Bear Trap Fork - Big Cottonwood Canyon
Now this trail and its trail head was about the most elusive one to find of all the trails I hiked this summer. I passed the trail head a couple of times before I finally found where to start. There is a Forest Service sign “BEAR TRAP FORK” 11.2 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Next to that sign is a small road that leads to what once must have been a Bear Trap Fork lodge, (It says that on the front of it too), it looked abandoned to me. I met two of the property owners who were also hiking up the fork, and they showed me the way.
Broads Fork Hiking Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon
Broads Fork trail head begins at the Lower S-Turn 4.5 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is the first trail that starts from the west end of the lower S-Turn parking lot. It begins up a steep angled hill through aspens and pine trees till you reach the Twin Peaks Wilderness sign. Continuing on, you pass some rock outcrops, wind your way through thick spruces, then end up at a creek with a bridge over it.
Brighton Lakes Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon
This is a great hike for the views, the lakes, the landscape, the wildflowers, and of course Moose! We started at the Brighton Ski Resort parking lot. We started our accent to Dog Lake and when we arrived two Bull Moose were hanging out on the lake shore. One a full grown male, the other, maybe two years old. The younger one I think wanted to put on a show for us, so he proceeded to get in the lake and start swimming around.
Snowshoeing the Days Fork Trail
The Days Fork Trail Head is located in the Spruces Campground approx 9.7 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Although I have hiked this trail many times in the summer, snowshoeing in the winter was a new experience for me. Even though Utah's snow fall was below average this year, there was still plenty of snow to provide a fun filled day of snowshoeing. The Days Fork Trail begins on the southwest corner of the campground. As you make your way from the parking lot you will pass the restrooms.
Donut Falls Hiking Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon
The turn off to the Donut Falls Hiking Trail is located approx 9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Take a right and drive past the Jordan Pines Picnic Area and some private property to the trailhead parking lot. The parking lot offers parking for several cars, however due to the popularity of this hike this lot fills up fast especially on the weekends. The trail starts to south of the parking lot by the restrooms. The trail has a slight elevation gain but is great for hikers of all ages. The trail winds through woods and meadows and offers beautiful views of the surrounding terrain and stream.
Hidden Falls - Big Cottonwood Canyon
Hidden Falls is a picturesque waterfall located up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The parking lot for the trail head is located 4.4 miles up the canyon just off the "S-Curve". From the parking area the trail heads north and requires you to cross the canyon road. Once across the canyon road the more difficult Mill B North Fork trail begins to the east, and Hidden Falls is located directly to the north. You can access the falls by staying to the east of the creek, or our preferred route is to cross the stream. There is a large log that is placed across the stream, which we like to believe is for this purpose.
Lake Blanche Mill B South Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved this hike. The trail head begins in the lower S-Turn in Big Cottonwood Canyon. You walk a ¼ mile up the road, and on the right, you will see the sign. It starts up a small hill, then crosses a stream to a switchback that puts you on a stair-like trail up to an aspen grove. Lake Blanche Mill B South Trail - Big Cottonwood CanyonJust above the aspens, you get your first look at Sundial Peak. It is an awesome view, with red rock cliffs ahead. Then the trail starts to switchback through aspens again, where we saw a fallen Paper Wasp Nest. They didn't like us very much so we kept moving after taking some pictures.
Lake Mary Hiking Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon
Lake Mary is the second lake on the Brighton Lakes Trail. You begin the hike from the Brighton Ski Resort Parking lot. If you head to the south side of the lot, you will see a jeep track that goes up the first hill. As you crest the hill, you will see a foot track that continues through the pines. Follow this up and you will reach an open area with a rock slide. If you scramble up the slide, you will be on the ridge that comes out west of the dam. By this time of year, the water level was lower than an earlier hike up to the lakes. It was low enough that there was actually a place that you could cross right in the middle of the lake.
Mill D North Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon
Mill D North is located 9.6 miles up Big Cottonwood canyon. It sits directly across the road from the Cardiff Fork/ Doughnut Falls trail head. Heading up the trail, you begin to see across the canyon and the beauty of Cardiff Fork. As you continue the hike, you come to a nice rest area that is wooded, and provides a place to sit on some granite slabs. Just up ahead the trail curves north and moves you through a thick grove of aspen trees. As you round the hill, it descends slightly, into a nice little area with a small brook in the center of the fork.
Mill B North Fork Trail Winter Hike - Big Cottonwood Canyon
Located 4.4 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon just off the “s-curve” is a small parking area and the trail head of the Mill B North Fork Trail. This is also the parking area for Hidden Falls and overflow parking for the Lake Blanche trail, Mill B South Fork. The Mill B North Fork Trail starts to the north of the parking area and requires you hike up a short incline to the canyon road. You will then cross the road at the top of the “S-Curve”. Once across the road the trail begins to the east, and Hidden Falls is located in the back of the canyon to the north.
Mineral Fork Hiking Trail - Big Cottonwood Canyon
The Mineral Fork trail begins 6.1 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is an ATV track on the south side of the road marked by a metal gate that is usually locked. You begin your hike up the ATV track that loops you through Aspens until you reach the first switchback. It is marked by a stream that has over run its banks onto the trail. As I climbed the trail it seemed to level out somewhat into a grove of Pine Trees. I arrived in an area where all the Aspens had changed colors to bright yellow. This obviously was an area that either Moose or Deer had recently bedded down for the night.
Silver Lake - Big Cottonwood Canyon
Located at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon is the beautiful Silver Lake. The lake is encompassed by a boardwalk making it accessible to the young, old and those with disabilities. The boardwalk is less than a mile long and offers benches, picnic tables and a dock area for fishing. The lake is a popular hiking destination in the spring, summer and fall. In the winter months the lake is covered in feet of snow and becomes part of the Solitude Nordic Center system of cross-country ski trails.
Willow Heights / Willow Lake Trail
The Willow Heights Trail is located up Big Cottonwood Canyon. From the mouth of the canyon, travel approximately 11.6 miles to the trail head. Once you pass the Silver Fork Lodge look for a curve warning sign located on the left side of the canyon road. The trail begins just to the left of this sign. The hike to Willow lake is considered a family friendly hike, however the first part of the trail is nothing but elevation gain. It then levels off a provides an easy walk around the lake. The scenery and views along this hike are beautiful. The trail meanders its way through groves of aspens and pine trees which makes it a very popular hike in the fall when the aspen leaves are changing to a bright gold color.