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Bloods Lake is a pretty lake near Guardsman Pass. There is a new trail to it from below the pass, that goes through a lovely mixed forest. It also features some nice views and of course a lake if you go far enough.
I didn’t have much of a plan today, I decided to just drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon and see where there was some good fall color. So we ended up going over Guardsman Pass, even though I kind of hate it haha.
We have done this one a few times before, but it has been a minute.
Quick Details:
Length: It’s 1.4 miles to the lake. We did 2.3 out and back (and did not go up to the lake).
Trail Type: Out and back, loop option.
Difficulty: DR3 for what we did. DR4 to continue up to the lake.
Elevation Gain: About 500 feet, we did 450 or so.
Restroom: Yes, there are vault toilets at the trailhead.
Dogs? No.
Other Info: This is now a fee area to park at the trailhead. $8 an hour on weekends (which I think is a bit steep!)
To Get Here:
Drive to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, and turn left onto Guardsman Pass Road before you reach the Brighton 1 way loop. If you miss it, follow the loop around and come back down, now the turn off will be on the right. Go over Guardsman Pass, the trailhead will be on the left about a mile below the pass on the Park City side.
Some muted color at the bottom of the canyon (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).
A little more vibrant a bit higher up (PSP).
The Silver fork Lodge and Restaurant (PSP). I still wonder what is happening with it. Last I saw the owner wants to retire. The town of Brighton considered buying it, but then opted not to.
Nearing the top (PSP).
A couple of patches of aspens have turned (PSP).
Heading up Guardsman Pass Road (PSP). Some of the road is fine, but a lot of it triggers my fear of heights, so I don’t really love it. But it is super pretty!
Some red color (PSP).
Thick wooded section (PSP).
Peak 10,420 (PSP). Named for it’s elevation.
Continuing up (PSP).
Small patches of color (PSP).
View down (PSP).
More color (PSP). Yep, I think we made the right choice for seeing some fall color today.
Guardsman Pass (PSP). It still surprises me that there is not a sign indicating the elevation, but it is 9717 feet. You used to be able to park up here to access the lake, and peak 10,420 but they changed that a few years ago and now it is drop off/viewpoint only. That makes me a little sad, but also happy because it was kind of a scary clusterfuck up here before the change.
Here is what it looked like in 2015 looking north
Then 2018 looking south. See, kind of a cluster. Not to mention there are steep drop offs on both sides. But hey, now there is a restroom up here.
View into the Heber side (PSP).
Heading down the other side (PSP). It is quite a bit more steep on this side. Believe it or not, the side rail was only added a few years ago. Oh yeah, and it used to not be paved on this side not too long ago as well. It was significantly more terrifying than it is now.
More color (PSP).
The Heber Valley (PSP). Plus look at that nice patch of gold color! We get a little better of view of that from the trail.
The Bloods Lake Trailhead (PSP). It is surprisingly not an absolute zoo today. Hooray!
Da fuck. We have to pay to park here now? Not cool. Oh! yay small print, 8 am to 4 pm. I guess we are okay. As usual, we got a bit of a later start than we would like, but hey, I guess it worked out today.
When we came back, Landis decided to look at the pay kiosk to see what it costs. $8.00 an hour on weekends! That seems pretty steep considering you probably need a minimum of 2 hours for pretty much any hike here.
I guess they are pushing the bus option from Park City to avoid paying to park. Good to know.
The Trail:
Nice color above the parking lot.
Trail sign. I noticed a little loop on the map and decided that is what we would do today. Well, that was the plan anyway.
Crosswalk across Guardsman Pass Road. It was not super crazy and we were able to cross safely with no issues today.
Mileage sign.
Dedication stone.
Bloods Lake Trail Funded by the Pilko Family who love hiking Park City Trails 2018.
"Let the mountains bring peace to the people."
Thanks Pilko Family!
Into the woods!
Pretty forest.
I find it interesting that a lot of aspens have leaned over before going up. I imagine that massive amount of snow we get up here might be the reason for that.
Pretty band of golden aspens.
Closer.
The Heber Valley below.
Pretty hillside.
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Panoramic.
Pretty forest.
Trail counter. Kind of sad to see it tagged up so much. Particularly since they are just trying to provide better access for everyone.
Pretty forest.
Aspens.
On the hillside.
Conifers.
The first little overlook.
With a nice stone bench.
“Time spent amongst trees is never wasted time” - Katrina Mayer
Dave, Tammy, and Ethan Pilko Salt Lake City 2020.
Thanks guys!
The view across the little valley.
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Panoramic.
Closer view of the color patch.
More aspens.
Super short reroute around this restoration area.
Its so pretty up here.
Another patch of color.
Another.
The ridge above.
More color.
Fun twisted tree.
Pretty.
Continuing through the trees.
View across the little valley.
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Another panoramic.
More color.
I just love trails that go through thick forests!
A particularly pretty tree.
More color.
More.
I wanted to see some fall color today, and well, that’s what we got! Hooray.
So naturally I took about a million pictures of it.
Just loving the forest.
Little splashes of color.
Cute little birdy friend.
More color.
Continuing along.
Fallen trees.
Patches of color.
The valley below in the shadow of Peak 10,420.
The next little overlook.
With a view of the little valley.
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Panoramic.
“In every walk in nature, one receives far more than he seeks” - John Muir
Brian, Lucy, Ellie, and Meredith(?) Pilko - New York 20?0 (I assume 2020 as well).
Sadly this one is quite faded. I had to look up the quote and correct some of what I thought it said.
More colorful trees.
Some asters left.
A bunch of geranium leaves. These guys always pop and usually seem to be the ones to turn color first.
Rock cliff. The trail crosses over this a bit above, and well, I kind of hate it haha.
Forest.
Heading back into it. This is the start of the switchbacks.
Chipmunk friend.
Lovely forest.
Another short restoration area.
Its super pretty in here.
Even if it is a bit of a mess of fallen trees.
The first switchback. I was hoping to do the loop I noticed on the map but, I didn’t want to cross the cliff section. what gives???
Upon reviewing the map again, it looks like it connects just a little bit further up. Poop. well, I think next time we might try the other side.
The little ravine that the outlet of Bloods Lake comes down.
Trees on a steep hillside.
We decided to just turn back here. Which is a little silly since we are less than a half mile to Bloods Lake, but honestly, I just wanted some fall color today, so I got what I was after. Plus I have seen the lake a few times now.
Yes, I was being a wuss and didn’t want to do the scary part today. I am allowed to do that sometimes. But, like I said, I got some fall color, so not the end of the world.
Heading back down.
More forest.
Patches of color.
Pretty yellow flowers.
The valley below.
Pretty trees.
Closer.
More color.
Across the trail.
Through the trees.
Conifers.
More color.
The valley.
Color.
Starting to be able to see the Heber Valley below.
More trees.
View below again.
Patches of color across the way.
Looking up.
More color.
Up again.
A small clearing.
View across.
Another thick patch.
Aspens.
Colorful underbrush.
Enjoying the aspens.
The Heber Valley again.
Lovely patch of gold.
The ridge.
More aspens.
More bent aspens.
Back to the crossing over Guardsman Pass Road.
And the parking lot.
We debated about continuing over to Park City or Heber but ultimately decided to just go back the way we came.
Heading back up towards Guardsman Pass (PSP).
Some nice orange (PSP).
Guardsman Pass and Peak 10,420 above (PSP).
Heading down the other side into Big Cottonwood Canyon (PSP).
What do we have here (PSP).
Its a cute little porcupine (PSP).
This is the best shot I got of his face (PSP). He was working his way up the hill away from us.
The business end (PSP).
Super cute (PSP).
Okay, bye!! (PSP). Just in time as a car was coming up behind us, and there is not really a shoulder here.
More color (PSP).
Continuing down (PSP).
Scott Hill above (PSP).
With the Mickey Mouse shaped mine tailings (PSP).
The peaks on the other side above Brighton (PSP). Speaking of which we decided to stop by real quick.
We stopped by Silver Lake to see if any moose were hanging out. We have not seen a moose yet this year and it is giving us the sads. We just wanted to get a quick peep to see if any moose were hanging around, and did not walk around it today.
BTW: This is a fee area now. But we have the year pass so it didn’t cost us extra for just a quick breeze by. Otherwise it is $10.00 for a 3 day pass.
Oh, that’s good to know. They are now closing half of the boardwalk loop mon - Fri 7 - 3.
Continuing around the Brighton loop (PSP).
Some color on the hills (PSP).
This is new. A wall of old Brighton signs. Fun!
Mount Millicent.
Darn. Still no moose friends.
Scott Hill as we leave the Brighton loop (PSP).
The turn off for Guardsman Pass on the right when heading down (PSP).
Continuing down the canyon (PSP).
Patches of color (PSP).
Near the mouth of the canyon (PSP).
Not much of a sunset (PSP).
Well, I wanted to some fall color and well, mission accomplished! This was a good option for that, even if we didn’t go up to the lake. We saw a few people, but it was not crazy busy. Sadly we did not see any moose friends, but we saw a porcupine friend. We don’t see those often so that is always fun. 7 out of 10 squirrels today.
As for difficulty, the bit we did was pretty easy with mild ups and downs, DR3. I don’t recall the switchbacks up to the lake being much worse.
Dogs are not allowed within 100 yards of Bloods Lake or in Big Cottonwood Canyon.
