Days Fork Trail to the Eclipse Mine

When summer temperatures hit 90 degrees and above I can't get myself to the cooler mountains fast enough.  Nothing quite as refreshing as a morning mountain trail. (Popsicles?? Not even a close second!)  My destination this week is the remains of the old Eclipse mine site in Big Cottonwood Canyon from the Days Fork trail.  Days Fork canyon trail is located within Spruces campground about 10 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  There is a day use fee of $8 for hikers to park inside the campground area.  It is also possible to park along Big Cottonwood Canyon road and walk a very short distance to begin the trail.*  To find the trailhead walk directly south of the large day use parking area, pass by a ciderblock restroom and find the trail just beyond a locked gate intended to keep vehicles from entering the trail.

The trail becomes steep right from the get go as you climb a large staircase of water bars.  Not to worry, soon the trail levels out and you will enjoy a more gradual up as lush grasses, cheerful dandelions and large patches of mountain bluebells hug the trail.   You will pass through several small meadows along the trail which look to be perfect moose habitat.  And sure enough we were lucky to catch a glimpse of two females foraging in the abundant vegetation.  The trail becomes steep and rocky and we begin to see evidence of mining activity on the mountainside.  As we climb higher in elevation, patches of snow linger on the trail.  Beautiful alpine buttercups carpet the ground near the run off from the melting snow banks.  Among the many beautiful wildflowers we found several from the buttercup family including Cutleaf Anemone** and Rocky Mountain Clematis.  I also noticed at least three different types of violets along the trail at different elevations.

We found a very old ski lying near the trail.  Days Fork canyon is serious avalanche terrain in winter and I sincerely hope this skier wasn't a victim.

After hiking just over 3 miles and climbing 2400 feet we arrive at the Eclipse Mine.  The original mine claim covered just under 18 acres and was dated December 1877. (Info from Treasure House Relics website)  All that remains is a large compressor, an old hoist near the collapsed shaft, three very large boiler tanks sliding down into the shaft depression and odds and ends of metal.  It is quite impressive that someone hauled all this equipment deep into the canyon.

We climbed a little beyond the mine site for a look into this beautiful alpine cirque with it's steep head wall.  Supposedly, Mount Superior, Twin Lakes Pass and the Alta parking lot in Little Cottonwood Canyon are all visible just a mile from the upper end of Days Fork canyon.  We could not see an easy route up to the ridge line, but we were treated to viewing a handsome three point buck so the extra climb was not in vain.

Looking down canyon above the Eclipse Mine.

 ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

*I parked along side the road for this hike and I did a mighty fine job parallel parking even if I do say so myself.  Mine is the dark red Volvo.

 **These very pretty Anemones produce a toxic chemical called protoanemonin which can cause rashes, nausea or worse if touched or ingested.  Another reason to never pick the pretty wildflowers - only take pictures.