Highland Drive Hill
Distance: 1.2 miles one-way
Elevation Gain: 667 feet
Summit Elevation: 7,267 feet
Access: Paved
This dumpster diving peak is not much to look at but in winter it was a fun little snowshoe climb. The access is right off two major interstate highways so it is a nice location if you have some extra time. The area is popular with the local neighborhood walkers and I even found some snowshoe tracks up from the previous day.
The Route:
WillhiteWeb.com
Access (likely out of date, but is what I used)
Walk the closed to motorized vehicles road south and then west. Chances are the road will be packed down from neighborhood hikers and skiers. Soon you will reach a gate with conflicting signs. Some say no trespassing, while other city park signs indicate there is some sort of public use behind the gate. One thing is for sure, everyone ignores the signs as all the tracks continue beyond. I'm guessing people ski to downtown Park City from here...or even as a commute. Leave the road somewhere on the northwest side of the mountain where there is the fewest trees. Work your way up and around any tree patches to the summit. Views are vast but not all that exciting. It is a good peak to orient you to the region.
Take the Silver Summit/Justice Center Exit off Highway 40 (see map). On the west side of the highway, look for Highland Drive going south. Highland drive just ends and you can park there to the side where a sign indicates "no motorized vehicles allowed". This is a neighborhood so the road is plowed to this point.
Highland Drive Hill from parking area
Working my way to the Northwest side
Looking East from the summit
Looking Northwest to Grandview Peak in far distance
Looking North to Lewis Peak
Panoramic view of the Wasatch Range from the summit
The gate along the route (probably looks different now or gone)