Sunset Peak

        Located at the top of Big Cottonwood canyon, Sunset Peak is an out and back climb to its summit above Catherine pass.  The trail begins at the parking lot of Brighton ski resort.  Taking this run in mid summer comes with well maintained trails, wildflowers, heat, and lots of people. Ascending the 2235 feet to the summit requires some serious pacing if you plan on running up the whole thing.

  
Distance:             6.48 miles
Elevation Gain:  2235 Feet
Max Elevation:   10679 Feet
Min Elevation:    8802 Feet
Average Slope:    +15.4%
                              -9.3%
Season:                 June-October

2235 Feet of relatively consistent elevation gain.

Things to be aware of: 
    Look for the moose that are almost always up there.  Near the top there are sections of the trail that are exposed to some pretty good drop-offs, but nothing to serious.  This probably is not a good trail to be on during summer thunder storms.  All the lakes are water shed, so don't let people see you swimming.
 
    The trail begins at the parking lot to Brighton Ski Resort.  During the first half mile, the trail snakes up through open meadows up the ski slopes.  It soon enters into the trees and approaches Lake Mary on a very scenic single track. 

Tree cover is rather patchy, becoming more sparse as the elevation increases.

    The first sign of the lake is it's dam.  You arrive at Lake Mary just after mile 1.  The trail will then traverse along the shoreline of the lake with a little brake in elevation gain.  

View from the north end of Lake Mary.  That mountain in the back center is Sunset Peak.

      After passing Lake Mary, you soon run past it's smaller neighbor lake to the south, Martha.  The trail then takes some switchbacks heading south up to Lake Catherine.  You get another little break from climbing while coasting through open meadows past Lake Catherine to the bottom of Catherine's Pass.  The Climb from the bottom of Catherine's Pass to the fork is tough.  

Looking down onto lake Catherine from top of Catherine's Pass.

    Once you've reached the fork the trail backs off on climbing for a little bit while you fly along the ridge towards the summit.  This part is really fun... especially if you don't like heights.  The trail begins to climb very steep, and cuts around to the back of the mountain.  It's very steep, but doesn't last very long, not to bad.  That is it.