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

 

 



Cardiff Fork Trail

Cardiff Fork is a long, straight canyon with steep cliffs on both sides, the landscape is both beautiful and unique. The trail is basically a very rocky road leading to the remains of the old Cardiff Mine and then on to Cardiff Pass which descends into Alta in Little Cottonwood Canyon.  You are in the heart of historic mining territory. The majority of this area is PRIVATE land with signs posted everywhere.  The Forest Service has permission from private land owners for access to the road.  Please, please, please be respectful and do not venture from the road so that the canyon may remain open for all to enjoy!  I really like this hike and I would hate to have some numb skull vandalize the old mining structures or get injured and ruin the hiking experience for the rest of us. (done with my soapbox)  The highlight of this hike for me is the one large remaining structure of the mine - an ore bin.  Mining began here in the 1880's and finally came to an end in 1967.  During the mine's heyday it produced large quantities of gold, silver and copper.  There are massive mine tailings piled all along the trail.  The hiking distance to the old ore bin is 2.5 miles with an elevation gain of 1370 feet. It is an out and back hike for a total of just over 5 miles.  We also took a jog over to Donut Falls for a quick peak since we were in the neighborhood.

This rocky road is the trail.

Very large moose right on the trail made us bushwhack to get around him.

Beautiful stream coming down canyon.

Dramatic cliffs line the canyon.

First large pile of tailings.

Road becomes a stream bed.

Remains of an old cabin.

Ore bin

Wild raspberries made a yummy snack.

A variety of wild mushrooms!

Nature never ceases to amaze and delight me!

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 Wildflower of the Week

This plant is Canada Thistle. Even though it is quite pretty, it is a non native, invasive, noxious weed - So says the State of Utah.  It often grows in large patches and has a deep rootstock that make it hard to kill.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

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

Ed Abbey

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
339.2

Alexander Basin

Alexander Basin is a beautiful glacial bowl located just below Gobblers Knob in Millcreek Canyon.  The trailhead is found 7.8 miles up Millcreek Canyon road with ample parking on the south side of the road.  The trail into Alexander Basin has been described as "one of the steepest trails in the Wasatch" and I concur!  In just over 1 1/2 miles you climb 1640 feet.  The trail passes though three levels of wildflower filled meadows before actually reaching the glacial cirque.  My hiking day yesterday (August 13, 2014) was cool and overcast which could not have been more perfect for this type of hike.  I was pleasantly surprised to find many of my favorite wildflowers still looking gorgeous this late in the summer.  The trail starts out pleasant enough, but soon turns into a real butt burner!

In less than a mile the trail opens up for a very fine view back down canyon.  And the clouds parted for a little blue sky - I was expecting rain?

 

Cow Parsnip as tall as me! (5'7")

First Meadow

Fireweed abounds!

Second Meadow

Still looking beautiful!

Third Meadow

 Glacial Cirque
  

From this point you begin the climb of another 1000 feet to reach Gobblers Knob.  This is the glacial cirque.  And a view looking back from Alexander Basin.

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 Wildflower of the Week

This tall, striking plant is called Saw Groundsel and is often seen growing in groups in the open forest such as on the Alexander Basin trail.  It has a large cluster of small yellow flowers and the leaves are serrated much like a saw blade.  Bees love this plant.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

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

Ed Abbey

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
327.3

Granite Lakes Trail

Granite Lakes is a wonderful section of mountain trail that connects Lake Mary to Twin Lakes crossing along the base of Mount Millicent.  It must get it's name from the towering 15 foot granite cliff that the trail passes beneath.

Begin by hiking the Lake Mary trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Just after reaching the large trail sign for Dog Lake, Lake Mary, Lake Katherine, Albion Basin you will come to a much smaller sign pointing out the trail to Twin Lakes at about .8 miles from the trailhead.

The trail continues on the right side of the Lake Mary dam.  First point of interest is an old cabin,  I would love to know the history of this cabin and if it is still used.  The views from it's boarded up window would be awesome.  The trail climbs up slightly from behind the cabin for a great view of Lake Mary then continues through forest and granite scree, beneath huge granite cliffs and at 2 miles arriving at Twin Lakes.

Spooky old tree near the cabin.

Paintbrush still very vivid in color!

Lake Mary

The trail winds through beautiful forest.

Granite scree before and after.

Did you know that the Limber Pine pictured below is a super durable tree?  It mostly grows where other conifers can't survive like on the very edge of cliffs.  The branches are so limber that they can be bent double without breaking (hence the name Limber Pine)  Limber Pine nuts are edible and squirrels love them, but they are not quite as tasty or nutritious as pinyon nuts.  -- just a fun fact I thought I would share.

Limber Pine

Another limber pine growing from the cliffs.

I was hiking solo today in the morning hours and had the most awesome wildlife encounters!

White crown sparrow.

Two mule deer sightings.

Very friendly pika.  He seemed to want his picture taken.

From Twin Lakes dam I followed an old service road down towards the Brighton ski resort parking area.  I had to bushwhack a little and came out at the Milly Express ski lift, crossing the huge parking lot back to my car for a hiking distance of just shy of 3 miles.  I loved this hike!!

Approaching Twin Lakes

A very cool old work truck was sitting in the Brighton parking lot waiting to be hauled away from the maintenance area so I just had to snap a picture!

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 Wildflower of the Week

Fireweed dominates the mountain landscape at this time of wildflower season .  You can not miss this beautiful, tall, bright pink plant.  It gets it's name from the plants ability to populate over burned and logged areas with a eye catching cover of pink to magenta flowers.

For myself I hold no preferences among flowers

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

Ed Abbey

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

******Miles hiked tally

beginning March 22, 2013
Beginning of this Blog
319.9