Now that summer has officially begun and the heat is melting the grass on the lawns no matter what the latest high tech sprinkler system can dish out, it’s time to get into the mountains. Yes, this means leaving the air-conditioned malls and movie theaters.
The Wasatch mountains contain hundreds of miles of spectacular trails that make it relatively easy to get away from the city. In addition, the change in altitude can often provide a pleasant change in temperature from the valley floor. Two trails come to mind as perfect escapes for the novice to intermediate outdoor hiker.
Snowbird ski resort offers its Barrier Free Interpretive Trail. This trail offers a paved handicapped accessible trail that is roughly a quarter mile long and is an easy grade along its entire length. The Barrier Free trail provides interesting educational signs along its length which point out little known facts about the canyon and its environment. Once you reach the trail’s end, a large deck and benches await you with a gorgeous view down Little Cottonwood Canyon.
The Barrier Free Interpretive Trail begins at the Snowbird Center’s main plaza deck. It is clearly marked, and the employees are more than happy to give you additional directions to the trailhead.
The more adventurous type can continue past the deck on a trail that leads into the Gad Valley. This offshoot is accessible just over the large rock to the left of the overlook. This section winds itself around and up through the Big Emma ski trail and eventually towards the Gad 2 chairlift.
For those seeking even more adventure, the trail to Lake Blanche in Big Cottonwood canyon provides a great diversion. This hike is approximately six miles round trip. The views along the way are quite stunning, and when the final bend is reached three alpine lakes?Blanche, Florence and Lillian?show themselves in all their glory. In addition, Sundial peak jumps up from just behind Lake Blanche.
The Lake Blanche trail itself is one of the more popular hikes in the Wasatch. The trail is well established and clear, and travels through some beautiful aspen groves and into some of the terrain that makes the Wasatch famous. Snowmelt waterfalls are not uncommon until mid-summer.
If the lakes are not enough of a reason to make the trip up, the area just past the lakes is high enough to have some snow until mid-July. Unlike the university, there are no regulations about snowball fights. Three prominent peaks can be accessed from the Lake Blanche region?Sundial Peak, Dromedary Peak and Mount Superior.
To reach the Lake Blanche trailhead head up Big Cottonwood Canyon and park in the Mill B parking area just before the “S” curve. Once parked, follow the paved path until a trail breaks off on the right hand side of the path. There will be a sign and map of the area as you start along the trail.
Further information and detailed maps of many of the finest trails in the Salt Lake area are available in Hiking the Wasatch by John Veranth. Two copies are listed on the Marriott Library’s catalog. Finding them, however, means another hiking trip through the library stacks.
Happy Trails…