AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Andrey Zharkikh · CC BY 2.0

Montreal Spring–Cardiff Pass Loop, 17 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 5,556 ft · 8 hr 9 min

Montreal Spring–Cardiff Pass Loop, 17 sights is a 16.1-mile loop near Alta, UT. The route passes Cardiff Pass, Montreal Spring and Twin Lakes Pass. It climbs 5,556 ft, with sections as steep as 39% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 35/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi7,326 – 10,785 ft · steepest grade: 39%17.7 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.59039, -111.63611
Nearest town Alta, UT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Montreal Spring–Cardiff Pass Loop, 17 sights

16.1 mi · ▲ 5,556 ft · 8 hr 9 min

Elevation 7,325–10,783 ft

Loop

Trailhead: 40.59039, -111.63611

Weather Sep 4: Clear, high 67°F / low 50° · precip 1% · wind 10 mph · sunrise 6:58 AM · sunset 7:56 PM

No dogs on part of this route · Transit-accessible: Alta Lodge (Down) stop 72 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading S.
  2. 0.1 miSharp left onto Peruvian Acre Road, heading E.
  3. 0.3 miTurn left onto Upper Albion Meadows Trail, heading N.
  4. 0.2 miSharp left onto Albion Parking Lot Road, heading N.
  5. 50 ftTurn right onto Twin Lakes Pass Trail, heading N.
  6. 0.1 miSharp left onto Michigan City Road, heading NW.
  7. 0.4 miReach Montreal Spring, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  8. 0.1 miTurn left onto Cardiff Pass Trail, heading NW.
  9. 0.9 miPass Cardiff Pass.
  10. 50 ftTurn right onto Cardiff Fork Trail, heading NW.
  11. 0.7 miTurn right, heading N.
  12. 0.3 miTurn right, heading N.
  13. 300 ftBear right, heading N.
  14. 0.5 miPass Montreal Spring.
  15. 1.3 miContinue straight onto Donut Falls Trail, heading N.
  16. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Donut Falls Connector, heading SE.
  17. 0.4 miTurn left, heading NE.
  18. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  19. 350 ftTurn right onto Nature Trail, heading NE.
  20. 0.3 miSharp right onto Days Fork Trail, heading NE.
  21. 3 miSharp left onto Days Fork Connector Trail, heading S.
  22. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Flagstaff Mountain Trail, heading SE.
  23. 0.7 miSharp left onto Prince of Wales Mine Trail, heading E.
  24. 150 ftTurn right onto Lazy Prince Trail, heading E.
  25. 0.4 miPass Twin Lakes Pass.
  26. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Honeycomb Cliffs Trail, heading E.
  27. 50 ftContinue straight onto Lazy Prince Trail, heading E.
  28. 50 ftTurn right onto Honeycomb Cliffs Trail, heading E.
  29. 50 ftBear left onto Lazy Prince Trail, heading E.
  30. 50 ftContinue straight onto Alta-Brighton Trail, heading E.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Mount Wolverine Trail, heading E.
  32. 1.4 miSharp right onto Catherine's Pass Trail, heading SE.
  33. 0.7 miContinue straight onto Albion Campground - Catherine Link Trail, heading S.
  34. 0.4 miTurn left onto Albion Basin Campground Road, heading W.
  35. 0.1 miBear left onto Homestake Road, heading W.
  36. 50 ftTurn right onto Albion Basin Campground Road, heading W.
  37. 400 ftBear right, heading SW.
  38. 250 ftSharp left onto Cecret Lake Trail, heading SW.
  39. 150 ftTurn left onto Supreme Bottom Terminal Road, heading S.
  40. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Upper Albion Meadows Trail, heading S.
  41. 350 ftContinue straight onto Home Run Trail, heading SE.
  42. 50 ftBear right onto Upper Albion Meadows Trail, heading SE.
  43. 0.2 miContinue straight onto Home Run Trail, heading SW.
  44. 100 ftContinue straight onto Upper Albion Meadows Trail, heading W.
  45. 0.1 miSharp left onto Home Run Trail, heading NW.
  46. 150 ftContinue straight onto Snake Pit Trail, heading N.
  47. 0.7 miTurn left onto Lower Albion Meadows Trail, heading NW.
  48. 0.4 miSharp right, heading W.
  49. 300 ftContinue straight onto Peruvian Acre Road, heading W.
  50. 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 map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/montreal-spring-cardiff-pass-loop-17-sights

Trail surface

99% dirt1% unspecified

Weather

ClearTemperature 67°F50°
Precip1%Wind10 mphUV7Humidity30%
Rained 0.5″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
70°50°
Sunrise 6:58 AM12 AM3 AM9 AM12 PM3 PM6 PMSunset 7:56 PM
Sat 67°50°
Sun 64°46° 55%
Mon 53°43° 62%
Tue 65°41°
Wed 72°50°
Thu 70°49° 29%

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 3.7 mi in (~144 min). Leave by 5:11 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 10:02 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • No dogs on part of this route
  • Transit-accessible: Alta Lodge (Down) stop 72 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Alta, Utah