Little Water Peak 9605

Little Water Peak at 9605 feet

I have not had a bad hike all summer . . . . . . until yesterday (big frowny face).  The hike began pleasant enough on the Little Water trail in Millcreek Canyon.  Little Water trail is found at the upper parking area at the end of Millcreek Canyon road and offers the shortest access to Dog Lake at 1.8 miles.  Our hiking objective was to bag Little Water Peak, the peak to the north of Dog Lake.  Once you reach the last sign for Dog Lake and before you descend to the lake there was a faint trail heading toward Little Water Peak on the left.  My hiking book said that "Little Water Peak is a relatively easy summit for hikers."  HA!  The faint trail we started soon deteriorated into no trail what so ever.  We never did find a trail which meant bushwacking the entire climb to the peak. (Bushwacking is defined as traveling through very rough country, right!)(And bushwacking is kind of a hiking no no!)  Add gale force winds and our hiking experience became BRUTAL!  The only consolation was getting some pretty good pictures to share.  The mountain views were impressive.

Beginning of Little Water Trail

Turn left toward Little Water Peak just after sign.

Trying to find the trail to Little Water Peak

Very nice views but still no sign of trail

Looking down at tiny Dog Lake

Quakies

Beautiful Quaking Aspens

Gnarled aspens from too much wind at the top

An elk - the only one we saw on this hike.

 Views From The Top

Reynolds Peak

Wind makes for a gorgeous sky

Clayton Peak on the far right

Antelope Island in the far distance

Having a snack at the top of Little Water - it's windy!!

Bushwacking our way up and down. 

Covered in prickly burrs!

Our hike today totaled 5.4 miles with an elevation gain of 2005 feet.  Little Water trail to Dog Lake is a very enjoyable hike, but I wouldn't climb Little Water Peak again.  Nearby Reynolds Peak has a much better trail and I would climb Reynolds again in a heartbeat.

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Peaks Bagged  2013

1.  Grandeur Peak ♦♦ 8299 

2.  Reynolds Peak ♦♦ 9422

3.  South Guardsman Pass Peak ♦♦ 10,420

4.  Mount Baldy ♦♦ 11,068

5.  Mount Evergreen ♦♦ 9,840

6.  Mount Tuscarora ♦♦ 10,660

7.  Mount Wolverine ♦♦ 10,795

8.  Sugarloaf Peak ♦♦ 11,051

9.  Little Water Peak ♦♦ 9,605

******Miles hiked tally     

beginning March 22, 2013

148.1