Lake Solitude (again)

Bull Moose fighting just below Solitude. Photo by Ben Reschke

My son, grandson, and I hiked up to Lake Solitude recently and discovered that All  of the signs had been taken down! Maybe to protect them from winter weather? There were many lost hikers wandering around, so I thought I should give directions that can be followed even without signs.  This is an easy hike 1.5 miles each way.  This hike is almost at the top of  Big Cottonwood Canyon, 9.6 miles from the bottom. Park in the fairly small Silver Lake parking lot, or across the road in the large lot near the small store if that is full.  Go to the boardwalk behind the visitors center, follow it to your right to the other side of Silver Lake.  You will see a wide trail branching off to your right.  Go a short distance up this trail until you see the trail split.  Take the trail that goes uphill to the right. (Left will take you to Twin Lakes). After you hike a fairly long flat section of trail with an aspen grove on your right, you will come to another split in the trail.  There is a tall pine with a number 14 on it (See pic below). Take the trail to your left.  You will see a cut tree section with a red arrow spray painted on it to guide you (See Pic below). After continuing farther, you will come to what looks like the end of the trail, but if you look to your left, you will see 2 large fallen trees across a steep trail to your left.  This is where you need to go. It is steep, but only about 200 feet up.  At the top of this you will see Lake Solitude. There are wonderful rocks to rest on before you head back,  or you can find the geocache that I hid there (http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GCQ6DG_rock-solidtude?guid=e40a7151-207c-4038-9949-191b2a35388a), or you can explore the other side of the lake and poke your head in a tunnel.  

New trekking poles now have 9 miles
on them.

Lake Solitude

Geocache log being signed with a tiny pencil

Under side of geocache

Beaver-gnawed tree near geocache

Arrow shows the way

When you see this true, stay left

Silver Lake in late October

Salt Lake Valley Overlook-Desolation Trail

This is a fun little hike that I have been doing for 50 years.  It is easy, and makes a nice trail run. Dogs are allowed, which could be a plus or a minus.  I won some new carbon fiber trekking poles at a drawing at Recreation Outlet last week, so I got to try them out.  I estimate that my old poles have about 3000 miles on them, and I may keep track of the mileage of my new ones!
     To get to the trailhead drive 3.2 miles up Millcreek Canyon from Wasatch Blvd.  Just past Millcreek Inn on the right, you will see South Box Elder Picnic area. This is where you park.
The trail starts to the right of the restrooms. (gps coordinates N 40* 41.848' W111* 44.403') A sign says it is 2 miles to the Salt Lake Overlook, but this is a lie; It is actually 2.4 miles. Maybe they added some switchbacks since the sign was made?  A short distance up the trail, you will see a wooden sign that says Thaynes Canyon straight ahead, and Desolation Trail to the right.  Go to the right, up the switchbacks.  The trail is easy to follow, and has a lot of shade from Pines and Maple trees, and some scrub oak at the lower portions.  At 2.4 miles you will see the lookout.  (gps coordinates N40* 41.345' W111* 44.583') As I approached the lookout, three Elderly ladies asked me where I parked, and when I told them, they said, "Oh Dear, we are going the wrong way, we wanted to go farther up the trail!"  I was a little worried about them, but I didn't see anything on the evening news about missing Elderly hikers, so I guess they made it!
     If you are a geocacher, there is a geocache that you must do; It is called Bill's Arch. Click on this link to see some close-up pictures: http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC12FVB_bills-arch?Submit6=Go . I found this with my son in 2008. It was my 600th geocache find.  I was amazed that I had been hiking past this for so many years and did not know it was there. Even if you are not a geocacher, if you are observant, you can see it.  As you go back down,  in less than one mile, you will come to a gulch. If you look in front of you, you can see the arch in the distance. (See picture below)  There is not an actual trail up to it, but after you cross the gulch, you will come to a spine of rock.  If you are ambitious, you can climb uphill about 100 feet, and get to the arch.  It is not an easy climb, but it is pretty cool.  If you do not want to take the exact same trail back to your vehicle, you can take a slight detour;  at one of the switchbacks you will see a wooden sign pointing to Thayne's Canyon.  You can take that, and have a nice, easy straight hike down the canyon. I think it is actually slightly shorter because you avoid some switchbacks.

Choose the right

Pipeline trail is across the canyon

Bill's arch from a distance

New trekking poles now have 6 miles on them!

   

Bear Trap Fork to Desolation Lake and Return via Mill D North Trail.

This is an incredible hike this time of year.  I started at Bear Trap Fork, 10.5 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. This is not a marked trailhead, but is one of the most scenic, non-crowded trails I have been on. ( See photo below of the gate you park by).  I had not intended this to be a loop hike,, but I was having too much fun and decided to extend it by returning via Mill D North trail. I then hiked 1.6 miles up the road from Mill D North back to my car.  If you are going to do this with only one vehicle, I would recommend parking at Mill D North trailhead, then hiking up the road at the beginning of your hike instead of at the end!   The trail goes behind the gate as a dirt road.  Very soon you will see a trail that branches off to the left of the road.  Take this trail.  (Right now there is a large fallen tree blocking the road at this point).   From this point, there are no other decisions to be made, just enjoy the varying terrain, starting with some switchbacks, then following  a small stream for quite some distance. I saw many moose tracks, but no moose today. Most of the trail is a gentle climb with intermittent level areas and some beautiful meadows.  The last 1/2 mile is a bit steeper, but never too strenuous.  At about 2 1/2 miles, you will have a fantastic view of Desolation lake down to your left.  Chances are, you will not see any other hikers until you reach the ridge where you may encounter mountain  bikers traversing park to the Great Western Trail, also known as the Wasatch Crest Trail.  Follow this trail to the other side of the lake, where you have a view of Park City on your right, and a view of the Salt Lake Valley and Kennecott Copper Mine on your left.  If you are a geocacher, you can find a nice cache  http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC7EE_memory-exchange-revised?guid=f30d20a5-4ba6-4f97-bc25-3f0681b54d03 on the ridge before making your way down some easy switchbacks to Desolation Lake.  From the lake, you will see the trail sign pointing you toward Dog Lake and the Mill D North trail.  This is a scenic downhill trail taking you to the junction and sign pointing you straight ahead to Dog Lake or Left to the Mill D North Trailhead. ( If you want to make this into a 10 mile hike, go uphill .5 miles to Dog Lake and back.)  From this junction the route is almost all downhill to the Mill D north trailhead.  My gps said 8.98 miles when  I got back to my car, so I just had to wander around a bit to make it an even 9 miles!

Desolation Lake from Great Western Trail

Along Bear Trap Fork

Mill D North Trail

I almost expected to hear angels singing as the sun
 broke from the clouds and hit this triangle of fall leaves!

Toward Mill D North Trailhead

Bear Trap Fork Trailhead