AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes
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Lone Peak Wilderness

The Pfeifferhorn–Red Pine Lake, 5 sights

12.8 mi · ▲ 4,473 ft · 6 hr 30 min

The Pfeifferhorn–Red Pine Lake, 5 sights is a 12.8-mile out-and-back in Lone Peak Wilderness near Alta, UT. The route passes Red Pine Lake before reaching The Pfeifferhorn at the turnaround, 6.4 miles in. It climbs 4,473 ft, with sections as steep as 54% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 34/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: green fringe.

Elevation

0 mi7,635 – 11,293 ft · steepest grade: 54%14.0 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Whirley Bird 40.58580, -111.65043
Nearest town Alta, UT
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Pfeifferhorn–Red Pine Lake, 5 sights

12.8 mi · ▲ 4,473 ft · 6 hr 30 min

Elevation 7,635–11,295 ft

Out & Back · Lone Peak Wilderness

Trailhead: Whirley Bird · 40.58580, -111.65043

Weather Sep 6: sunrise 7:00 AM · sunset 7:52 PM

Transit-accessible: Black Jack Lodge (Up) stop 264 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Whirley Bird, heading SW.
  2. 0.3 miBear right onto Creek Road, heading SW.
  3. 450 ftContinue straight onto Chauner's Loop, heading W.
  4. 150 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading W.
  5. 450 ftTurn left onto Peruvian Gulch Trail, heading S.
  6. 50 ftSharp right onto Creek Road, heading S.
  7. 100 ftContinue straight onto Dick Bass Highway, heading S.
  8. 50 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading S.
  9. 100 ftContinue straight onto Observation Point Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear right onto Creek Road, heading SW.
  11. 500 ftBear left onto Miner's Road, heading W.
  12. 50 ftBear right onto Dean's Delight, heading W.
  13. 0.5 miContinue straight onto Baby Thunder Trail, heading W.
  14. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dean's Delight, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftTurn right onto White Pine-Snowbird Link Trail, heading SW.
  16. 0.6 miTurn left onto White Pine Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.8 miTurn left onto Red Pine Trail, heading SW.
  18. 1.6 miTurn right onto Maybird Gulch Trail, heading S.
  19. 50 ftSharp left onto Red Pine Trail, heading S.
  20. 0.8 miPass Red Pine Lake.
  21. 400 ftBear right, heading W.
  22. 0.2 miTurn left onto Pfeifferhorn Trail, heading SW.
  23. 1.2 miReach The Pfeifferhorn, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  24. 1.2 miTurn right onto Red Pine Trail, heading NE.
  25. 0.2 miTurn right, heading N.
  26. 0.9 miSharp right onto Maybird Gulch Trail, heading E.
  27. 50 ftTurn left onto Red Pine Trail, heading E.
  28. 1.6 miTurn right onto White Pine Trail, heading N.
  29. 0.8 miTurn right onto White Pine-Snowbird Link Trail, heading N.
  30. 0.6 miTurn left onto Dean's Delight, heading NE.
  31. 50 ftContinue straight onto Baby Thunder Trail, heading NE.
  32. 50 ftContinue straight onto Dean's Delight, heading E.
  33. 0.5 miBear left onto Miner's Road, heading E.
  34. 50 ftBear right onto Creek Road, heading E.
  35. 500 ftBear left onto Observation Point Trail, heading E.
  36. 50 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading SE.
  37. 100 ftContinue straight onto Dick Bass Highway, heading SE.
  38. 50 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading E.
  39. 100 ftSharp left onto Peruvian Gulch Trail, heading E.
  40. 50 ftTurn right onto Creek Road, heading E.
  41. 450 ftContinue straight onto Chauner's Loop, heading E.
  42. 150 ftContinue straight onto Creek Road, heading E.
  43. 450 ftBear left, heading E.
  44. 350 ftContinue straight onto Whirley Bird, heading N.
  45. 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/the-pfeifferhorn-red-pine-lake-out-back-6-sights-19-km

Trail surface

99% dirt1% paved

Weather

Sunrise 7:00 AMSunset 7:52 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 6.4 mi in (~267 min). Leave by 3:06 PM for the 7:52 PM sunset. Back at your car by 11:13 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: Black Jack Lodge (Up) stop 264 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Whirley Bird Trailhead

Hikes near Alta, Utah