Big Cottonwood Canyon to Guardsman Pass
Elevation Profile
Details
For the most part, this is a long tedious climb most of the way up
Big Cottonwood Canyon.
The part that makes it a bitch is the final climb to Guardsman.
It is pretty smooth going from the turn-off up to the second switchback
about a mile from the top.
Then it gets ugly.
The road takes a decidedly upward turn as you do a couple of hundred yards
at 15% plus grade.
Just when you think it can get no worse...the pavement ends.
Dirt. Not just smooth dirt, but dirt with a regular washboard surface.
After enduring 0.3 miles of this, its back to pavement and you think you
have it whipped until...the pavement ends.
Dirt. Not washboard this time, but sharp, pointy, closely-spaced rocks.
After another 0.3 miles of manuvering, you are all done!
From the stop light on Wasatch at the mouth of the canyon to
the pass is approximately
17 miles and 4790 vertical feet.
Road Distances
Miles Elev. Landmark Latitude, Longitude
0.0 4910 Intersection
2.8 5750 Storm Mountain
4.3 6190 S-curve
11.1 7750 Silver Fork Lodge
12.5 8190 Solitude
13.8 8630 Guardsman turnoff
16.2 9330 Pavement ends
16.9 9700 Guardsman pass
Mike Hibler
<mike@cs.utah.edu>