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