Twin Lakes | Big Cottonwood Canyon

Hiking Twin Lakes - Big Cottonwood Canyon Hiking Twin Lakes

Big Cottonwood Canyon

Overview | Getting There | Route | Photos | Maps | Comments

Overview

Wed A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny. High near 53, with temperatures falling to around 50 in the afternoon. South southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
53° | na°
Thu Rain likely before noon, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 50, with temperatures falling to around 48 in the afternoon. South southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
50° | 40°
Fri Snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms before 9am, then snow between 9am and noon, then snow showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. South southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
37° | 36°
Sat Partly sunny, with a high near 39.
39° | 30°
Sun Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.
43° | 29°
View Full Forecast
RATING: Easy/Moderate Hike
MAPS: BRIGHTON, UT;
SEASON: Late Spring through Fall
GEAR: Standard Hiking Gear
WATER: Bring all you need.
Wed A chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Mostly sunny. High near 53, with temperatures falling to around 50 in the afternoon. South southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
53° | na°
Thu Rain likely before noon, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 50, with temperatures falling to around 48 in the afternoon. South southeast wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
50° | 40°
Fri Snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms before 9am, then snow between 9am and noon, then snow showers likely and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 37. South southwest wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
37° | 36°
Sat Partly sunny, with a high near 39.
39° | 30°
Sun Mostly sunny, with a high near 43.
43° | 29°
View Full Forecast
hikewildflowersfall colorsfamily friendlybeginneraccess: paved
Nearing Twin Lakes
Nearing Twin Lakes

If you are visiting Silver Lake and looking for a bit longer hike, Twin Lakes is the one to do. I highly recommend Twin Lakes. The relatively short hike has great views of the peaks that surround Brighton, and the lake is a beautiful and picturesque destination. This is an excellent summer hike for wildflower peepers, and, in the fall for foliage peepers.

A note to set expectations is probably in order. I really enjoyed this hike and found the scenery stunning, but it is ultimately a hike up a ski resort. The trail mostly follows a ski run, with the accouterments of a ski resort clearly visible throughout the hike. This is not a wilderness adventures or place to find solitude away from the trappings of modern day society.

That being said, this is an excellent family friendly hike that I highly recommend.

Twin Lakes on a late fall day.
Twin Lakes on a late fall day.

Getting There

Big Cottonwood Canyon is on the east side of the Salt Lake City Valley. Get there by taking I-215 to the east, taking exit 6 off the interstate and heading east.

Follow 6200 South which becomes Wasatch Blvd for 1.8 miles to the stop light and signs for Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Turn left at the light and reset your odometer.

Drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon 14 miles to the small community of Brighton. At the loop, go right, with Silver Lake Visitor Center well signed on the right with a small parking area. If the parking area is full, there is more parking just up the road at the resort.

Twin Lakes
Twin Lakes

Route Description

From the Silver Lake Trailhead, follow the Silver Lake trail right (counter-clockwise) around the lake. At the far end of the lake, a major trail junction is reached.

Go right at this well-signed junction toward Twin Lakes and Lake Solitude. A minute or two after this junction is a second junction. Go left here; the trail steepens and join a ski run in a few minutes. At the ski run, go left on the now wide trail. It wanders up, relatively steeply, to Twin Lakes proper. Return the same way.

Note: Twin Lakes is actually a reservoir made for miners in the 1800s and used as a water supply by the town of Brighton

Alternate Return: Looking for a longer loop? This can be made into a loop that visits Lake Solitude. From the dam, follow the social trail west a couple of minutes to the access road. Go left on the access road and follow it up to the ridge.

From the ridge, go west down the access road. It descends to Lake Solitude.

To return to the trailhead, find the Lake Solitude Trail on the northeast side of the lake. It is well signed and returns to Silver Lake in about 30 minutes.


Photos

Maps

Twin Lakes / 2.37 miles / Elevation Range 8,706 - 9,463 ft.
Loop with Solitude / 3.50 miles / Elevation Range 8,706 - 9,639 ft.
Printable Maps:

Trailhead
12T 450533E 4494895N 40°36'12"N 111°35'05"W
Jct - Right
12T 450217E 4495113N 40°36'19"N 111°35'18"W
Left To Twin Lakes
12T 450144E 4495193N 40°36'22"N 111°35'21"W
Left On Road
12T 449863E 4494942N 40°36'14"N 111°35'33"W
Twin Lakes
12T 449550E 4494443N 40°35'57"N 111°35'47"W

Comments