Silver Lake (American Fork Canyon)

Ok, this hike is one of my all-time favorites!  It is difficult to imagine a more scenic hike, with beautiful lakes, pines, aspens, waterfalls, wildlife, and a chance for some great fishing!  My brother-in-law told me about it, and I couldn't wait to try it out!  Do not confuse this lake with the Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon that has a boardwalk around it.  The trailhead is less than an hour away from the Salt Lake Valley.  The hike is 4.25 miles round-trip, but the views are so spectacular that it seemed much shorter to me.  Families with smiling young kids carrying fishing gear and dogs on leashes were seen on our way back down.  From I-15 take the Highland/Alpine/Cabella's Exit and head East on UT 92 up American fork Canyon. (You can follow the Timponogos Cave signs).
At the mouth of the canyon you will need to stop at the booth to pay the $6 for a 3 day pass, then head up the canyon past Timponogos Cave. When the road splits, turn left and enjoy the gorgeous drive up to Tibble Fork Reservoir.  Keep going on the paved road following the signs to Granite Flats Campground.  Just as you see the Granite Flats Campground pay booth, you will see a dirt road on your right.  Turn right on this dirt road and follow it for 3.2 miles.  The road can be travelled in any vehicle, but you will need to steer around rocks in a few areas and take it slow.  At the end of the road, you will arrive at beautiful Silver Lake Flat. ( GPS  coordinates N 40* 30.419' W 111* 39.389') Park in the large parking lot, get out and stretch, enjoying the view of the lake with Mount Timponogos in the background.  The trail begins to the right of the restrooms.   It is one of those irresistibly- inviting trails that you just can't help but explore.  The trail is quite shaded with beautiful Aspens and Pines for the first mile, and lined with amazing wildflowers.  After the trail crosses the bubbling brook in about a mile,  you arrive at some switchbacks, and the trail is a little steeper, but the views are so spectacular that you don't even notice.  As you gain in elevation, you see several waterfalls streaming down from the majestic granite cliffs.  Before you know it, you are on the shore of Silver Lake  with a huge smile on your face, breathing the fragrant Alpine air! (GPS coordinates N 40* 31.302 W 111* 40.299)

Silver Flats Lake

An inviting trail

View along the trail

Silver Flats lake and Timp in the background.

One of several waterfalls

Trekking Poles resting on granite boulder at
Silver Lake.

The Livingroom

This is a fun, fairly short (3.75 miles round-trip), fairly steep hike.  There is not much shade, so early morning, or during cool times of year would be best. I hiked mid day and it was a bit warm, and I used all of 2 liters of water that I brought. This was the "Hike of the week" in the Salt Lake Tribune for June 12, 2014.  I have also heard this hike called  "The Flintstones Livingroom" or "The Furniture." The trailhead is just to the right of Red Butte Gardens. (gps coordinates are:               N40* 45.723' W 111* 49.435')  To get there  Take Foothill Boulevard to Wakara Way all the way to the top, and turn right on Colorow Drive. You can see the trailhead immediately on your left. Just park along the road and head up the trail.  The trail zigzags through some trees for a few minutes, then crosses the Bonneville Shoreline trail. A short distance after crossing the Bonneville Shoreline trail, take a left, heading North, then East. you will be just outside Red Butte Gardens property for a while. At the back of Red Butte Gardens you will see trails headed in many directions. Backtrack maybe 50 feet, and head up a trail that zigzags up to the ridge line. When you get to the ridge line, you will see a prominent outcropping of rock, called "The Finger." (Gps coordinates N 40* 45.888' W 111* 48.986.')  Follow the ridge line up towards the finger.  The trail goes near the finger, so you may just as well scramble up the rocks to the finger, to see a great view. Then get back on the trail and head farther on up the ridge line until you get to "The Livingroom."  Have a seat on some of the surprisingly -comfortable furniture and enjoy the view! The love seat was taken up by a couple apparently on their first date from the snatches of conversation that I heard. They did not leave until a bug crawled on her and she screamed, but by then I was also ready to leave! This would be an incredible place to watch the sun set, but you would need a good light to get back down!  You can go back the way you came, but I found a trail that went down to the gulch to the South and went that way instead. The area is full of cool geocaches you can do along the way.  A geocache called "The Furniture" GC445 is above the Livingroom. It s a good one, and has a great view.

View from a point before climbing up to "the Finger."

The Finger

Trekking poles taking a well-deserved rest on chair.

View of Kennecott Copper Mine in the distance