Little Black Mountain

Click to enlarge panoramic view

Little Black mountain is located Northwest of Downtown Salt Lake City and is easily accessed from the Salt Lake Avenues. There are many trail-heads that will lead you to the mountain (as long as you are headed in the right direction). The trail-head we chose is located on Richland Dr. just off of North Bonneville Dr. located in the Salt Lake Avenues. For Directions to Richland Dr. click here.

The first part of the trail starts out up a well traveled hill very popular with mountain bikers. After descending the first hill there is an intersection of trails, continue heading East up a small ridge and then turn to the left and follow the ridge to the top of the hill. This is the first "Hill" along the ridge that heads to Little Black. After each hill the trail descends slightly and then climbs up higher with then next one. The second hill top also leads to the Avenues Twin Peaks. To summit Twin Peaks continue heading south up to the top of the first Twin Peak. Twin Peaks has some nice views of the Salt Lake Valley but not nearly as breathtaking as Little Black.

Looking towards Little Black Mountain

View from one of the Avenues Twin Peaks

Head back to the Northeast and continue along the ridge toward the final destination. There are a few more small climbs till you get to the final climb up to the top. The last mile or so is quite difficult as you make your way to the summit. Once to the top take a look around the view extends North from Ogden and Ben Lomond Peak all the way South to Utah Lake and Mount Timpanogos, From the Uinta Mountains to the East with Deseret Peak and the Great Salt Lake to the West.

Snowy final stretch

Joeh on his way up the last bit of steep terrain

It took us a while to catch our breath before heading back down. Don't forget to sign the register at the top. If you want more of a hike the ridge continues on to Lookout Peak, we decided to turn around. On the way back there are several branches in the trail that head back to various trail-heads. We missed the trail that brought us up the mountain and ended up heading down "The Bobsled" which is a popular mountain bike trail. The Bobsled trail was more step with many curves, fun for bikers, it made us glad we were going down the trail as it would have been a difficult climb up. The total trip took us just under 4 1/2 hours and we hiked for about 9 miles round trip.

Geological Benchmark (no elevation engraving)

Geocache register

View Little Black Mountain 5-25-11 in a larger map


Total Distance: 15.56 km (9.7 mi)
Total Time: 4:25:56
Moving Time: 3:21:21
Average Speed: 3.51 km/h (2.2 mi/h)
Average Moving Speed: 4.64 km/h (2.9 mi/h)
Max Speed: 11.91 km/h (7.4 mi/h)
Min Elevation: 1564 m (5132 ft)
Max Elevation: 2376 m (7794 ft)
Elevation Gain: 1167 m (3830 ft)
Max Grade: 1 %
Min Grade: -2 %
Recorded: Wed May 25 06:46:23 MDT 2011

Activity type: - Hiking

Emigration Ridge Line Trail

Click Image for panoramic view

Although the original intent was to climb to the top of Perkins Peak starting from the West and following a small and poorly marked ridge-line trail, our plan was spoiled by the abundance of "no trespassing" signs and "intruders will be prosecuted" signs found at what we thought to be a perfectly good trail head. We instead drove to the summit of Emigration canyon and started the trek from there. The trail starts from the south side of the road and when you get above the dirt parking lot you are able to see two of the higher points along the ridge-line trail. This hike was much different than any of the previous hikes in that the beginning seemed to have as much down hill as it did up hill as the trail made its way along the ridge. after the first few peaks and valleys the trail turns from an old double track jeep trail to a progressively steeper single track game trail. after you reach the top of the first large summit "the beast" (informally named by me) the second is a much more manageable climb to the top.

up "the beast" the first of two large summits

The trail has a continuous view of both Parleys canyon and Emigration canyon and there is a constant hum of the distant traffic from I-80. When you reach the higher of the two peaks there are 360 views to Salt Lake City, Mt. Wire, Mt Olympus, Grandeur Peak, and panoramic views to the surrounding snow topped mountains.

View of the last stretch along the snowy ridge

We turned around at the second peak, however the trail continues along the ridge-line and eventually takes you to a couple higher peaks before dropping back into the valley between Emigration and Parleys canyons.(if you are sneaky enough maybe you can get off the west end of the trail without being prosecuted)


View Emigration ridge-line 05-12- 11 in a larger map



Total Distance: 12.34 km (7.7 mi)
Total Time: 2:33:42
Moving Time: 1:57:55
Average Speed: 4.82 km/h (3.0 mi/h)
Average Moving Speed: 6.28 km/h (3.9 mi/h)
Max Speed: 10.06 km/h (6.3 mi/h)
Min Elevation: 1817 m (5961 ft)
Max Elevation: 2243 m (7358 ft)
Elevation Gain: 733 m (2404 ft)

Mt. Wire (Big Beacon)

Photo courtesy of Jared Winston

Mt Wire has many access points the trail we decided to hike I would suggest is the easiest to the top. The trail-head is located just off the Bonneville Shoreline trail (BST). Parking can be found along Colorow Rd. behind Fort Douglas near the University of Utah. (check the map for directions)

 The Trail has a few different sources that all stem from the BST. We accessed the BST just to the north of The Huntsman Corp. headquarters along a small creek bed for spring runoff there normally is not much water along the trail, be sure to bring plenty of your own. The trail heads to the East directly behind the Huntsman building. the first part of the trail has a gradual climb in elevation after about a 1/2 mile the trail makes a turn to the north and becomes more steep. The majority of the climb is along a canyon on the north west side of the mountain the trail is engulfed by scrub oak which can keep the trail nice and cool especially on a early spring morning. The top of the canyon is about 3 miles into the hike the trail then turns to the Southwest and climbs up the first of three ridges the third and final ridge is the top of Mt. Wire. At the top there are wonderful views of downtown Salt Lake to the West and South, Mount Van Cott to the Northwest, Emigration Ridge to the East, and Grandeur Peak to the Southeast.

For the hike down we choose to descend the Southwest side of the mountain. This route is much more steep and more strenuous. Beginning hikers should take caution, don't be in a hurry one false or rushed step could cause injury.  The trail down branches in many directions but by staying to the right at each fork you it will lead back to the BST not far from where the trail began.
Some of the Hiking Statistics:

Total Distance: 11.63 km (7.2 mi)
Total Time: 3:14:34
Moving Time: 1:42:53
Average Speed: 3.59 km/h (2.2 mi/h)
Average Moving Speed: 6.79 km/h (4.2 mi/h)
Max Speed: 10.80 km/h (6.7 mi/h)
Min Elevation: 1510 m (4955 ft)
Max Elevation: 2171 m (7123 ft)
Elevation Gain: 832 m (2730 ft)
Hike to Mt Wire (Big Beacon) 5-May-2011









View Mt Wire Hike