Lake Solitude (again) (3.5 miles round trip, easy)

Description:
      I have blogged on this hike before.  This is one of my favorite hikes, especially when hiking with my sweet wife. It is scenic, lots of shade, good chance to see moose, especially at dawn and dusk. It is  fairly flat, with an elevation gain of only 320 feet. There used to be a steep climb to the lake, but a couple of years ago, the trail was rerouted to make it much easier.This is the hike that inspired me to start a hiking blog!

Directions to trailhead:
     From the bottom of Big Cottonwood Canyon,  (The 7-11 Store) drive almost to the top of the canyon, 14.5 miles.  Turn  right into the parking lot across from the little store (or park in the store lot if that lot is full). This is the Silver lake lot, and Visitors Center. There are restrooms there if needed (Outhouse-type outside, and nice ones in the Visitors Center if it is open).
The hike:
     Go to the right of the Visitors Center and go around the boardwalk. If you go to the right, it is a little shorter, maybe 1/3 mile to the trail to the lakes.  On the far side, you will see a large trail sign  in a wide opening in the trees (unless it has been removed for the season.) Turn right at the sign, follow the trail a short distance to a fork in the trail, and signs pointing to Lake Solitude to the right, and Twin Lakes to the left. (Unless the signs have been removed for winter).  The trail is fairly easy to follow, and there are signs to get you to the lake where there are options.  On the way back I like to continue the rest of the way around Silver Lake. This will make the hike just over 3 miles round trip.
     There is a geocache there that I hid about 10 years ago. It is called Rock Solitude.
http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCQ6DG_rock-solidtude?guid=e40a7151-207c-4038-9949-191b2a35388a

The geocache container.

The underside of geocache container.

A little touch of Fall at Lake Solitude.

A squirrel kind enough to pose for me!

A fairly good shelter near Lake Solitude, to the left of the trail.

Silver Lake on the way back to the trailhead.

An interesting plaque near the parking lot.