Stairs Gulch

Stairs Gulch

 This is a very short hike that begins 2.9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  It is a very peaceful place to go sit and relax and read a book and listen to the sound of the cascading water. The trail starts on the right side of the road, maybe 50 feet past the turnoff for Storm Mountain Amphitheater. There is space for only a couple of cars in this spot, but you can also park above or below.  It was quite dark when I started, so I had to wait a while for enough light to take some pictures, as the hike is only 1/3 mile long! I had planned to hike up Mule Hollow, but that trailhead was closed for construction.  I made the hike a couple of miles long, by wandering around the Storm Mountain camping area across the road.

Storm Mountain

     When I was young, our next door neighbor, who was probably in his eighties told me that he was a Forest Ranger assigned to Storm Mountain, and they wouldn't build a cabin for him, because they said it would just get smashed by rock slides! He said he had to sleep in a tent, but never slept very well, as he kept thinking about rocks smashing into his tent!

I found this leaf "Just hangin' around."

This leaf was doing its own thing

Loop from Silver Lake to Lake Solitude to Twin Lakes

Rock Solidtude Geocache container

Silver Lake viewed from the trail to Twin Lakes

 I received an email that my Rock Solidtude geocache may be missing, so I headed up to check it out. On the way up Big Cottonwood Canyon, ( I was going to say "bright and early," but it was still dark, so that wouldn't apply), my headlights caught the glowing eyes of a mountain lion sitting on the pipeline on the side of the road.  I did not attempt to get any pictures of this, but it was cool to see!  I arrived at the Silver Lake trailhead (9.2 miles from the bottom of the canyon), and headed around the right side of the lake. I wore a jacket for the first time this year, as the temperature was cool enough for ice to be forming at the edges of the ponds. I took the marked trail to Lake Solitude, and arrived just as the sun hit the peaks above the lake, their reflection shimmering in the ripples  caused by a refreshing breeze.  I confirmed that the geocache was still there, and headed back toward the car. Just as the sun was rising, I found a geocache called "Sunrise at the Sunrise," (near the Sunrise ski lift).  I hiked back down to the main trail and saw a trail on  my right that bypasses Silver Lake, and heads over to Twin Lakes.  This is at gps coordinates  N 40* 36.492 W 111* 35.536.  This stretch of trail is quite level and scenic. I saw several deer along here, and laughed when one used its hind leg to scratch behind its ear like  dog.
  The view above Silver lake was incredible, with the sun illuminating the golden aspen leaves like a lantern.  After reaching Twin Lakes I climbed up a couple of hundred feet to a geocache called The Albino Miner.

One of several deer I saw 

View of Twin Lakes from Albino Miner Geocache

 I then headed back down to the trailhead, having wandered 4.8 miles that beautiful morning.  A couple of thoughts I had while hiking:
      What made that one aspen leaf among millions of others, turn red?
     How much does a Smart Car weigh?  ( I saw a sign that said a moose can weigh 1600 pounds, and I thought that is probably what a Smart Car would weigh, and I checked it on Google, and sure enough, 1600 pounds!
   

One red aspen leaf among millions of yellow ones

Fifth Water Hot Springs

Along the trail to the Hot Springs

Near the half-way point

View of the lower pools early in the morning

 This is one of my all-time favorite hikes. I love this hike  all seasons of the year, but none better than in the Fall.  We backpacked there this past weekend, and the fall colors were so bright they almost hurt our eyes!
This is an easy and scenic hike. It is not uncommon to see families with 2 and 3-year-olds  hiking up here.  To get to the trailhead from Salt Lake City, head South on I- 15 and take the exit to Highway 6 East toward Price. When you get off the freeway, zero your odometer as you pass the McDonalds and go 9.7 miles up Spanish Fork Canyon. If you forgot to check your mileage at McDonalds, you can start clocking just as you pass those awesome huge windmills about 4 miles up the canyon, and go 5 miles from there.  At that point, look for a large brown sign pointing left to Diamond Campground. This is where you turn left.  (If you reach the turnoff to Manti, you went a bit too far.)  As soon as you turn left at the brown sign, reset your odometer and go 9.6 miles up Diamond Fork Canyon.  If you want to take a fun little rest stop, look for a red rock picnic area 6.7 miles up the canyon on your left.    (I think it is called Red Cliff)  From the parking lot you can look up to your right, and see marks on the cliff where there used to be a waterfall, maybe 50 yards away. In the spring there is some water running down it. At the base of the waterfall is a carving of a sun, that looks very old, and according to some journal, I believe, was carved by the Escalante party in 1776.  There is one spot on the climb up there that is kind of difficult, but there is usually a rope hanging there to help you pull yourself up.   After this little stop, get back in your vehicle and drive another 2.9 miles up Diamond Fork Canyon ( or 9.6 miles from the bottom of the canyon).  At this point, you will see a sign that says
Three Forks Trailhead.  Turn in here and park your car. If the lot is full, you will have to drive 1/2 mile further up or back down the canyon and park on the side of the road.)As of June 4, 2024 a fee will be charged to use this area. There will be a pay tube at the parking lot. Bring $10 cash or check and a pen or pencil to fill out the envelope. You can also buy a pass at the Spanish Fork Ranger district. A 1 year pass is $60. Or you can buy an America the Beautiful pass for $80. If you are a senior you can buy a lifetime pass. From this parking lot, you go through the gate behind the restrooms. Do not go over the footbridge.   Just follow the trail about 2 1/2 miles to the hot pots.  There is a footbridge about half way, that crosses Sixth Water, which comes from Strawberry Reservoir, and has some good fishing!  As you approach the hot springs, you will notice a sulphur odor, and you know you are close. Once you get in the springs, you quickly forget about the slight odor as you luxuriate in the warm water!  There are several different pools to explore, each with different temperatures.  About 100 yards above the first pools, is a waterfall  where you can climb underneath it and stick your upper body through  a hole in the built-up minerals.  If you climb up above this waterfall, you will find some more hot pots; past that is a beautiful triple waterfall, and past that, are several great places to set up a tent if you backpacked in.

Steam rising from the hot pots

photo taken earlier in the year

Dog Lake

Looking back across Big Cottonwood Canyon

An inviting trail

So peaceful

Sunrise through the aspens

Dog Lake before the dogs arrived

This being an odd-numbered day, my trekking poles were relieved that they had left the mountain bike  at home!

This hike begins 9.6 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon, at Mill D North Trailhead, on the left side of the road.   It is an easy hike, and very scenic. The book says it is a 2 mile hike to Dog Lake, but my gps read 6.4 miles round trip. Maybe that is because I wandered around taking pictures, and did about 5 geocaches along the way.  I started at 7:15 AM, and there was frost on the ground. I carried a jacket, but did not need it, as I warmed up quickly.  I saw moose tracks crossing the trail to the stream, but no moose.  I had the trail to myself the entire hike, but saw a man and lady dressed from head to toe  in matching camo (the lady's backpack was camo with pink trim); they were bow hunting, but not successfully at that point. As I was about to leave Dog Lake, about a dozen loud hikers with even louder dogs arrived from the Millcreek Canyon side, and the pristine reflection of fall trees in the lake was gone. Oh well; the dogs were fun to watch, tirelessly fetching sticks in the lake!
     On the way down, I chatted with 2 ladies that asked about great places to hike. I told them about my blog, and discovered that they went to Cottonwood High School with one of my sons.

Twin Lakes

Looking down on Silver Lake from Twin Lakes Trail

Twin Lakes

I hiked to Twin Lakes this morning and did a few Geocaches along the way. I saw a couple of large deer on the way up. I parked at Silver Lake, went around to the right until I reached the trail that branches off the other side. I took that for a short distance, then followed the sign that points to the left. It is a pretty easy trail, not too steep, a little rocky in places. It was 1.65 miles to the lake, but I wandered around a bit looking for geocaches, and had some excellent views that I would have missed.
     Twin lakes is really only one lake, but before the dam was put in, it was two separate lakes. I only saw one other person at the lake, so it was very peaceful. I wish I had brought my fishing pole!  On the way down, I looked about 5 feet off the trail, and saw an OWL!  I have seen very few owls in the wild, so I was very excited. Unfortunately it flew off before I could get a picture of it. It was quite small, maybe 10 inches tall, but it's wings sounded very powerful as it flew by.

Bear Trap Fork

I started the Labor Day Holiday with a great Moutainman breakfast.

The beginning of the hike, with my Trekking poles patiently waiting

A very serene trail

 My sweet wife suggested that I go hiking today, so I jumped at the chance. There were hundreds of vehicles in the canyon, and I was expecting a crowded trail but that was not the case. I drove 10.4 miles up the canyon from the stop light at the bottom.  (This is different from the posted mile signs along the road; I don't know where they started their miles!)  There are no signs posted telling you that this is Bear Trap Fork, but once you start on the dirt road, in about 100 yards you will see an inviting trail that leaves the road off to the left. There are no signs at all on the trail either, but it is easy to follow. This hike was incredibly peaceful and serene. The forest floor was soft and silent in places, and all I could hear was a slight squeak of my leather boots that I had  never noticed before,  birds chirping,  a slight breeze whistling through the pine needles, and some aspen leaves quaking.   In spite of this being a holiday, I did not encounter a single person for over an hour and a half. Then I met the only other hikers of the entire hike, a family of four, and the teenage daughter said,  'You are almost there. Get ready for a stunning view." And she was right.

Desolation Lake 

My trekking poles enjoying the view

The Great Western Trail aka The Wasatch Crest Trail

After hiking for 2 1/2 miles I came to an amazing view point, where I could see Park City and the Uintah mountains to the Northeast, The Great Salt Lake to the Northwest, the Salt Lake Valley, the Oquirrh mountains and Deseret Peak to the Southwest, (also the back side of Mount Olympus), and Twin Peaks to the South.  The air was very clear, due to the heavy rains we had the last two days.  The gps coordinates for this point are:
N 40* 39.602 W 111* 35.838.  At this point, I sat on a log and ate some crackers and some Justin's all natural Chocolate Hazelnut Butter, a great snack!  I read a paperback book and just relaxed for a few minutes. I heard a swishing sound, and looked up to see a large hawk soaring right next to me on a thermal. I was actually looking down on the hawk, and had a great view of it.

Red Pine Lake

 This morning I hiked to Red Pine Lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Right at the start of the trailhead was a huge female moose. I stopped to get my camera out, but the moose looked kind of nervous, so, with my lifelong goal to never be on the evening news, I continued up this inviting trail, without a moose photo.  The hike was exactly 3.3 miles long, (one way) and took me one hour 38 minutes to get to the lake. (My trekking poles arrived slightly ahead of me!)
  On the way up I found a geocache called Pick-A-Trail Junction at N 40° 33.195 W 111° 41.720 .  
This is near the trail that branches off to Maybird Gulch.  That is a hike for another day.
     On my way back to the trailhead, I met up with an inspiring elderly hiker. He was making his way up a steep part of the trail and was not even breathing hard.  I commented on how well he seemed to be doing and he said he was far ahead of his two younger friends.  ( I met up with them also, and they were ages 78 and 83!) This gentleman was 87, and likely shopped at the same store as the 89-year-old that I met at White Pine, as they were dressed exactly alike!  I asked what his favorite hike was, and he said it is the hike from Brighton to Albion Basin with a side trip up Sunset Peak. (My previous post) I was surprised by one thing he said; he said he thought the hike up to White Pine Lake was boring!!  I loved that hike! Maybe it was too easy for him?
As I continued down the trail, I wished I had asked permission to take his picture, to remind me what I want to be doing at his age!
     His younger friends were headed back down, as it was raining slightly, and they had had enough for the day. I asked my usual question about their favorite hike, and one of them said, "Bear Trap Fork," which I have not hiked since I was in high school,  so I think I'll plan that hike soon.

     I saw quite a few squirrels  today, and  I was wondering how fast they run. I estimated 10 miles per hour, and when I looked it up on Google when I got home, they said 12 to 14 mph so I wasn't too far off.