Katie Wanders : Hike to Willow Lake - Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah

Willow Lake Hike

On my last day in Salt Lake City, I had just enough time for one more quick hike. While I came to Utah for Amanda's wedding, I was determined to get in as much hiking in as I could. It's amazing the difference from my life in Connecticut to my life in Utah. While in Utah, I hiked atleast twice a week, discovering some amazing new hike all the time. When I moved back to Connecticut, I am ashamed to admit I hadn't been hiking at all. The schedule gets filled with family, friends, and water activities and lets just be honest, the hiking isnt the same (and how could it be?). So when I make a trip to Utah, I have to fill it with visiting awesome friends, and spending times on trail that are dirt and steep.

Hiking to Willow Lake

I met Hilary of Next Stop Adventure at the well known Red Iguana for lunch, and we caught up on everything Utah, our blogs, and our lives. We chatted about some of our favorite hikes, and ran through a few easy options for my last Utah Hike before returning my rental car. I needed relatively short drive, and a quick and easy hike before dropping off my car and heading to the airport. And of course, I wanted something I haven't hiked before. Hilary to the rescue when she casually asked if I had hiked Willow Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Not only had I never hiked about it, but I hadn't even heard about it. New spot, short hike, close by. We paid our check, hugged goodbye, and I was in my car off to my last hike and alpine lake.

Brchs along the trail to Willow Lake

First Impressions: Short hike to a beautiful alpine lake. All uphill making it a quick easy workout. This is the perfect hike for when you want to gorgeous hike but you are short on time. The hike to the lake through the aspens and then a meadow of wildflowers was so pretty (the aspens were my favorite part). It isn't as popular as other trails in the area, and I only saw one other group on my hike. Popular camping site and frequent moose sightings. Most popular in the fall and is hiked throughout the winter with snowshoes.

Once at the lake, you can hike around the lake before heading back the way you came. This would be a great backpacking site for beginners as the trail is short and you can filter water right from the lake. Moose frequent the area and backpackers often wake up to several moose around the lake. This is a great year round hike (popular snowshoeing site in the winter) but I was told the fall is the best time because of the foliage.

Willow Lake Trailhead

Trailhead: This trail is started at an "unmarked trailhead" up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Look for the trail on the left after Silver Fork Lodge as you head up the canyon. As you are looking down the canyon, the start of the trail is right at the 35 mph and squiggly road sign. Look for cars parked along the roadside here. The only marker visible at the beginning in this rock marked "Willow Heights Conservation Area".

Willow Lake Trailhead

Willow Lake Trailhead Sign

Distance: 0.75 miles one way to the lake. Can add on a loop around the lake and back down for a total of ~2.15 round trip miles.

Elevation: 600' - Relatively steep short trail.

Willow Lake Trailhead Sign

Dogs: No dogs allowed, Big Cottonwood Canyon is a protected watershed

Kids: Yes! Easy short hike. Incline may be strenuous for some children.

Birchs along the trail to Willow Lake

The Trail: The hike starts out steep right form the get go. You will follow the well defined trail, through the aspens as you climb towards the gorgeous alpine lake. Some parts are rocky but generally, the footing is great and I wasn't worried about slipping or tumbling.

Trail to Willow Lake

After about a half mile of incline, the trail levels off to a meadow. Here you have beautiful views of the surrounding peaks an various wildflowers. At this point you are very close to the lake and the trail eases up. I spent some time among the aspens, taking pictures in the meadow and enjoying the shade the the breeze.

Meadow after 0.5 miles

I virtually had the trail to myself (I saw one other family on the way up, and one couple at the lake on my way back down). This was a great hike of peace and quiet, the only sounds I could here were the song birds and the wind rustling through the trees.

Meadow after 0.5 miles

Amazing views from the meadow

Meadow after 0.5 miles

Finally, you reach the fork in the trail that starts to head around the lake. I headed left (as if to walk around the lake in a clockwise rotation). I was short on time, having to have my rental car back by five, so I chose to walk out to the other side of the lake instead of circling the entire lake. The trail is less defined around the lake and some other hikers said the trail was pretty overgrown with vegetation.