Butler Fork Loop
This is a 7 mile loop with 2,000 feet of elevation that passes through thick woods and opens up with breathtaking views across the canyon.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 610 m
- Descent
- 609 m
Wasatch Backcountry
The Central Wasatch better known as Little Cottonwood and Big Cottonwood canyon offers up some of the finest backcountry skiing in the lower 48. Easily accessible from Salt Lake City, the terrain varies from mellow meadow skipping to steep technical couloirs.
Explore Wasatch Backcountry with curated guides of the best hiking trails, ski routes, and more. With over 175 3D trail maps in FATMAP, you can easily discover and navigate the best trails in Wasatch Backcountry.
No matter what your next adventure has in store, you can find a guide on FATMAP to help you plan your next epic trip.
Get a top trail recommendation in Wasatch Backcountry from one of our 11 guidebooks, or get inspired by the 175 local adventures uploaded by the FATMAP community. Start exploring now!
Routes in Wasatch Backcountry
Desolation Lake
This is a lovely moderate hike through some large aspen groves reaching a quiet little lake.
Moderate Hiking
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 606 m
- Descent
- 606 m
Cardiff Fork
This is an easy hike up an old road grade through a beautiful drainage lined by rugged alpine peaks.
Moderate Hiking
- Distance
- 14 km
- Ascent
- 840 m
- Descent
- 841 m
Days Fork
The Days Fork trail is a little over 7 miles round trip with some good elevation gain through a heavily wooded canyon that opens up into the Alpine as you gain the Little Cottonwood Ridge.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 880 m
- Descent
- 880 m
Mill B South
This is a moderate hike that gains access to one of the most scenic lakes in the Wasatch.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 9.8 km
- Ascent
- 809 m
- Descent
- 809 m
Gobblers Knob
The trail up Gobblers Knob is a Wasatch classic that offers moderate hiking through aspen groves and into the open alpine.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 11 km
- Ascent
- 927 m
- Descent
- 927 m
Mount Raymond
Mount Raymond is one of the tallest and most prominent peaks along the Big Cottonwood/Millcreek ridge.
Severe Hiking
- Distance
- 12 km
- Ascent
- 928 m
- Descent
- 926 m
Little Cottonwood Canyon Trail
A short roadside trail that follows the lower portion of the creek in Little Cottonwood Canyon
Difficult Mountain Biking
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 567 m
- Descent
- 567 m
Twin Peaks via Broad Forks Trail
The mighty Twin Peaks are the most visible and prominent mountains in the Wasatch front.
Extreme Hiking
- Distance
- 13 km
- Ascent
- 1.6 km
- Descent
- 1.6 km
Ferguson Canyon
The Ferguson Canyon hike is a quick way to get out and away from the city.
Difficult Hiking
- Distance
- 9.4 km
- Ascent
- 1.3 km
- Descent
- 1.3 km
Mount Superior
The most iconic and well-known peak in the Wasatch Mountains.
Severe Hiking
- Distance
- 7.5 km
- Ascent
- 764 m
- Descent
- 764 m
Pfeifferhorn Peak
This is a strenuous, but classic hike that contains a mix of shaded forrest and high alpine environments.
Extreme Hiking
- Distance
- 15 km
- Ascent
- 1.2 km
- Descent
- 1.2 km
Virginia Slims
Virginia Slims is the fun dogleg chute next to the more popular Old Growth chute in the lower reaches of Cardiff Fork.
Difficult Ski Touring
- Distance
- 871 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 472 m
Carbonate Cliffs
Steep technical skiing in the Carbonate Cliffs.
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 218 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 144 m
Little Chute
Little Chute is the skinnier and more technical couloir to skiers right of the popular Main Chute on Mount Baldy
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 291 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 234 m
Memorial #5
This is the steepest and longest of the Memorials with excellent pitch and beautiful rock lined walls.
Severe Ski Touring
- Distance
- 640 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 446 m