This hike is special!…read more Don't let the packed parking lot make you not go do this one! It's not that bad/busy, even if the parking makes you feel like it is. I hike a lot and do a lot of the bigger peaks. This one is great because it's still challenging, but doable for many fitness levels. Today we met a family from New Zealand that couldn't believe the beauty! We are pretty lucky to be so close to this experience! The views are beautiful the entire time! From the start with the river running next to you to the top with the lake and mountain views to the view of salt lake and the great salt lake. I love this hike and make sure I do it at least once a year!

First off - I wish more people would review trails.... They are great adventurous outdoor things…read moreto do. Now for the trail, having hike this in the beginning of May, this came across as a very three season trail. The elevation gain was close to 2800 and the trail started at the base like a summer trail with streams and green plants, it wound up along the stream and then started climbing until we got about a half mile from the top in which it was snow. There was a snow covered lake at the very top that was stunning. Round-trip is about 6.8 miles if you wander around the lake a little..

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.

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!

It's starting to get way too hot in the valley, so I've been trying to escape up into the cooler…read moremountain temperatures for the past couple of weeks. What a stunning hike this was! We started the hike from a less populated trail starting near Solitude, but there's another, more popular trail that goes to this same viewpoint. I believe the route we took was called the Beaver Pond trail from Solitude. The wildflowers are starting to come out and the views are absolutely stunning. The lake itself was perfectly still and reflecting the beautiful aspens. We came here on a Friday night and lots of people were backpacking here and setting up camp around the lake. What a beautiful place to backpack, and a short little backpacking trip! I would definitely come back to backpack this sometime. The temperature was perfect, although it was a little bit buggy so bug spray was necessary. We even ended up needing sweatshirts on the way down. Our trail was about 4.2 miles RT, but the regular Willow Lake/Willow Heights trail is 2.5-2.8 miles RT. Definitely worth checking out right now as the wildflowers come out!

Do you ever feel like you just need to spend some time outdoors? Some might call it woo woo, but…read morewith the cooler temperatures, I have not been out on as many adventures as usual, and my spirit definitely required a reconnection with nature. It hit me acutely about a week back, and, while I have my trusty standard hikes (I swear I visit Bell's Canyon near weekly!), I wanted to go somewhere new. Willow Heights popped up while searching Alltrails in an attempt to locate a different hike in the same area. The one I'd originally had in mind didn't feature a lake, so Willow Heights quickly won over my interest. At just over two miles, it is a great option for those seeking a quick hike. Located a ways up the canyon, and though not super well marked, if you utilize GPS and watch for cars parked along the road, it is not too difficult to spot. There is a small etched boulder that serves as the trail marker. The path starts with some incline, but nothing too challenging. There are aspens EVERYWHERE, and, in the early morning light, their bare branches and trunks appeared so starkly white against the blue sky. It was incredibly striking! As elevation is gained, more pines start to sprout up, though with no loss of aspens. We did not see any, but moose are said to be common hiking companions. Eventually, you will reach a large open field (I imagined it full of wildflowers mid-summer), and then the trail breaks off into a wide loop around the water. It's a small lake, but it's still a lake, so I'll take it, even frozen, as it was at this time. I found a raised spot on the west side, and settled in to enjoy the perfect silence and view of surrounding snow-topped mountains. And speaking of snow, in November, there were spots with plenty, though more ice than anything else. We brought crampons, but didn't bother to use them as the bottom of the trail was entirely clear, and my hands were too frozen to maneuver crampons over my boots once we reached the more slippery spots. It was okay without, but further into the winter you will certainly want 'em. There were also areas that, with several inch deep shoe prints, clearly get pretty darn muddy once warmed by the sun. It was cold enough that the dirt was frozen for us. Because Big Cottonwood is a watershed, dogs and swimming are prohibited. Camping is allowed, but I don't think fires are (though we saw what was very clearly a fire pit near the lake). I could see this being a popular hike during other seasons, though, on a cold Sunday morning, we only happened upon one other group right as we exited the trail.

Perfectly situated off of the Mirror Lake Highway, and perched near the tranquil waters of…read moreButterfly Lake, this campground is probably my favorite designated camping area along this great stretch of scenic road. Winning that distinction is no small feat, as there are so many spots to stay along Utah's most prominent scenic byway, but it's just got so much going for it. First, it's at about 10,300ft in elevation, which means that in the blazing heat of summer, you may just kiss the '70s, spend most of the day in the '60s, and have those incredible nights in the tent in the '40s where you thank your lucky stars that you have someone who will go up the Mirror Lake Highway with you and hike by day, and snuggle up in a sleeping-bag-for-two by night. I've not actually had that last experience, but it's on my list. At any rate, the elevation is just what you need in summer, and is not to be messed with in cooler temps. The Highway actually closes during winter, so this campground typically doesn't open until around Memorial Day each spring. The namesake lake is delightful, and planted with willing trout. There are no monster fish lurking in the deep, but the kids will get a kick out of drowning a worm beneath a bobber. I also like that the lake is far enough away from the campsites that you're not constantly worrying about little ones wandering off to play in the water. The further up the road in the campground, the more true this is. If you're looking to launch off for adventure, there are hikes on hikes on hikes. My favorite ever lackadaisical hike I've ever had was on the MLH, but you can find your own. The western terminus of the Highline Trail is just a few hundred feet away down the road, so check that out for a starting point, or grab one of the other many trailheads at your disposal-Ruth Lake, Mirror Lake, Fehr Lake-those are all bodies of waters and names of nearby trailheads. I typically stay in dispersed campsites, but having a few resources, restrooms, parking, and a picnic table is nice sometimes too. I dream of staying here in the height of summer, of making overly-complicated camp meals, of wandering the creeks, of homemade marshmallow s'mores, hand-churned ice cream, and that warm sleeping bag at night.

This hike to the cave is absolutely worth the visit! The hike up is definitely steep, but the views…read morealong the way make it totally worth it. Thankfully, there are plenty of resting points where you can catch your breath, enjoy the scenery, and take in the canyon below. Once you reach the top, the cave tour itself is incredible, the formations are beautiful and the rangers do a great job explaining the history and geology. If you're up for a challenge with a rewarding payoff, this is the perfect adventure!

This was a fun tour! We did the historical lantern tour and had a great tour guide. The historical…read morelantern tour offers a more authentic feel and is not to be missed. All of the rangers were happy and greeted us with smiles! Also, the cave is a 1.5 mile hike up so be prepared.

A stunning hike! We started at the trailheald to BLOODS LAKE, a busy spot with families swimming…read moreand playing with RC vehicles on the rocks and in the water.. headed up to Lake Lackawxen which is only a mile up the trail from Bloods Lake. Just beyond beautiful and a fairly easy hike. Some shaded spots for my husband and some full on sun spots for me. A fairly busy trail but not so much that it was hard to enjoy the serenity. Parking does look to be a challenge- we got lucky and someone was leaving so we were able to grab that spot. A place I'd gladly return!

Trail to the lake is rated moderate and is a short hike around 3 miles rounds trip…read more Dogs are allowed on the trail if kept on a leash. Dogs are NOT permitted 100 feet near the lake due to pathogens. Inflated are prevalent in this area so keep an eye out. We didn't see any today, which I was hoping to do. Lake Lackawxen is only a mile up the trail from Bloods Lake , so we hiked up there as well. Both Lakes are Beautiful especially this time of year. Road closes for tje winter so tje best time to hike this area is from spring to fall. DOG OWNERS please pick up after your dogs and take it out with you. Too many dog bags on the trail today.

This trail on the southeast side of town is beautiful, well shaded, and right along a stream. The…read moretrailhead is in a neighborhood. There are some parking spaces flanking the trail, and overflow parking down the street. Other parking along the street is permit only, with warning signs that threaten fines and towing without notice. A paved ramp and amphitheatre sit trail adjacent. The beginning of the trail looks tame and fairly pleasant (except for all the dog poo bags littered about; carry the poo out, people). But don't be fooled! It quickly turns rocky and the are some steep areas. After rain, the sandy spots can be a bit slick. The bubbling water and shade are quite pleasant on a hot day. But it can be a bit buggy. I was bitten by what looked to be some black flies and mosquitoes. The trail isn't well marked and there are a few offshoots that lead in different directions. Some parts seem narrow and overgrown. For the most part, follow the water to stay on the trail. I didn't see many people. Most people appeared towards the beginning of the trail; most with dogs off leash. A nice trail for respite from the sun, but is not really a beginner's trail. Footwear with good grip and ankle support recommended.

Oh man if you are looking for a challenging hike this one is for you…read more I had no idea this trail even existed so close to the city until, I ran across a review from an old friend of mine on google maps. Cool that there is a hike that's close to the city and is dog friendly. I used google maps to get me to this hike. It's in a neighborhood, and has very limited parking. There isn't parking on the street in front of the houses, unless you have a permit, your car will be towed. (there is overflow parking about a block or so down the street) Now back to the trail review... At first the trail is pretty easy, and I had my dog on a leash obeying the signs. Pretty quickly the trail starts to get a bit rocky, and you run into some make shift stairs going down closer to the river, which you can hear right away. Then the elevation gain starts, and doesn't end until you come down from your hike. The trail is beautiful, and has a good amount of shade and water. The trail is not well defined as far as signage goes. At one point I came to a stand still because I didn't know where to go. The trail I was on came right up to the river, and I couldn't see a trail beyond if you crossed it, and there definitely wasn't a defined trail to my right. I thought what do I do now cross the river? Thankfully a family with small children came around the rocky bend and I asked them which way to go. They said they always take the rocky way through the river. It's a good thing I had my hiking boots on. Most of this hike is ROCKY, climbing over boulders and very large rocks on very sandy soil. It didn't help that it rained this morning. I was slipping and sliding. At this point I took my dog off her leash. It's not in your best interest or the dogs to be dragged on this rocky trail ,with a leash around it's neck, getting pulled here and there. There was one point on the trail that was almost a 99% vertical climb that I sat down with tears in my eyes. I was scared. I kept thinking I have to come down this when I turn around. I should just turn around now, but I wanted to finish to the end to feel a sense of accomplishment. There are no switchbacks on this trail that would have helped with this section, so I made my own, and got past this section. I was holding on to what I could and said "I don't care if there are any snakes I have to get out of here". (as luck would have it there wasn't any, I think I would have passed out if there was coming face to face with a rattler) Each part of the trail became more beautiful, and more changeling. I ran across a section where you could tell a rock slide happened, and you just kept climbing over the boulders. "I can make it, I know I can." There were two sections that you have to walk through the river to continue on the trail. I don't know how the river is at any other time of the year, but it wasn't rushing so fast that you couldn't pass it if you want to go to the end. You have to pass it. I logged on the the all trails app to make sure I was on the trail. It said I was and I only had a little ways left to go to the end. Rain clouds were forming and I thought I better turn back because the trail was slippery enough I didn't need to be caught on the trail when it was a down pour. Plus my little doggy was doing this trail as well, I had to think of her too. There was hardly any people on this trail today, but when I did run across any, they had younger kids with them. Mind you All Trails has this trail rated as Hard. The rain clouds started to form so I turned around. I have to say it was easier to come down than it was to go up. When I came down I ran into a couple of people learning how to mountain climb. I guess this is a popular spot to do that. I would like to go back, and climb all the way to the top. Next time I'll know what to expect, but seriously doubt I'll make it.