Gobblers Knob & Mount Raymond (Butler Fork)

A long, strenuous climb from the Butler Fork trailhead in Big Cottonwood Canyon to two side-by-side Wasatch summits. The trail switchbacks up through aspen into Mill A Basin, joins the Desolation Trail corridor, and reaches the unsigned saddle at Baker Pass. From the pass it is a short, rocky off-trail scramble east to Gobblers Knob (10,246 ft, the high point of the Mount Olympus Wilderness) or a longer ridge walk west to Mount Raymond (10,241 ft). Most parties bag one summit; bagging both turns it into a full day. Reckon roughly 8 miles round trip and about 3,100 feet of gain for Gobblers Knob alone, more for the pair.

Quick stats

Distance

8 mi round trip

Elevation gain

3133 ft

Time

5–6.5 hrs

Difficulty

Strenuous

Dogs

Not allowed

Best months

Jul, Aug, Sep

Getting there & parking

From Salt Lake City, drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon (SR-190) about 8 miles to the Butler Fork trailhead, on the south side of the road just past mile marker 10 and roughly 0.6 mile west of Jordan Pines. The pullout is small and unsigned for restrooms — there are none, and no water. A standard passenger car is fine in summer. Big Cottonwood Canyon is a protected watershed, so leave dogs at home (see access notes). Note: the same two peaks can be approached from Alexander Basin in Millcreek Canyon, but that is a different trailhead with different rules — this page describes the Butler Fork approach only.

There is no parking or day-use fee at the Butler Fork trailhead. (Note: the alternate Alexander Basin approach from Millcreek Canyon does charge a Millcreek day-use fee, roughly $5 on exit — that does not apply here.)

Know before you go

No dogs. Dogs are banned at Butler Fork and everywhere in Big Cottonwood Canyon — including dogs left in your car — because it is Salt Lake City's protected drinking-water watershed. First-offense fines run up to $650, and swimming or wading is also prohibited. (Dogs are allowed on the Millcreek/Alexander Basin approach to the same peaks, but not from this trailhead.)

No hiking permit required.

The route

About 8 miles round trip and ~3,100 ft gain for Gobblers Knob alone (AllTrails). Adding Mount Raymond pushes the day toward 9.5–9.8 miles and ~3,900 ft of gain (Girl on a Hike). Figures vary by source and by how many summits you bag.

• 0 mi · Butler Fork Trailhead — Start on the south side of SR-190, just past mile marker 10, and climb through aspen.
• 0.7 mi · First split — bear left toward Mill A Basin — Left for Mill A Basin and the summits; right heads to Dog Lake.
• 1.5 mi · Second junction — stay left for Mill A Basin — After about a dozen switchbacks to the first ridgeline, stay left, joining the Desolation Trail corridor toward Mill A Basin.
• 3 mi · Baker Pass (unsigned saddle) — At the saddle (referred to as Baker Pass or Baker Spring), turn right/east up the ridge for Gobblers Knob or left/west along the ridge for Mount Raymond.
• 4 mi · Gobblers Knob summit (10,246 ft) — A short Class 2 scramble east from Baker Pass to the high point of the Mount Olympus Wilderness. Return the same way.
• 4.5 mi · Mount Raymond summit (10,241 ft) — Roughly 1.5 miles southwest of Gobblers Knob along the connecting ridge; a longer ridge walk with a rocky scramble to the top.

When to go

Best and safest window is mid-June through October, once the avalanche paths in Butler Fork and Mill A Basin have melted out. Afternoon thunderstorms are common on the exposed summit ridges — start early and be off the top before they build.

SR-190 stays open year-round, but this is serious avalanche terrain in winter and spring: Butler Fork and Mill A Basin hold large avalanche paths and terrain traps, and an off-season ascent demands avalanche training, a partner, and a forecast check. Big Cottonwood Canyon also requires approved snow tires or chains from October 1 through April 30, and avalanche control can close the canyon road outright.

Check current conditions before you go:

• UDOT Cottonwood Canyons road status
• Utah Avalanche Center — Salt Lake forecast

Safety & hazards

Butler Fork and Mill A Basin hold large avalanche paths and terrain traps. In winter and spring this is serious avalanche terrain. Off-season ascents require avalanche training, a partner, rescue gear, and a current forecast. The safe window is mid-June through October.

The final pitches to each summit leave the trail for exposed, rocky Class 2 scrambling. A Mount Raymond ridge variation runs Class 3. Loose rock and exposure on the upper ridges; route-finding off-trail. Turn around if the line feels harder than you came for.

The summit ridges are exposed and above treeline. Afternoon thunderstorms are typical on Wasatch ridgelines in summer. Start early and plan to be off the summit before midday storms build.

There is no reliable water on the upper route, and the day is long and strenuous at altitude. Carry all your water from the trailhead — figure on a 5 to 6.5 hour round trip.

Wildlife & geology

The lower trail climbs through aspen and conifer; Mill A Basin opens to subalpine meadow. Moose frequent the lower drainages — keep your distance.

Wildlife you might see: moose, mule deer.

The summit ridges are Round Valley Limestone of Pennsylvanian age. The Big Cottonwood Mining District worked the surrounding terrain; the Baker mine produced gold and copper in 1904.

History

When ore in the Big Cottonwood Mining District played out, broke miners reportedly tried raising turkeys on the summit meadows; the venture failed when bobcats ate the flock. The U.S. Board on Geographic Names officially adopted the name 'Gobblers Knob' in 1964.

Part of the Big Cottonwood Mining District; the nearby Baker mine produced gold and copper in 1904.

Nearby hikes

• Donut Falls — Big Cottonwood Canyon
• Lake Blanche — Big Cottonwood Canyon
• Dog Lake (Big Cottonwood Canyon) — Big Cottonwood Canyon