Big Water, Little Water Trails

Big and Little Water trails are well loved and well used by hikers, dog walkers, mountain bikers and even horse riders.  There are portions of these trails that make you feel like you are walking through an enchanted forest.  Both trails are located at the very end of Millcreek Canyon Road which turns into a fairly large parking area.  These parking spots fill fast even on a weekday evening.  And just  FYI - for a much more pleasant hiking experience be sure to go on an ODD numbered day when the upper trails are closed to mountain bikes.  Big Water and Little Water trails both lead to the ever popular Dog Lake.  We started our hike today (September 3) on the Big Water Trail to Dog Lake which begins in the southwest corner of the upper parking lot and is a nice section of the Great Western Trail system.  Along with many dogs, we shared the trail today with a couple on horseback.  Very well mannered horses I must say.  You can see how much the dogs love this lake - can't imagine what the lake looks like on a busy weekend.  As wildflower season comes to a close, mushroom season begins.  Again this week we found a variety of unusual and interesting mushrooms.  I should study mushrooms next because I didn't realize there are so many different kinds.

Once we reached Dog Lake we decided to climb to the summit of Reynolds Peak, 9422 feet just for fun and because it is only another 1/2 mile from the Dog Lake saddle with an additional 650 vertical feet.  There is nothing quite as satisfying as reaching the top of a mountain peak!  And the views are awesome to say the least.

This avalanche safety system has been added to the summit of Reynolds Peak.



 

We took the shorter, but steeper Little Water trail back to the parking area which made for a very nice loop hike totaling 6.3 miles.  We found this mushroom attached to the log looking like a funnel.  I have said it before and I will say it again and again - nature always delights!

 

 

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 Wildflower of the Week 

   



 

Not many wildflowers left, but I found this beautiful bunch on the Little Water trail in Millcreek canyon.  I believe they are Coulter's Daisy because they are known to flower into September and are common in high mountain meadows. 

 

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

so long as they are wild, free, spontaneous!"

Ed Abbey

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******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
353.3