Trail
6.7 mile
10.7 kilometer
out and back
Difficult
Elevation
Ascent:
4,130'
1,259 m
Descent: -4,127' -1,258 m
High: 8,964' 2,732 m
Low: 4,834' 1,474 m
Grade
Avg Grade: 23% (13°)
Max Grade: 91% (42°)
Dogs
Leashed
Weather
All Clear
Popular hikes nearby
Bells Canyon Lower Waterfall
5.3 mi 8.6 km • Loop • 1,430 ft Ascent 435.98 m Ascent
(40)
Granite, UT
Desolation Trail to Salt Lake Overlook
4.4 mi 7.0 km • Out and Back • 1,232 ft Ascent 375.55 m Ascent
(20)
Mount O…, UT
Butler Fork
3.3 mi 5.3 km • Out and Back • 1,486 ft Ascent 452.87 m Ascent
(5)
Alta, UT
The Living Room
2.4 mi 3.8 km • Out and Back • 960 ft Ascent 292.53 m Ascent
(23)
Salt La…, UT
Dog Lake and Desolation Lake
8.5 mi 13.6 km • Loop • 2,133 ft Ascent 650.01 m Ascent
(11)
Alta, UT
Jacob's Ladder Trail
11.7 mi 18.9 km • Out and Back • 5,498 ft Ascent 1675.77 m Ascent
(13)
Draper, UT
“A steep trail to great views.”
— LizFeatures Fall Colors · Spring · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife
Overview
Though the trail is quite steep, the well-maintained path is quite easy to follow and can be used year-round.
Description
Amazing views at the top and a really engaging trail, especially the scramble to the top. The trail is not that long, but the steep grade makes it much harder.
Begin at the parking area off Wasatch Blvd. The trail immediately starts climbing quite steeply up the ridge. It switchbacks frequently up Tolcats Canyon, crossing the drainage about 1.8 miles in. Here the trail get gruelingly steep as it heads up the drainage. Once you pop out of the forest the final push to the summit is steep and there are a few steep drop-offs. Be on your game as you scramble to the top. Once you're at the summit however, the views of the valley below are incredible.
Begin at the parking area off Wasatch Blvd. The trail immediately starts climbing quite steeply up the ridge. It switchbacks frequently up Tolcats Canyon, crossing the drainage about 1.8 miles in. Here the trail get gruelingly steep as it heads up the drainage. Once you pop out of the forest the final push to the summit is steep and there are a few steep drop-offs. Be on your game as you scramble to the top. Once you're at the summit however, the views of the valley below are incredible.
Contacts
Land Manager: USFS - Uinta, Wasatch & Cache National Forests Office
Rate This Hike
Rate Quality
Rate Difficulty
Share This Hike
Check In
Check-Ins
Jan 13, 2019
Marco Mora-Huizar
This is an awesome hike. This morning there was snow on the scramble up to the peak.
3.4mi
May 5, 2018
Daniel Butters
Not a lot of snow for the year. Ascended with Dylan and Chris. Killed my abs on the way down.
May 5, 2018
Jenn Hein
Went just past the saddle and started up the scramble when we thought better of it. Great hike!
Apr 11, 2018
Matthew Funke
Favorite hike in Utah thus far it had some snow after 7000’ but it wasn’t terrible.
Feb 13, 2018
Andrew Winslow
Conditions were decent. A lot of compact snow. Happy I had crampons, everyone that had micro spikes turned around.
6.7mi
Feb 7, 2018
Joe Getty
Felt like I walked from Utah into middle earth and then into Narnia. Definitely not an easy hike/climb bring your spikes and poles!
Nov 12, 2017
Naresh Kumar
Great day! There's a saddle about 85.37% of the way up. No snow (other than little patches) up top. Brand new mailbox at the summit for sharing you…
3.4mi
Oct 7, 2017
Andy F
Time accounts for hike up and down. Very steep, but a doable hike for beginners. Great views from both the saddle and peak.
3.3mi
Sep 20, 2017
Cameron Titus
2:20 up, 1:15 down. Rested 35 minutes up top. All trails app screwed up gps tracking.
3.4mi
—
2h 20m
Jun 21, 2013
chad christensen
Only hiked down this trail. Climbed up the West Slabs and continued to the summit. Great View.
1 Comment