The striking south face of Mount Superior is in a spot cleared by the resort’s skiers, keeping them away from the bustling scene across the street at Snowbird. It is a 3,000 foot line running southeast and varying in inclination between 30 and 40 degrees. This makes for incredible skiing, outrageous views, but an adventure that should never be taken lightly. Avalanche knowledge and quality skiing skills are essential to maximize, but do not guarantee, your safety.
In this article, I will give you everything you need and want to know about this line!
Distance – 4.4 miles round trip (7.1 km)
Height – 11,037 feet (3,364 m)
Elevation gain – 2,910 feet (887 meters)
Duration – 3.5 – 4 hours
Difficulty – Difficult to extreme
Trailhead Locations – Cardiff Trail
Dogs: Not allowed
Logistics
Generally, those looking to ski superiorly take one of the following approaches:
- They have a hotel or house to stay in Alta
- They drive their car up to the canyon (with an Alta parking reservation if necessary) and park as close to the trailhead as possible.
- They take the bus system up to Alta and back down (free with the Ikon pass, small extra without ski pass)
With either of these options, most will walk back to the car, hotel or bus stop along the route, or hitch a ride for a few minutes up the canyon from where the line ends.
The simplest approach is to reserve a parking space and park as close to the trailhead as possible.
Parking reservations are required for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, holidays and weekday parking before 8 a.m. Information on booking Alta parking can be found here. Reservations are not required after 1 p.m. – but often conditions require starting earlier.
Information about the bus system can be found here.
When is the best time to ski in Mount Superior?
Generally, the upper level is skied between January and May each year. From February to April, the snowpack will be thickest and spring will see the snowpack decrease rapidly. All of these months can be great months to ski in Superior, provided the avalanches and weather conditions align. Almost any day that conditions align, you’ll find traces of Superior.
Because it is a south-facing line, as the season progresses,
Trail map
Below is a FatMap route as well as my Strava activity for the Classic Trail and the Superior Ski Trail. You can download this GPX track for free for your device or chosen software.
Strava:
Fat map:
Avalanche Information
Slope angle: 30-40 degrees (the entire descent takes place in avalanche terrain)
Aspect of the approach: South and southeast orientation
Ski aspect: South and southeast (some options may face east)
Rage of Elevation: 8,400 – 11,024
This entire route should not be taken lightly. Conditions must align before attempting this line, and avalanches are extremely common on this line. This is a south-facing line that extends approximately 3,000 feet in elevation. This means that the sun heats it up very quickly. This area is subject to wind effect, wind load, sun effect, etc. Therefore, anyone attempting this line must have a thorough understanding of current conditions, as well as avalanche training and knowledge.
Instructions
Directions to the Alta-Brighton Trailhead, a common spot where many people can park with reservations.
Description of the route
Skiers start by finding Our Lady Of The Snow Center and heading towards Michigan City Road. There is almost always a skin track to follow, but otherwise the route is relatively straightforward in that the skin track follows the telephone poles up to the pass.
Once you arrive at the pass, continue following the ridge above Cardiff Peak, continuing over the ridge to Little Superior and continuing along the ridge to Superior.
Looking at Superior from Cardiff Peak
An existing skin track and bootpack will likely be there, but otherwise the route is generally as simple as following the ridge. It should be noted that parts of this ridge become very steep and thin, creating a “knife” style ridge in various places.
Skiing from the summit is also relatively simple. There are different lines that can be derived from the true vertex. Additional lines can appear when the snow is higher, and when it is lower, part of the main route can become quite narrow, especially in the lower cliff band of the line.
A group just a stone’s throw from the summit.
Once below the lower cliff band, the route is very straightforward through an open snowfield back to the road.
Alternative route
The route above is the most common route. Some will climb Superior directly on the South Ridge in spring conditions. This is generally not the recommended approach. Others can also ski to the north side of Superior or start at Mill D South Fork, gain the ridge, then cross over to Superior.
Weather forecast
Here is a detailed weather forecast for the next 4 days:
Alta, UT
Overnight
Mostly clear, with a low around 43. South wind around 10 mph.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 56. South wind around 9 mph.
Sunday evening
Scattered smoke between 9 p.m. and midnight. Mostly clear, with a low around 42. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph.
Columbus Day
Sunny, with a high near 54. South southwest wind 5 to 8 mph.
Monday evening
Mostly clear, with a low around 40. Northwest wind around 6 mph.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 53.
Thursday evening
Generally clear, with a minimum around 41.
Other important information
Skinning and starting
You can skin up to the ridge, and a large part of the ridge to the summit. The ridge requires a descent after Cardiff Peak, which can be a bit scary, so be prepared for that!
Once hiking along the ridge toward Little Superior, conditions may require a transition to starting quite frequently. In good conditions you can descend quite a distance before launching the final push to the summit. However, you will still need to attach the skis or board to the bag regardless of the conditions, so be prepared for that.
Do you need an ice ax and/or crampons?
It depends. Under certain conditions, you probably wish you had them! When the conditions align well, you will be able to start the last part to the summit without the need for crampons or an ice axe. That being said, a windswept ridge or light snow ridge can create conditions where the use of these tools is entirely justified. The answer here is that it depends. Use the recent beta to figure out what you need, and if in doubt, bring crampons and an ice axe.
Appellation
Naming peaks can be very confusing because the USGS does not have a name for the ski line we are discussing here today. In fact, the USGS calls what everyone calls Monte Cristo Superior. So here’s a quick image to help you:
Additional photos
Max Des Marais
Max DesMarais is the founder of Hikingandfishing.com. He has a passion for the outdoors and wants to make outdoor education and adventure more accessible. Max is a published author for various outdoor adventure, travel, and marketing websites. He is an experienced hiker, backpacker, fly fisherman, cross-country skier, trail runner, and spends his free time outdoors. These adventures allow him to test equipment, learn new skills, and see new places so he can educate others. Max grew up hiking all over New Hampshire and New England. He became obsessed with the mountains of New Hampshire and NH 48, where he guided hikes and trails in the White Mountains. Since moving out west, Max has continued to climb all of the 14ers in Colorado, always testing his gear, learning skills, gaining experience, and building his endurance for outdoor sports. You can read more about his experience here: hikingandfishing/about