AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
2025-05-25-233425 USA Utah Salt Lake City 1534.8.jpg
Hansueli Krapf · CC BY-SA 4.0
Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area

Red Butte Viewpoint–Red Butte, 5 viewpoints

5.9 mi · ▲ 2,129 ft · 3 hr 2 min

Red Butte Viewpoint–Red Butte, 5 viewpoints is a 5.9-mile out-and-back in Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area near Virginia Heights, UT. The route passes o, Skyline Trail East Viewpoint and Red Butte before reaching Red Butte Viewpoint at the turnaround, 2.9 miles in. It climbs 2,129 ft, with sections as steep as 44% grade. It scores 1/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi4,826 – 6,614 ft · steepest grade: 44%7.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Unnamed 40.77830, -111.85121
Nearest town Virginia Heights, UT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Red Butte Viewpoint–Red Butte, 5 viewpoints

5.9 mi · ▲ 2,129 ft · 3 hr 2 min

Elevation 4,825–6,613 ft

Out & Back · Red Butte Canyon Research Natural Area

Trailhead: 40.77830, -111.85121

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:53 PM

Dogs allowed on leash · Transit-accessible: Virginia Street / 11th Avenue (NB) stop 97 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading E.
  2. 0.1 miBear right onto West Popperton Hiking Loop, heading S.
  3. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  4. 50 ftSharp right onto South Popperton Access Path, heading S.
  5. 50 ftSharp left onto South Popperton Bike Loop, heading S.
  6. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Popperton Walking Path, heading S.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Popperton Bike Loop, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Popperton Walking Path, heading SW.
  9. 350 ftTurn left onto Popperton - BST Access Trail, heading E.
  10. 0.3 miBear left onto Federal Pointe Trail, heading E.
  11. 50 ftBear right onto Popperton - BST Access Trail, heading E.
  12. 400 ftTurn right, heading E.
  13. 50 ftBear right onto Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Mount Van Cott Section, heading E.
  14. 100 ftBear left, heading E.
  15. 0.4 miContinue straight onto Alternate BST, heading N.
  16. 0.3 miBear right, heading SE.
  17. 350 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  18. 250 ftTurn left, heading S.
  19. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  20. 50 ftTurn left, heading S.
  21. 150 ftPass o.
  22. 300 ftTurn right, heading SE.
  23. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  24. 50 ftSharp right onto Floral Walk, heading S.
  25. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  26. 250 ftBear right, heading SE.
  27. 50 ftTurn left, heading SE.
  28. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  29. 50 ftBear left, heading SE.
  30. 50 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  31. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  32. 350 ftBear left, heading SE.
  33. 0.2 miSharp left onto Quarry Loop Trail, heading SE.
  34. 100 ftTurn right onto Skyline Trail East, heading SE.
  35. 0.2 miPass Skyline Trail East Viewpoint.
  36. 400 ftSharp right, heading E.
  37. 0.8 miPass Red Butte.
  38. 350 ftSharp left, heading SE.
  39. 50 ftReach Red Butte Viewpoint, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  40. 50 ftSharp right, heading SE.
  41. 0.9 miSharp left, heading SW.
  42. 0.3 miTurn left onto Quarry Loop Trail, heading SW.
  43. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  44. 0.2 miBear right, heading SW.
  45. 350 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  46. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  47. 50 ftBear right, heading SW.
  48. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  49. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  50. 50 ftBear left onto Floral Walk, heading W.
  51. 100 ftBear right, heading W.
  52. 200 ftSharp left, heading W.
  53. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  54. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  55. 450 ftTurn right, heading W.
  56. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  57. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  58. 250 ftTurn left onto Alternate BST, heading NW.
  59. 350 ftBear right, heading W.
  60. 0.3 miContinue straight onto Bonneville Shoreline Trail - Mount Van Cott Section, heading SW.
  61. 0.4 miBear left, heading W.
  62. 50 ftTurn left onto Popperton - BST Access Trail, heading SW.
  63. 400 ftBear left onto Federal Pointe Trail, heading SW.
  64. 50 ftBear right onto Popperton - BST Access Trail, heading S.
  65. 0.3 miTurn right onto South Popperton Walking Path, heading N.
  66. 350 ftContinue straight onto South Popperton Bike Loop, heading NW.
  67. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Popperton Walking Path, heading NW.
  68. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Popperton Bike Loop, heading NW.
  69. 50 ftSharp right onto South Popperton Access Path, heading N.
  70. 50 ftSharp left, heading N.
  71. 50 ftTurn right onto West Popperton Hiking Loop, heading N.
  72. 50 ftBear left, heading NW.
  73. 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/red-butte-viewpoint-red-butte-out-back-6-viewpoints-9-km-88ac

Trail surface

44% dirt13% paved3% gravel40% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:53 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 0.0 mi in (~1 min). Leave by 7:33 PM for the 7:53 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:09 PM — 12 min before dark. Car visible from the viewpoint

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Dogs allowed on leash
  • Transit-accessible: Virginia Street / 11th Avenue (NB) stop 97 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from this trailhead

Hikes near Virginia Heights, Utah