From Salt Lake City, travel east about 6 miles on I-80 to exit 134 (East Canyon / Little Dell). From exit 134, travel north on UT-65 for 8.4 miles to Big Mountain Pass, and a large parking area on the east side of the road.

From the pass, it is essential to make sure you are on the correct trail. You want the path leaving the parking lot on the northeast side. It is an old road that climbs up to a gate, and beyond. It is signed as part of the Great Western Trail.

Once on the correct trail, it climbs steeply, but not too steeply up to near the summit of what is often referred to as Little Big Mountain or South Big Mountain. The remains of an old Airway Signal Tower are visible just off the trail near the summit. Continue along, as the trail begins a series of gentle ups and downs, passing through meadows and aspen groves.

After about 30 minutes, the trail makes a steeper descent, then begins the longest climb up the day up Bald Mountain proper. The trail is heavily wooded as it climbs to the ridge, then opens up with excellent views of the peaks making up Big Cottonwood Canyon and Millcreek Canyon, with the Salt Lake Valley also visible in the distance.

Bald Mountain is the visible summit, with a small rock cairn marking its top. (3.4 miles from the pass to the summit, about 1.5-2 hours one way)

Return the same way.