Brighton to Lakes Mary, Martha, and Catherine

July 13, 2013
     The wildflowers were amazing on this hike! We started at the Brighton Parking lot, at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. The trailhead is just to the right of the ticket office, by the large map sign.  This is an easy hike, with continually-changing views, and you eagerly anticipate the view around the next bend or over the next rise.  You reach Lake Mary in the first mile, and Lake Martha shows up quickly. Before you know it, you arrive at Lake Catherine. As you approach like Catherine, the trail splits; the right goes to Catherine Pass, sort of bypassing the Lake. We took the left path directly to the lake, and were rewarded by an amazing display of wildflowers in granite boulders on the lakeshore, where we ate our lunch of Harmon's bakery's multi-grain rolls, provolone cheese, grapes, cherries, and a delicious sweet, crisp apple called "Jazzy."
     If you have time, you can continue up to Catherine pass and to the summit of Sunset Peak where 3 county boundaries meet.  We headed back the way we came, with a total  of 4.4 scenic miles.  On our way down the canyon, we had to stop for a large bull moose that was crossing the road.

Almost to Lake Mary

My old trekking poles mingling with my wife's sexy new
model at Lake Mary

I know exactly how old this hiker is, but I wonder about
the age of this fallen tree. Next time I'll have to stop
and count the rings.

A little bit of Lake Martha with
Mount Tuscarora in the background.

Lake Catherine with Catherine Pass
in the background on the right.

Lake Mary in the distance with Lake Martha
in the foreground, viewed from a point
nearLake Catherine.

Thunderclouds building near Lake Mary.

A great treat to end the trip!