Snowbird, hike to hidden peak, tram ride down, and other stuff!

Video and pictures from a hike to Hidden Peak from the snowbird center.  Hidden Peak is the peak which snowbird removed the top of to build the tram.  They have subsequently also put a lift from Mineral Basin to the top of hidden peak, and installed a tunnel connecting Peruvian Gulch to Mineral Basin.

I have been coming to snowbird since I was too young to remember, and I find it sad to see how much more development there is now than when I was a kid.  I can't help but think it's been to the detriment of the area.  As a kid, I used to love the tram, and spent a great deal of time skiing, but the older I get the more I wish these areas would stay undeveloped.  Sorry, </rant>.

This year was really really wet, and the trail is far more wet and snowier than I've ever seen it in early August.  This isn't a difficult hike, but it does take some time.  I made it in around 2.5 hours with no breaks other than walking through the new tunnel.  The hike is mostly up a dirt maintenance road, so the grade isn't too bad.  You do gain a lot of elevation, however, so plan accordingly.  Both the Peruvian lift (which was running when I was there) and the tram are free to take down, so if you don't have the time (or the knees) to make it down the way you came up, you can take a leisurely tram or lift ride down.

Both Cottonwood canyons are watershed areas, and as such pets are not allowed, sorry!



Here's some fog in the evening, and a view of it clear the next morning!


As an added bonus, here's a video of the new Zipline they have at the snowbird center, enjoy!