Dog Lake

Looking back across Big Cottonwood Canyon

An inviting trail

So peaceful

Sunrise through the aspens

Dog Lake before the dogs arrived

This being an odd-numbered day, my trekking poles were relieved that they had left the mountain bike  at home!

This hike begins 9.6 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon, at Mill D North Trailhead, on the left side of the road.   It is an easy hike, and very scenic. The book says it is a 2 mile hike to Dog Lake, but my gps read 6.4 miles round trip. Maybe that is because I wandered around taking pictures, and did about 5 geocaches along the way.  I started at 7:15 AM, and there was frost on the ground. I carried a jacket, but did not need it, as I warmed up quickly.  I saw moose tracks crossing the trail to the stream, but no moose.  I had the trail to myself the entire hike, but saw a man and lady dressed from head to toe  in matching camo (the lady's backpack was camo with pink trim); they were bow hunting, but not successfully at that point. As I was about to leave Dog Lake, about a dozen loud hikers with even louder dogs arrived from the Millcreek Canyon side, and the pristine reflection of fall trees in the lake was gone. Oh well; the dogs were fun to watch, tirelessly fetching sticks in the lake!
     On the way down, I chatted with 2 ladies that asked about great places to hike. I told them about my blog, and discovered that they went to Cottonwood High School with one of my sons.