ftTurn right onto Twin Lakes Pass Trail, heading NW.
  3. 0.1 miSharp left onto Michigan City Road, heading SW.
  4. 0.3 miTurn right onto Cardiff Pass Trail, heading NW.
  5. 0.9 miPass Cardiff Pass.
  6. 50 ftBear left onto Mount Superior Trail, heading NW.
  7. 250 ftPass Cardiff Peak.
  8. 1 miPass Monte Cristo.
  9. 150 ftReach Cardiff Peak, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  10. 1 miBear left, heading NE.
  11. 250 ftBear right onto Cardiff Pass Trail, heading NE.
  12. 0.9 miTurn left onto Michigan City Road, heading NE.
  13. 0.3 miSharp right onto Twin Lakes Pass Trail, heading SE.
  14. 0.1 miTurn left onto Albion Parking Lot Road, heading NE.
  15. 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-out-back

Trail surface

100% dirt

Weather

ClearTemperature 66°F49°
Precip1%Wind13 mphUV7Humidity34%
Rained 0.5″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
70°45°
Sunrise 6:58 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat 66°49°
Sun 61°45° 54%
Mon 52°42° 54%
Tue 64°40°
Wed 71°50°
Thu 69°48° 20%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.4 mi in (~132 min). Leave by 5:24 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:15 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Snowpine Lodge (Down) stop 51 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Upper Albion Meadows Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Alta, Utah