Cottonwood Ridge Traverse

Destination: Cottonwood Ridge Traverse
 Elevation: 11330
Notes: The Cottonwood Ridge Traverse takes you over Mt Superior, Monte Cristo, Peak 11033, Dromedary, Sunrise and Broads Fork Twin Peaks. Be ready for much scrambling and mush exposure. The difference between this route and the Triple Traverse is the addition of the first 3 peaks.

Cottonwood Ridge Traverse from Mill B South Fork TH
 Hike Time: 12.0 to 20.5 hours
 Distance: 13.0 miles
 Elevation Gain: 7695 feet
Main Aspect: All Directions
 Climb Rate: 592 feet per mile
 Average Grade: 11%
Notes: This traverse takes you up on the ridgeline between Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons. An alternate starting point is from the Alta trailhead in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Head west from Cardiff Pass.

Trailhead: Mill B South Fork TH
Trailhead Elevation: 6220 ft
Trailhead Outhouse: Yes
Distance from Park-N-Ride: 4.3 miles
Area: Big Cottonwood Canyon
Area Location: East on 7200 S (SR190) in Salt Lake County
Area Fee: None
Dogs Allowed: No
Notes: The parking lot is east of the first turn in the Mill B S turn. The Lake Blanche trail heads out on an old road to the east. The Broads Fork TH is almost hidden at the west end of the parking lot.

Waypoint 1: Lake Blanche
 Elevation: 8920 Feature: Lake
Notes: If you make it to this lake, you should go to the 2 sister lakes, all within a half mile. The view of Sundial Peak from here is one that is photographed often. I had all 3 lakes to myself for about an hour when I went there, it was hard to leave. Painter/author Alfred Lambourne lived in the Lake Blanche area for 5 months in the 1880s.

Waypoint 2: Mount Superior & Monte Cristo
 Elevation: 11132 Feature: Peak
Notes: These 2 peaks are so close together that I debated whether or not I should give each their own pages. Most trip reports and trail descriptions include both, so I decided to combine them. The peaks require mountaineering skills.

Waypoint 3: Dromedary Peak
 Elevation: 11107 Feature: Peak
Notes: The peak is at the top of the ridge seperating Broads Fork and Mill B North Fork canyons, as well as the Cottonwood Ridge which seperates Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons. The peak is part of the Triple Traverse and the Cottonwood Traverse.

Waypoint 4: Sunrise Peak
 Elevation: 11275 AKA: O’Sullivan Peak
 Feature: Peak
Notes: It is between Broads Fork Twin Peaks and Dromedary Peak on the Cottonwood Ridge. It requires some mountaineering skills.

Waypoint 5: Twin Peaks (Broads Fork)
 Elevation: 11330 Feature: Peak
Notes: An impressive peak, whether you are looking at it from Salt Lake Valley or Broads Fork.