Mount Wolverine/ Mount Tuscarora

Mount Wolverine from Catherine Pass TH via Mount Tuscarora
 Hike Time (roundtrip): 2.5 to 4.0 hours
 Distance (roundtrip): 4 miles
 Elevation Gain: 1415 feet
Main Aspect: Southwest
 Climb Rate: 708 feet per mile
 Average Grade: 13%
Notes: A great hike that can be done in a few hours, with total solitude after leaving Catherine Pass. There are small patches of class 2 climbing (no exposure) on the way to Mt Tuscarora.

Trailhead: Catherine Pass TH
 Trailhead Elevation: 9380 ft
Trailhead Outhouse: Yes
Distance from Park-N-Ride: 10.6 miles
Area: Little Cottonwood Canyon
Area Location: East on 9400 S (SR210) in Salt Lake County
Area Fee: None
Dogs Allowed: No
Notes: There is a parking lot near the Catherine Pass trailhead (TH), but the basin gets busy on weekends. Quite often, volunteers stand at a booth near the upper Alta parking lot to encourage people to walk from there or take a free shuttle.

Waypoint 1: Catherine Pass
Elevation: 10220 Feature: Saddle
Notes: The pass seems to be the center of many great hikes. It sits on the divide between Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood Canyon, and is the gateway to several peaks.

Waypoint 2: Mount Tuscarora
 Elevation: 10611 Feature: Peak
Notes: Mt Tuscarora is the peak west of Lake Catherine, and a short distance from Mt Wolverine. It’s often a waypoint on the hike to Mt Wolverine to the west.

Destination: Mount Wolverine
 Elevation: 10795 Feature: Peak
Notes: Mt Wolverine is at the head of Wolverine Cirque, which drains into Twin Lakes. It is the tallest of the peaks surrounding the Brighton area. There are great views of both Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons.


Mt. Wolverine from Sunset Peak
 From the Catherine Pass Trailhead, cross the road and follow the trail as it climbs east then south along the lower slopes of Mt. Wolverine. Several old mines and mining roads intersect but the main trail is obvious. At 10,000 feet the trail hits a flat meadow before climbing another 200 feet to Catherine Pass. Once you hit the meadow, you can traverse up cross country to the saddle between Mt. Wolverine and Mt. Tuscarora. This is actually easier terrain than the scramblers trail from Catherine Pass. That trail climbs steep dirt from the pass up and over Mt. Tuscarora. Either way, both go quick and you'll be on top before you know it. Views are grand from the summit as Wolverine is higher than anything to the north. Take the scramblers trail over Tuscarora to get back to Catherine Pass if your goal is to climb Sunset Peak as well. From Catherine Pass, just follow the hikers trail to the summit. This is a nice trail that older kids could easily do as well. You are now also on a section of the Great Western Trail. From the summit, you are at the tri-canyon peak with views into Big, Little and American Fork Canyons. Ski area signs are all along the ridgeline so I would guess these peaks make great winter climbs as well. Inside Alta Ski Area in Albion Basin is the high trailhead for two of the easiest high mountains in the Wasatch. With a hiking trail up Sunset Peak and a scramblers trail up Mt. Wolverine, both make for an easy ascent. I was even greeted by a moose at the trailhead! Technically, Sunrise Peak falls a bit short of the 300' prominence for mountain status but it is named and is sure as appealing as any other mountain. Distance: 2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1,800 feet
Summit Elevation: 10,795 & 10,648 feet
Access Rating: Level 1 Mt. Wolverine & Sunset Peak www.WillhiteWeb.com: Your online resource for hiking, climbing and travel Access: Route: Drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Alta Ski Area. Pass the information booth and drive up the nice dirt road into Albion Basin. Near the end is the signed Catherine Pass Trailhead on the right with a restroom facility. Wolverine Sunset Peak MapAlta Ski AreaDevils Castle