This review is for Cecret Lake from Albion Base which was a ~4.5 miles round trip that took ~2.5…read morehours to complete. Trail starts from a ski resort which means it would be difficult or inaccessible during the winter! Extremely diverse terrain; stunning views from beginning to end. The last stretch up to the lake was steep and rocky! AllTrails map recommended. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/zkHFyRgwxMQ

We have hiked Cecret Lake many times and enjoyed this spectacular hike at Alta Ski Area. It's…read moreespecially outstanding in the summer when the wildflowers are peaking in colorful arrays. Our boys love climbing the many large rocks on the way to Cecret Lake, and we also enjoy traversing around the lake. If you're more adventurous, you can hike up to Sugarloaf Lift and check out the ski runs.

Went to Antelope Island and spiral Jetty. both were beautiful and interesting and both had insane…read moreamount of flying bugs ... some biting and some not. flies, gnats, mosquitos, midges ect. I wore long pants though it was 100 degrees and bug spray which helped. We had around 20 flies in our car. Had thoughts of doing more walking around and trying different trails but the bug situation altered those plans. At the Jetty we let the drone do the exploring and we stayed besides the car swatting at bugs. I'm sure it would have been worse getting near the water and out in the brush. At antelope park they were bad at the causeway and everywhere around dusk. will include pics of the front of our car. but this lake is beautiful and great place to use the camera or drone.

It's an experience to stand down there whether it's full to its limit or the water is receded as it…read morehas recent years. The surprise for some people is the smell of it because it's the things that live in the water and then when they start to decay release a gas that's sort of poopy smelling. But all being sad if you look around, it is the most stunningly beautiful views you'll ever see being done at the lake and taking pictures that blue sky and blue water and white sands and white salt... Lots of white salt. To the to the state park there entry fee was $10 for the car. I felt like my money is worth out of it because it was a unique experience and if you're going to be in the Salt Lake City area, it's worth a drive down to see some of the better parts of the lake. Some can be a long drive like on the way to the northern part of the lake, but you go to the southern part of the lake and it's very close to the airport.

This review is for Silver Lake Trail which was a ~4.5 miles round trip that took ~3.5 hours to…read morecomplete. This was another one of those hikes that was stunning from beginning to end near Alpine, Utah. Trail begins with a surrounding of aspen trees and eventually becomes an exposed area as you climb up the side of the mountain towards the lake. There were two water crossings at this time and easy to cross with the logs and rocks. For the most part, the trail was narrow and rocky with a steady incline. Required to drive on a bumpy dirt road for ~3 miles. Recommend a high clearance vehicle. Parking lot can fill up fast at the trailhead because the people who kayak, swim, etc at the Silver Lake Flat Reservoir also park in this area. Unfortunately, the restrooms were disgusting and not maintained at this time. Short video of the hike for those interested! https://youtu.be/T2qSWpR7pIM

Beautiful hike, hard but worth it once you get to the top and swim in the freezing cold refreshing…read morelake. Incline majority of the hike so not for beginners. Road to get there is also rough so only recommend taking SUV/Trucks up.

I would never ever ever get in this water, but it provides a beautiful with the mountains in the…read moreback. The beautiful homes in the area make this a lovely place to sit and talk... until the gnats begin to attack.

Great experience . Really liked the spot reminded me of back home only reason i took one star off…read moreit's kinda hard to find

The hike from Silver Lake to Twin Lakes is one of our favorites in the Wasatch Mountains! It's…read moreespecially outstanding in the autumn with the spectacular fall colors, but it's also fun in the winter before the Solitude Nordic Center opens. Although Silver Lake is often a zoo, fewer people venture to Twin Lakes, so it's a great escape from the crowds. Remember your Ten Essentials and then get outside and go for an adventure!

I hiked this trail in the fall and it was beautiful! The trail starts at Silver Lake, which was…read morevery picturesque (although more of a swamp than a lake when I was there). There were multiple photo shoots going on, in addition to a few mooses just off the path. Although I would put myself in the "not very fit" category, I do hike often. I found this hike to be very difficult on my back due to the steepness (but I've had several spinal surgeries, so maybe that's not a typical person's experience here). The hike is 2.3 miles with a 757 foot elevation gain, and I'd say that elevation takes place over just 1.5 miles. The trail can also get quite rocky, so I would highly recommend a hiking pole if you have back, ankle, or knee issues. This trail wasn't busy at all when I visited (late Friday afternoon) and definitely had a huge WOW factor at the top. I explored some of the trails along the lakes and could not find a way that led all the way around. Give yourself enough time to sit and annoy the beautiful scenery and see if you can spot any pikas on the rocks. I'd definitely highly recommend giving this trail a try!

This hike to the lake was absolutely incredible! Even though I was out of shape, I still made it to…read morethe top, it was sort of difficult. The trail is steep and challenging, but the views at the lake were worth it. Definitely be prepared: bring plenty of snacks and enough water, preferably with electrolytes because you'll need it. Next time, I'm planning to camp overnight so I can rest to make an easier trip back down. Highly recommend this hike if you're up for a challenge!

Great trail from Spring through Fall in Little Cottonwood - especially in the Summer when you are…read moredying of the valley heat, it's usually at least 10 degrees cooler and there is ample shade. It is roughly 7 miles and 2,100-ft of elevation gain (200-ish flights of stairs going up) so not the best choice for novice hikers. The Forest Service did an awesome job and regraded portions of the trail in Fall 2019 to create more gentle dirt switchbacks instead of hiking up the rockier and steeper incline - my knees thank you! This is also the trail if you want to summit Pfeifferhorn and are really looking to level up! In the Summer be aware of limited parking and they also drain the lake usually late Summer so best to go earlier. Happy hiking!

Great experience here at Antelope Island State Park. My friend and I visited in the late afternoon…read moreafter arriving at the airport around noon, and checking out Golden Spike National Historic Site. The day had been quite rainy, and the timing worked out perfectly as the skies cleared up later in the day. Just a quick heads up! At the time of writing, there is no potable water available on the island. Bring your own and bring plenty of it. Also there is an entry fee to cross the causeway to get onto the "island" which really isn't an island anymore because of low water levels. There is an AM station that provides information updates as you enter - make sure to check in out and stay in the know. Because we hadn't brought much water with, we decided to keep our hiking to a minimum. We were also just off the plane from the east coast, so decided to take it easy with hiking our first day at the elevation. Our first stop was at Ladyfinder Point - we took the short trail out to the point for some views! Then after that, we really wanted to get down to the water so we made our way over to Bridger Bay Beach access. From the parking area to the water is a bit of a hike given that the water levels are so low. We parked near the first bathouse and made our way down through the sand. I had opted for sandals, but the flipflops made navigating the san difficult, so I went barefoot which was a bit uncomfortable because the sand it quite coarse. But, as we got further out the sand is more compacted and the sandals were ok. About halfway out to the water, we noticed a bison in the distance. It was walking south quite a bit away from us, so we continued north to the water and kept a really good distance. Down near the water, be prepared for MANY bird carcasses and the brine flies got pretty thick as you near the water. Just keep going because it is worth it. We stood in the clear waters of the Great Salt Lake and enjoyed the breeze and setting sun. It was well worth it to go all the way down. After a short stay by the water we headed back. It was at this point that we noticed the Bison from earlier had headed in the direction of the trailhead near the showers. We again kept our distance and had no issues, but our concern was growing. We made a bit of a detour to give the bison a wider berth, but at this point he was clearly moving toward the same point we were headed to. Keeping eyes on him and picking up speed we made it back to the shower building and rinsed our feet. Meanwhile, the bison continued to make his way up the beach stopping occasionally and then continuing on. We had retreated a bit behind the concrete walls of the shower building as the bison continued walking toward us. At one point I finally decided that we should probably get to the car. Which we did... After getting in the car and preparing to depart, we turned our head and lo and behold - but who should appear. That bison! He popped up out of the trail and began scratching himself on the shower building walls were we had been standing moments ago. Then he stopped, stared at us and we had a moment of panic that the rental car might get some damage. Luckily, the bison was not in the mood for a confrontation and he lumbered through the parking lot acros the road and up the other side of the hill, scratching his head on some low trees. Honestly, it was a bit of a anxiety-inducing experience yet thrilling at the same time. After our little encounter, we made our way toward Buffalo Point where we hiked up to Altar Rock and back. On the drive up we saw the island's namesake - two young antelope cavorting around the open spaces like two kids without a care in the world. It was entertaining and memorable for sure! The hike to Buffalo Point was a short but rewarding little hike and it was perfect as the sun was starting to set. Not wanting to hike back in the dark, we didn't stay out until true sunset, but we did get some great photos and made our way back. Apparently the park has a Dark Sky designation, and we had toyed with the idea of staying until dark, BUT the skies had grown overcast again, and after a long day of travel we made the decision that we needed to get an In-N-Out burger for dinner and head to the hotel to rest and prepare for our long hike the next day. Antelope Island was a great choice, and I am so glad we experienced even just a small percentage of the island. It was well worth it and I would definitely go back!

- Why didn't anyone forewarn me about the pungency or abundance of carcasses at Bridger Bay Beach…read moreDx - Just as you're starting to drive in to the State Park, you're already hit with a powerful poopy odor. Yuck. - It's a 10-20min walk from parking to the water. Coarse sand. May wanna wear shoes. Little rocks will sneak into your sandals. - The sight of dead birds and millions of flies, dead and alive, throughout the beach and the stench of what I thought was ubiquitous decomposed bison dung but likely was actually the sulfurous odor of detritus (still revolting though) discouraged me from fulfilling the bucket list goal I came here for: to prove the rumor that the human body really is unsinkable in the hypersaline water of the Great Salt Lake. I couldn't bring myself to lie down. Only let the water up to my calves. Ain't no way I'm risking full skin infection within the 1st day of my vacation. Still had 7 days to go. Begrudgingly, I simply took a picture from where I stood, then slowly backed away from the omnipresent death around me. . On my way driving out I asked the lady at the entrance booth about the water quality. She said the sight of those many flies and the dead animals is normal around the super salty water and that it's still safe to float in it. She may be right (as the Internet also agrees), but I couldn't bring myself to go through with it, especially since there weren't many other people there doing the same thing to help me feel reassured. + Glad the showers by the parking lot are fully functional though. + And a hose next to the restrooms next to the showers. . Just gotta bring your own soap. + Sources say pronghorns live on this island. * Fun fact: Pronghorns are the 2nd fastest land animal on Earth, just after the cheetah! - Didn't see any pronghorns or bison during my visit though. Granted, I didn't visit as far deep in as Fielding Garr Ranch. You might have better luck. . $15/car. A bit expensive for me since as you can see, my experience came up short. And as it's a state park, it's not covered by the $80 America the Beautiful annual pass. . Only a few people were at this State Park when I visited early Saturday evening. - VC still under maintenance.

Strictly speaking, the Brighton Lakes Trail leaves from Brighton resort and goes up to Lake Mary,…read moreLake Martha, and Lake Catherine. There are other lakes in the area, and you can leave from the Solitude Nordic area (Silver Lake) and visit those lakes (Solitude, Twin Lakes), which you might mistake for Brighton Lakes as they are, y'know, lakes around Brighton. But for clarity's sake, this is the trail that takes you right up the ski slope before veering off and climbing up to those three lady lakes. The trail is a popular one, and that means you won't be alone. As a kid, I remember my dad taking us here one Saturday and we had the place to ourselves. Martha has a tiny island and I remember it seeming so big and so far out there... but as an adult I realize it was just my kid brain and kid memory. It's a nice lake, but Mary is the really big body of water up there. As an adult, too, I see that on a Saturday especially you won't have the place to yourself. In fact, these days as many have cancelled their summer vacations and are staying home, you'll need to be on the trail by 7am to have only moderate crowds. If you wait until 9 or 10am it will be a constant stream of people. Parking at Brighton is currently free, but any other hike in the canyon will be totally packed if you wait until after 7am. The trail itself is quite wonderful. You go up the slopes, and then veer off before gradually climbing up to the trees and large rocks. It never gets crazy steep or scary, though if you have to traverse in the snow you might be a little sketched out. It's only a couple of miles, although if you want to push on beyond the lakes you can hike up the ridge and beyond and it adds more miles. There are fish in the lakes, and we saw some kiddos out dunking a worm beneath a bobber. I don't think that's a main draw, but there were some fly fisherman giving it a go, too, so it does attract all kinds. The vast majority, however, are just out to stretch their legs and take in the views. All the hiking warnings apply--be prepared, pack lots of water as it does get hot, even though some of it is in the shade. Wildlife abounds, but give them plenty of space. Enjoy the summer wildflowers. And appreciate the fact that this is practically in your backyard if you live in SLC.

Are you seeking a longer, but low-challenge hike? Fair amount of shade with a plethora of wildlife?…read moreALL THE WILDFLOWERS if visiting around July? The opportunity to explore SEVEN lakes? Well, you have found your trail! Arriving at 6:30am, we began at Silver Lake, parking in the Brighton Visitor's Center lot, and taking the boardwalk toward the wooded area on the backside of the Lake. From here, you can trek the Lake Solitude Trail on the right to that same named lake, and then return to the Twin Lakes trail, but we went straight to the latter. In the future I'd hit up Lake Solitude, though (it's only a little out of the way), and you should too! As the trail begins, there is a portion bordered by rocks on each side, and little pikas scurried all about! They were not particularly frightened of us, so I got quite close, and they are heartbreakingly adorable. Following that, the incline steepens, but only for a bit, and it is probably the most you'll experience for the entirety of your hike, so it's nice to get it out of the way first thing. When we arrived at Twin Lakes we met a moose crowned by a gigantic rack, so did not really explore that area. He was completely unperturbed by us, and contentedly continued munching his leafy breakfast. The next portion of the trail is mostly wooded, lush, green, and particularly gorgeous. We saw a female moose just as soon as we entered the forested part, and happened upon a dead porcupine (oh, to see a live one in the wild!). The trail is mostly flat as it delivers you to Lake Mary (my favorite!). This is the largest of these bodies of water, but I loved her for the surrounding rocky scenery. You will find silvery schools of fish glinting in the sunlight, translucent emerald water, and myriad varying views as you trek around the lake. Moving onward, the incline increases slightly, but it's nothing major. Lake Martha will shortly appear on your right. She was small, surrounded by grass, and we did not linger too long. It will take a bit more time to arrive at Catherine, but the trail is easy and mostly shaded. When you reach a fork in the trail, take the left (with a sign regarding camping 200 feet from bodies of water) to head straight to Lake Catherine, or take the right (with a "trail" sign) up to the peak. The latter is exposed and a little rocky with a steeper incline. You can continue on that same route to Sunset Peak for a view of all three lakes, but we opted to stop here, admiring the view of Lake Catherine's glittering surface, then heading back, and taking the trail, now on our right, to break at Catherine, my second favorite lake. There were masses of wildflowers, and the water was near luminously clear. As you retrace your steps on the way to the remaining portion of the loop, you are treated to a stunning vista of the previous lakes and mountains beyond, then a wide-spanning view of fields and Dog Lake on your right. Dog Lake, a smaller, marshy spot, looks like a moose's dream hang out, and was our last stop. Following this, the trail is much wider, open, and more crowded. While not bad, it certainly suffered in comparison to the hike previous. In the future, though I would be sad to miss Dog Lake, I would probably skip it and make my return from the sister lakes back toward Silver Lake, but it is also nice not to have to go back the way you came. I just found the congested trail off-putting after previously experiencing all the serenity of nature with little interruption by other people. We started at 6:30am. This hike took us 4 hours, at an easygoing pace and with short breaks at each lake. Including additional wandering/off trail exploration, it ended up a total of 7.3 miles. Speaking of which, the trails are not marked well, in fact, are not marked most of the time. I would recommend utilizing the Alltrails app. We did, and even so still got off track for a bit. TL;DR - Fairly easy hike, especially for one nearing 7 miles. Excellent if you enjoy variety, and as it is a loop with only backtracking through the three sister lakes, there is always something new to see. Expect lots of animals, including moose, pika, chipmunks, ground squirrels, rabbits, butterflies, and birds. Some exposed areas, but more is shaded, with heavily wooded portions. Alltrails app is a must as the trails are poorly marked. Busy at the start and end.