Stairs Gulch

Stairs Gulch

 This is a very short hike that begins 2.9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  It is a very peaceful place to go sit and relax and read a book and listen to the sound of the cascading water. The trail starts on the right side of the road, maybe 50 feet past the turnoff for Storm Mountain Amphitheater. There is space for only a couple of cars in this spot, but you can also park above or below.  It was quite dark when I started, so I had to wait a while for enough light to take some pictures, as the hike is only 1/3 mile long! I had planned to hike up Mule Hollow, but that trailhead was closed for construction.  I made the hike a couple of miles long, by wandering around the Storm Mountain camping area across the road.

Storm Mountain

     When I was young, our next door neighbor, who was probably in his eighties told me that he was a Forest Ranger assigned to Storm Mountain, and they wouldn't build a cabin for him, because they said it would just get smashed by rock slides! He said he had to sleep in a tent, but never slept very well, as he kept thinking about rocks smashing into his tent!

I found this leaf "Just hangin' around."

This leaf was doing its own thing

Loop from Silver Lake to Lake Solitude to Twin Lakes

Rock Solidtude Geocache container

Silver Lake viewed from the trail to Twin Lakes

 I received an email that my Rock Solidtude geocache may be missing, so I headed up to check it out. On the way up Big Cottonwood Canyon, ( I was going to say "bright and early," but it was still dark, so that wouldn't apply), my headlights caught the glowing eyes of a mountain lion sitting on the pipeline on the side of the road.  I did not attempt to get any pictures of this, but it was cool to see!  I arrived at the Silver Lake trailhead (9.2 miles from the bottom of the canyon), and headed around the right side of the lake. I wore a jacket for the first time this year, as the temperature was cool enough for ice to be forming at the edges of the ponds. I took the marked trail to Lake Solitude, and arrived just as the sun hit the peaks above the lake, their reflection shimmering in the ripples  caused by a refreshing breeze.  I confirmed that the geocache was still there, and headed back toward the car. Just as the sun was rising, I found a geocache called "Sunrise at the Sunrise," (near the Sunrise ski lift).  I hiked back down to the main trail and saw a trail on  my right that bypasses Silver Lake, and heads over to Twin Lakes.  This is at gps coordinates  N 40* 36.492 W 111* 35.536.  This stretch of trail is quite level and scenic. I saw several deer along here, and laughed when one used its hind leg to scratch behind its ear like  dog.
  The view above Silver lake was incredible, with the sun illuminating the golden aspen leaves like a lantern.  After reaching Twin Lakes I climbed up a couple of hundred feet to a geocache called The Albino Miner.

One of several deer I saw 

View of Twin Lakes from Albino Miner Geocache

 I then headed back down to the trailhead, having wandered 4.8 miles that beautiful morning.  A couple of thoughts I had while hiking:
      What made that one aspen leaf among millions of others, turn red?
     How much does a Smart Car weigh?  ( I saw a sign that said a moose can weigh 1600 pounds, and I thought that is probably what a Smart Car would weigh, and I checked it on Google, and sure enough, 1600 pounds!
   

One red aspen leaf among millions of yellow ones

Fifth Water Hot Springs

Along the trail to the Hot Springs

Near the half-way point

View of the lower pools early in the morning

 This is one of my all-time favorite hikes. I love this hike  all seasons of the year, but none better than in the Fall.  We backpacked there this past weekend, and the fall colors were so bright they almost hurt our eyes!
This is an easy and scenic hike. It is not uncommon to see families with 2 and 3-year-olds  hiking up here.  To get to the trailhead from Salt Lake City, head South on I- 15 and take the exit to Highway 6 East toward Price. When you get off the freeway, zero your odometer as you pass the McDonalds and go 9.7 miles up Spanish Fork Canyon. If you forgot to check your mileage at McDonalds, you can start clocking just as you pass those awesome huge windmills about 4 miles up the canyon, and go 5 miles from there.  At that point, look for a large brown sign pointing left to Diamond Campground. This is where you turn left.  (If you reach the turnoff to Manti, you went a bit too far.)  As soon as you turn left at the brown sign, reset your odometer and go 9.6 miles up Diamond Fork Canyon.  If you want to take a fun little rest stop, look for a red rock picnic area 6.7 miles up the canyon on your left.    (I think it is called Red Cliff)  From the parking lot you can look up to your right, and see marks on the cliff where there used to be a waterfall, maybe 50 yards away. In the spring there is some water running down it. At the base of the waterfall is a carving of a sun, that looks very old, and according to some journal, I believe, was carved by the Escalante party in 1776.  There is one spot on the climb up there that is kind of difficult, but there is usually a rope hanging there to help you pull yourself up.   After this little stop, get back in your vehicle and drive another 2.9 miles up Diamond Fork Canyon ( or 9.6 miles from the bottom of the canyon).  At this point, you will see a sign that says
Three Forks Trailhead.  Turn in here and park your car. If the lot is full, you will have to drive 1/2 mile further up or back down the canyon and park on the side of the road.)As of June 4, 2024 a fee will be charged to use this area. There will be a pay tube at the parking lot. Bring $10 cash or check and a pen or pencil to fill out the envelope. You can also buy a pass at the Spanish Fork Ranger district. A 1 year pass is $60. Or you can buy an America the Beautiful pass for $80. If you are a senior you can buy a lifetime pass. From this parking lot, you go through the gate behind the restrooms. Do not go over the footbridge.   Just follow the trail about 2 1/2 miles to the hot pots.  There is a footbridge about half way, that crosses Sixth Water, which comes from Strawberry Reservoir, and has some good fishing!  As you approach the hot springs, you will notice a sulphur odor, and you know you are close. Once you get in the springs, you quickly forget about the slight odor as you luxuriate in the warm water!  There are several different pools to explore, each with different temperatures.  About 100 yards above the first pools, is a waterfall  where you can climb underneath it and stick your upper body through  a hole in the built-up minerals.  If you climb up above this waterfall, you will find some more hot pots; past that is a beautiful triple waterfall, and past that, are several great places to set up a tent if you backpacked in.

Steam rising from the hot pots

photo taken earlier in the year