Red Pine Lake, Little Cottonwood Canyon

I have to admit I was surprised how beautiful this trail was.  Yes yes, I am in Utah, every trail is so different, and so dang beautiful than what I am used to.  I get it.  But this trail was just really fun, a great workout, and an escape from the city limits.  What I loved most about this hike, that it wasn't necessarily a destination hike.  It wasn't hiking this ugly trail to a pretty lake to return to said ugly trail.  (That's kind of how I feel about the popular Lake Blanche hike... gorgeous lake, kind of sucky trail). 

The entire trail to Red Pine Lake was absolutely beautiful from the second we left the parking lot, to the moment we reached the lake.  The views looking down the canyon with the fall colors and the winding road below were so beautiful.  Maybe my favorite part of the hike.  And then you pass streams, and bridges, rocky trails to beautiful Alpine Lakes.  And again, I proved that hiking past the lake, is always the best decision.  While the guys had a blast climbing over larger than life boulders, I prefer a steady even dirt trail, without the fear of splitting my face open.  

The first mile of the trail is relatively flat, with a small and steady climb on a wide dirt trail.  Once you reach the split in the trail, where Red Pine Lake and White Pine Lake separate, you start to climb and boy will you feel the burn.  We climbed about 2,569 feet over the course of the 4.32 miles to the Upper Lake.  In retrospect that's not that bad, but some of the steep sections left me huffing and puffing, I am not too proud to admit.  

The bulk of the climb felt like it was between miles 2-3.5, with some steep sections towards the end.  As I mentioned, the trail is a nice wide dirt trail for a while, before changing to a rocky trail, and eventually large boulders past the lower lake.  Be careful on the rocky sections aproaching the lake, and be VERY careful when picking your way across the large boulders to reach the upper lake.  Warning:  There is no designated trail to the upper lake.  Take the hiker made trail that wraps around the lake to the left.  

You may see some cairns along the way but you really just have to pick your way across that boulder field and keep shooting for left to reach that upper left.  While the upper lake was about the same size as the lower lake, it wasn't terribly exciting.  BUT!  The view from the upper lake, looking down at the lower lake with the peaks in the background, surrounded by the alpine is worth all the boulders you have to climb over. Million dollar view friends.  

Again, another gorgeous Sunday high altitude alpine lake. with great company.  We hiked this trail with our two friends Amanda and Braden we met earlier in the summer during a hike hosted by our Dog Hiking Group and friend Alicia over at Girl On A Trail.  It's not always easy to find a group of people who are willing to hike 9 miles on their Sunday, so I am so thankful to have met these two and other great members in the group. 

An empty trail, with only a few hikers, maybe due to the chance of showers that we encountered at the last mile of our hike.  Put this one on your list! 

Trailhead:  White Pine Trailhead Little Cottonwood Canyon. Drive 4.6 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon and park at the White Pine Trailhead parking lot.  The trail head is just before Snowbird and there are restrooms at the trail head.  This is also the trail for White Pine Lake.  The trails will separate after a mile or so.   Distance:  7.3 out and back to the lower lake.  8.6 out and back to the upper lake.   Kids:  Maybe to the lower lake.  However, it is a long trail with steep sections and large boulders past the lower lake.    Dogs: No :( This is a protected watershed dogs are not allowed anywhere in Little Cottonwood Canyon. 

White Pine Lake Trail 

Split to Red Pine Lake (trail on the right) White Pine Lake  (Trail on the left) 

Trail to Red Pine Lake 

Trail to Red Pine Lake 

Water on the Red Pine Lake Trail 

Fall on the Red Pine Lake Trail 

 Red Pine Lake Trail 

Rocky section of the  Red Pine Lake Trail 

Climbing a steep section of the trail

Lower Red Pine Lake 

Lower  Red Pine Lake

Taking the trail to the left of the lake up to the Upper Lake. 

Red Pine Lake

View looking down of Lower Red Pine Lake

Upper Red Pine Lake

Boulders coming down from Upper Red Pine Lake

Boulders coming down from Upper Red Pine Lake

Boulders coming down from Upper Red Pine Lake-  See the tiny humans!?

Sunday Red Pine Lake group!

Red Pine Lake 

Red Pine Lake 

Heading back down the Red Pine Lake Trail 

Catching some rain on the last mile of the trail. 

Lake Blanche Hike - Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

Lake Blanche Hike

Lake Blanche, Lake Florence, Lake Lillian and Sundial Peak
Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

If you live in Utah, you have probably heard about Lake Blanche.  And if you haven't hiked it, you really should.  Let me spend the next few minutes convincing you.

It is one of the most popular hikes up in Big Cottonwood Canyon.  A hike up the canyon brings you to some gorgeous lakes.   Lake Blanche, Lake Florence, Lake Lillian and Sundial Peak are your rewards for the ~ 2,900' elevation gain over 3.5 - 4 miles.  And lots of wildlife to enjoy!  On this hike alone I saw various chipmunks, a marmot, a snake, and moose!

This hike isn't easy, you are going to sweat and get in an awesome glute workout.  But I promise, the views at the top are spectacular.  I wish we had more time to relax around this gorgeous scenic lake area.  

Mill B South Trailhead 

Trailhead:  Mill B South Trailhead.  The trailhead is 4.5 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon

Distance:  What I read said 2.6 to 2.8 each way.  I found that it was about 3.5 miles to Lake Blanche, and about 4 miles to Lake Lillian, the furthest lake.  Up to the furthest lake and back was 8 miles round trip.   The trail head fills up quick but there is a good amount of overflow parking along the road.  When you see a sharp bend in the road with a ton of cars parked along it, you are there. 

Level:  I would say moderate to hard.  The trail goes up the entire way with really no flat.  Some parts are also very steep and rocky.  Getting down takes a lot of paying attention crossing the boulders.  

Dogs:  Nope- no dogs anywhere in Big Cottonwood Canyon. I did see a girl carrying her tea cup-poodle-yorkie something up the trail.  Nope lady, rules still apply to you and your 3 lb dog.  

Notes:  This is a busy trail and it is only wide enough for one person at a time.  Make sure you are courteous and share the trail with others coming up/down.  It is busy and it is a thin trail! It seemed to be a popular backpacking spot as a lot of people were coming down with a lot of gear. 

Twin Peaks Wilderness Sign, Wasatch National Forest 

Lake Blanche Trail and Wild Flowers 

The wild flowers in July were gorgeous.  Stop and smell the roses flowers!

Moose munching in the trees 

Making our way up the trail, all the sudden the couple in front of me stops, and starts giving me all these crazy hand signals.  I finally realize he is making the signal for a deer or something.  I walk up and see a WALL of moose, munching on greenery about 15' off the trail.  I was very close to Mr. Moose but he did not seem to mind too much.  About 20 more feet up the trail, two more moose were laying down in the field in the distance.  Be respectful and courteous of the wildlife - this moose was a little too close for comfort.  They can be very aggressive if they are with their young. 

Rocky edge along the Lake Blanche Trail 

Just when you are super tired and sick of the elevation, you will hit some rocky bouldery sections.  You are almost there and enjoy the beauty of this crazy rock. 

Lake Blanche Trail and Sundial Peak 

And the gorgeous views continue. 

 Sundial Peak in front of you with a trail cutting through wild flowers. 

Is this real life?

Marmot on the Lake Blanche Trail, Utah 

At about this point, I met my first rodent friend.  This adorable friend looked like a cross between a fat squirrel and a weird beaver.  Turns out, he is a marmot, a yellow bellied marmot, popular to Utah.  He was pretty cute and I think used to being fed.  DON'T feed the critters. DO take their pictures.

Marmot on the Lake Blanche Trail, Utah 

Lake Blanche and Sundial Peak

And then here you are, gorgeous Lake Blanche.  A lot bigger than I thought, even more beautiful than I imagined.  Take a break, eat lunch, and soak up the serene setting of the lake. Even on a Sunday evening it was calm and peaceful up here.  The lake is big enough that you can find your own peaceful spot. BLT tastes so much better after a long hike with this sort of a view. 

Enjoying a BLT with views of Lake Blanche and Sundial Peak

You made it this far, you might as well continue past Blanche to see the other lakes up here. Lake Florence and Lake Lillian are beyond Blanche and are equally as beautiful and more serene. You will see the past leading past Blanche, follow it. 

Trail leading away from Lake Blanche to the other Lakes 

Lake Florence 

wildflowers at Lake Florence 

Again, the wild flowers.  They are insanely gorgeous this time of year.  Those yellows.....

Gorgeous rock slabs along Lake Blanche 

Its not allllll about the lakes.  The rocks around the lakes are an art form.  The colors, the texture, these are the prettiest rocks I have ever seen.  Also stop and marvel at these gorgeous wall/dams built around the lake. 

Stone wall along the lakes - much deserved rest 

Lake Lillian 

Not only will you find the beautiful lakes, but you will see a waterfall past Lake Blanche. 

Waterfall by Lake Blanche 

Lake Blanche, you were simply beautiful.  
The geology, the lakes, the wild flowers, what a gorgeous spot.  It is a long trip to get there but worth every step for these views.  Sunshine and solitude at  Sundial Peak.  

If you are like me, you worked up an appetite on this hike and spent the entire hike dreaming of Porcupine Grill nachos. and a cold beer.  

Go for it, you earned it!

Thanks for the gorgeous pictures Utah.