Big Mountain Pass to Affleck Park

     This is a fun hike along a historic section of the Great Western Trail. It was originally blazed in 1846 by the ill-fated Donner Party, then used by the Mormon Pioneers a year later. Until 1861 when Parleys Canyon was opened, it was the trail for the California gold seekers, overland stage, Pony Express, and the original telegraph line!
     This was the Hike of the Week in the Sept. 25 2014 Salt Lake Tribune. It is called Historic Pioneer Trail.  There are some errors in the article though: It says Round Trip Miles are 2.5, but that is ONE WAY!  Also, it says hiking time is 3 hours, but I went REALLY slow, taking pictures and looking for geocaches, and it still took me only 2 1/2 hours.
     To get to the trailhead, drive East on I 80 out of Salt Lake.  Four minutes up Parleys Canyon, take the exit to East Canyon, turn left off of the freeway, and drive a little over 8 miles up Highway 65 toward East Canyon Reservoir.  Along the way, you will see Little Dell Reservoir on the right, Affleck Park on the left; then the road will climb steeply until it levels out at the summit. This is the large Big Mountain Pass Parking Lot.  (gps coordinates N 40* 49.668' W 111* 39.244')  There are actually 4 trails that leave from this lot, but you will be taking the trail that is on your right (South side) as you pull in. It goes downhill immediately.  This is a  nice trail, part of the Great Western Trail, and once you are on it, you won't get lost.   You have great views as you hike down some switchbacks. It levels off after about 1 mile, and you will cross two bridges in quick succession. At mile 1.53 you will cross the highway (gps coordinates N 40* 49.202' W 111* 39.997) When crossing, listen for any traffic, then cross quickly as a vehicle coming around the curve would have a hard time stopping!   If you are into geocaching, before you cross the road, find the geocache called Original Mormon Trail.  Even if you are not a geocacher, if you click on this link, the description is very interesting to read: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC339XP_original-mormon-trail . There is also another  nice cache near here that I was the first to find: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC56WEP_spoiled-felines-rejoice-2.
     After you cross the road, continue on the trail.  You will pass through an area that has been recently decimated by beavers!   It made me think that the beavers had a futile neighborhood work project designed to stop those pesky mountain bikes from driving by their neighborhood! About 1/2 mile after you cross the road, you will come to a fork in the trail. Take the left branch that goes downhill to a bridge.  Another 1/2 mile will bring you to your destination, Affleck Park. Have a little rest on a picnic bench and head back up the way you came.
     Some alternatives to this hike would be to park at Affleck Park and hike uphill to the Big Mountain Pass, (When I was there, the park was already closed for the season, so you would have to park on the road)  You would pick up the trail right by campsite #44.  You could also park on the road where the trail crosses the road (gps coordinates: N 40* 49.202 W 111* 39.997) and hike up or down the trail from there.  As I began this hike, I thought, "Gosh, I will have to hike back UP this trail," but I actually found it very easy to hike back up, and didn't even get my heart rate up.

Here is a tally of some things I saw:
Deer:  3
Piles of deer guts right by the trail (presumably from a Black Powder Hunter): 1
Hikers also doing the Hike of the week: 2
Mountainbikers: 5
Dead Porcupines: 1
Many moose tracks, cool birds, and flowers.

Looking South from the trailhead

Interesting Marker at trailhead

Pioneers' First view of SaltLake Valley

Sunrise.

One of the bridges at mile 1

Busy beavers' work

"Experienced" trekking poles

Affleck Park

Sun fully up at end of hike

   

Clayton Peak, Lackawaxen Lake, Bloods Lake loop

This was a fun Labor Day hike, even if it was a bit crowded at Bloods Lake.  This hike is a modification of the "Hike of the Week" published in the Salt Lake Tribune last Thursday. That hike did not go to the top of Clayton Peak and did not go to Lackawaxen Lake, but even with those changes the hike was just 4.3 miles. It has fantastic views in all directions, and beautiful scenery with some huge pines over 4 feet in diameter, plenty of Aspens, and many lakes can be seen. It is moderate in difficulty due the elevation gain (2700 feet), and for some boulder-hopping in some sections, but I saw hikers of all ages from about 5 years old to 75 years old!  To get to the trailhead, drive 13.6 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon and turn left onto Guardsman's Pass.  Drive to the top of the pass and park in the dirt parking lot, being sure to set your parking brake, so your vehicle does not join those way down below! There is no guardrail.   The trail starts at a big white sign with faded letters, so it can no longer be read.  If you are facing the sign, you will be hiking up the steep trail to your right. (The trail behind the sign is the one you will be returning on).  The trail ascends a ridge and is easy to follow.  You read higher and higher peaks. About the 4th one, is called 10420 on topo maps, because that is the elevation. Not a very creative name, but a geocache description up there called it Venture Peak. The geocache is a fun one. Here is the link: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5ANY8_i-can-see-i-can-see-my-house-from-here-from-here?guid=901c3ba4-9bb6-4142-8902-d159e5aa15fd.
I happened to be the first to find this one!  When you reach 10420, continue down the trail that descends the other side from where you came up. At the saddle,( gps coordinates N 40* 35.815'       W 111* 33.562')  you will see a trail branch off to the left. If you don't feel like climbing to the top of Clayton Peak, you can take it.  But I continued straight, towards the summit of Clayton Peak. It is less than 1/2 mile from the saddle, and is a bit steep but fun.  There is a geocache at the top of Clayton Peak: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC4RQV4_clayton-peak?guid=3c143d03-6900-4951-b66b-f00d8e0957ec.  It was difficult to find, but I finally found it.  Two men were at the summit with communications equipment. They told me they were getting ready for the Wasatch 100 next weekend. If you have never heard of it, look it up! It is a 100 mile trail run, and i believe the record is about 19 hours!  I could do it, but it would take me about 10 days!
   After you enjoy the view from Clayton Peak, hike back down to the saddle, and take the trail you passed up earlier.    Descend this trail for about 500 feet, and  it will intersect a trail.  If you go right, it will take you to Lackawaxen Lake which is about 1/3 of a mile away on an easy trail, except for a boulder field you will have to cross just before you arrive at the lake.  This is a hidden gem of a lake that is  beautiful and uncrowded.  I went to check on a geocache that I placed there 3 years ago, and only 4 people have visited it!:http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC349PK_lackawaxen-lake-cache?guid=340f98db-b11c-421f-9829-9fb052b68696.
Now hike back the way you came, but instead of turning left toward the saddle, continue straight and the trail will take you to Blood's Lake. You will come to a place where the trail splits. Stay to the right to go the most direct route to Blood's Lake. The trail is easy, except for a steep part just before you reach the lake.   From Blood's Lake you are only 1/2 mile from your car. When you get to the lake, you will see the obvious trail to your right. It is fairly steep but easy to follow.

The rising sun reflecting off of Blood's Lake on the way up to Peak 10420 

Trekking Poles resting against a cairn atop
Peak 10420.

Some amazingly tasty raspberries her the top of Clayton Peak.

View of Lackawaxen Lake from Clayton Peak

Lackawaxen Lake in the distance

Lackawaxen Lake

Approaching Blood's Lake