The Pfeifferhorn, also known as The Little Matterhorn, is a spectacular triangular-shaped peak and is a challenging, iconic hike. Pfeifferhorn is named after Charles Pfeiffer, whose ashes were spread on the peak in 1939. He was an avid hiker and climber who was the head of the Wasatch Mountain Club. Since then it was referred to as The Pfeifferhorn and in 2013, the name was officially changed to reflect the commonly used term. It is a high summit of 11,326 feet, so one of the highest peaks in the Wasatch Range.
Directions
As of 12/01/25 this will be a fee area $10/vehicle for a 3-day pass, $20/vehicle for a 7-day pass, $60/vehicle for a year pass, or $80/vehicle for the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass that includes all the National Parks and Monuments in the country.
Purchase pass online here.
This trail begins at the same starting point as the family-friendly Gloria Falls and the longer and more challenging Maybir Gulch to Maybird Lakes, Red Pine Lake, Upper Red Pine Lakes, and White Pine Lake also begin at this trailhead.
All of these trails follow the same trail for the first 0.9 mile to the river.
As you hike up the trail here are some views.
The trail to White Pine Lake diverts next to the river, switching back behind you.
Head up the hill and you will see a bridge. The view up river is beautiful.
Shortly after the bridge is the turn off for Gloria Falls for its last 0.2 miles to the falls. It can be a quick detour on the way to or from The Pfeifferhorn.
The trail continues just after the bridge. Don’t continue on the trail that goes slightly right. Instead continue slightly left.
Head through aspen trees.
There are periodic views of Little Cottonwood Canyon into the valley below. This photo shows off the sunrise.
The wildflowers in July and August are on full display.
One time heading up I saw this cute cottontail rabbit.
For the first two and a half miles this trail has a gradual incline. A few years ago they rerouted part of the trail to create more a more sustainable trail. You can see where the old trail was going straight up verses the new switchbacks.
After a while the trail parallels the creek.
At this point there is a bridge (currently missing) that heads off to the right to continue to Maybird Gulch and Maybird Lakes.
You can get great views of The Pfeifferhorn from Maybird Lakes.
Continue straight on the trail towards Red Pine Lake.
The trail get much steeper and has more rocks.
The trees thin out and you have views of the mountains around.
Soon you arrive at beautiful Red Pine Lake.
The main trail goes clockwise on the left side of the lake.
There are some beautiful views on this side.
Red Pine Lake is a popular place to backpack due partially due to its proximity of The Pfeifferhorn. Many camp nearby so they can summit the peak early in the morning.
Beyond Red Pine Lake, the trail gets steeper and rocky.
This one is looking down from near the top.
We passed this cute yellow-bellied marmot.
When you come out over the top there is sort of a meadow with a trail that continues straight, but you will need to make a sharp right heading up the hill between the boulder fields. Both these photos are looking down towards Upper Red Pine Lakes. They show the grassy area you’ll want to follow up the hill.
This is the view looking up the trail the way you need to go.
The trail gets steeper and steeper as you get up higher. The views are impressive.
Here are some photos of Red Pine Lake and Upper Red Pine Lakes from this area.
Red Pine Lake is to the left and Upper Red Pine Lakes to the right.
If you have hiking poles you will probably want to put them away as it gets steep enough to use your hands to help get up the hill. Here is a view looking up and when looking down towards my friend (look closely to see her).
Here are views to the left and right.
When you finally get to the top of the hill you have to continue along the boulders, forward and to the right. Soon you get a view of the Salt Lake Valley below and Pfeifferhorn ahead.
There have been some wildfires so the view was a bit obstructed, but the views were still beautiful. The second photo is zoomed in portion of the first photo. It’s a little unnamed pond you can see down below.
I saw a butterfly and hawk along the way.
You soon approach Pfeifferhorn.
If you look to your right, you can see Maybird Lakes below.
This photo is zoomed in on Maybird Lakes.
Here is a reverse view from Maybird Lakes looking toward Pfeifferhorn.
Returning to the Pfeifferhorn trail, this section of the trail is called The Knife’s Edge or The Spine.
It is a narrow section with drop offs on either side. You don’t have to get too close to the edge, but it was mentally challenging for me. Here is a view from either direction.
You have class 3 scrambling using your hands to cross over. You’ll want to stay as close to the top of the spine as possible, although there were a few sections we had to veer slightly to the left side.
Here is a view of me when I had already summited and was nearly past The Knife’s Edge the second time. You can see that it is actually wider than it looks.
A small section was steep on the return, but a larger portion was steep after this to the top. I went down on my hands like this because I didn’t want to slip.
When you get past The Spine, there is a steep ascent. You want to go up the left side of the raised area in the picture. It is very steep the rest of the push to the top.
This view looking back down from the top down to The Knife’s Edge shows off the steepness.
Finally we made it to the summit! There is a metal box dedicated to a dog named Pfeiffer. I left a note.
This hike really is breathtaking!
You can see Mount Superior in the second picture.
The Pfeifferhorn is a challenging climb, but rewarding!
Stats: Distance – 10.5 miles roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 6-12 hours
Elevation gain – 6,697 feet
Difficulty – Difficult
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks
Bathrooms – At Trailhead
Seasons to hike – April – November
Permits needed – As of 12/1/25 this is a fee area and is $10/vehicle or a requires a National Parks Pass
Pets allowed – No
Other challenging trails nearby are Maybird Gulch to Maybird Lakes, Sunset Peak, Mount Superior and Monte Cristo, Red Pine Lake, Upper Red Pine Lake, White Pine Lake, and Sugarloaf Peak. Easier hikes are Gloria Falls, Albion Meadows, Cecret Lake, and Lisa Falls.
