South Ridge of Mount Superior

A fun and spicy ridgeline scramble to the top of Mount Superior, Little Cottonwood Canyon

Alpine Climbing Difficult

Distance: 6.8 km
Ascent: 839 m
Descent: 839 m

Low Point: 2.6 km
High Point: 3.3 km
Gradient: 32˚

This is a classic fun climb in the Wasatch Mountains.

final ridge to the summit Photo: Madison Rose Ostergren

Ridgeline Climbing Section Photo: Madison Rose Ostergren, Photographer: Marcus Caston

Techie Climbing section Photo: Madison Rose Ostergren, Photographer: Marcus Caston

South Ridge Ridgeline Photo: Madison Rose Ostergren, Photographer: Cam Mcleod

Ridgeline Traverse Photo: Madison Rose Ostergren, Megan Dingman, Photographer: Marcus Caston

South Ridge of Mount Superior Photo: Madison Rose Ostergren, Photographer: Cam Mcleod

Description

The South Ridge of Superior includes Quartzite and Tillite ridgeline scrambles, complete with a couple of exhilarating knife-edge sections.

This is an easy climb or class 5 scramble during the summer season. Experienced climbers and mountain runners usually do this climb with no gear. For less experienced climbers you would want to be prepared with gear and a light 50M rope due to the high exposure and terrain.

The climb starts at either the Shallow Shaft restaurant or from the base of the South Ridgeline of Mount Superior. Follow the ridge to the summit and be sure to spend some time at the top taking in the epic views.

Once you're ready to head down, descend the East Ridge down to Cardiff Pass and then follow the well-trafficked trails back to the base of Alta Resort.

Difficulty

Difficult

The beginning of truly technical terrain which might involve pitched climbing on rock and/or ice, exposed terrain and complex route finding in ascent and descent. Equivalent to AD, AD+