Cecret Lake and the Town of Alta Memorial Grove

 Cecret Lake is a beautiful high alpine lake located at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. The short trail up to it features streams, wildflowers, and amazing soaring peaks all culminating to a beautiful emerald green lake beneath some beautiful peaks. This is another hike that we like and do often. Though it is very popular with families with kids so I try to find less busy days to do it.

I had planned to do Devils Castle today, but upon seeing the road and parking lots kind of quiet today I made a last minute pivot to do Cecret lake.

Quick Details:

Length: It is about 1.6 miles out and back, plus whatever exploring you do. We did about 2 miles today.
Trail Type: Out and back, balloon option.
Difficulty: It is short but a bit of a climb, but not too bad. DR4.
Elevation Gain: About 430 feet.
Restroom: There are vault toilets at the trailhead.
Dogs? No. Little Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.
Other Info: Fee Area. As of 2026 it is $12.00 to use the Summer Road. You can avoid that by adding about 1.5 miles one way hiking up the Albion Meadows.

To Get Here:

Head to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Stop by the toll booth and pay the toll, then continue to the top of the Summer Road.

Heading up Little Cottonwood Canyon (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP).

Soaring cliffs with an ephemeral waterfall (PSP).

Continuing up (PSP).

Another waterfall (PSP). I am not sure if this is Hogum Fork or Maybird Gulch. 

Snowbird’s Tram (PSP).

Hidden Peak (PSP).

The Hellgate Cliffs (PSP).

Entering the town of Alta (PSP).

Collins Gulch (PSP).

The tollbooth for the Summer Road (PSP). I wonder what the construction is. I am guessing maybe a more permanent restroom?

The Albion Basin above with Devils Castle and Sugarloaf Peak (PSP).

Switching from pavement to hardpacked dirt on the Summer Road (PSP).

As far as high elevation dirt roads go, it’s not so bad (PSP).

Switching to the other direction (PSP).

Then back the other way again (PSP).

Continuing up (PSP).

Peaks above (PSP).

The worst part of the road, for this nervous nelly anyway, is the short section below the Catherine Pass Trailhead (PSP).

Once the road swings back the other way after the Catherine Pass Trailhead, it is just fine again (PSP).

The meadows appear to be just getting started with the amazing wildflower display (PSP).

The peaks again (PSP).

The road with Devils Castle (PSP).

The parking lot. My original plan was to do the Devils Castle Loop today, but since it was a little more quiet and less crowded up here, I made a last minute pivot to Cecret Lake.

Geraniums.

Paintbrush.

The Alta Store is closed for the evening.

The Albion Basin Campground.

The Trail:

Crossing Little Cottonwood Creek.

Downstream.

Upstream.

The trailhead kiosk. It says .4 miles haha yeah, no. Either they measured way wrong, or the trail has been significantly altered.

Loads of columbines.

Bluebells, paintbrush, and columbines.

Ski lift.

Forest.

Forget me nots.

Bluebells.

Little side stream.

Buttercups.

Overflow coming down the trail.

The first stream crossing just after we reach the cabin access road.

The view down.

View up.

Albion Basin - Limit Your Impact

Sugarloaf Peak.

Devils Castle.

2nd little stream.

Geologic Forces

Devils Castle.

Crossing the 2nd stream.

Devils Castle with the stream.

I love all of the giant boulders that have come down off of Devils Castle.

Continuing up.

Sugarloaf Peak again.

The 3rd stream and crossing. There is a side path to the left that leads to a log crossing.

Log Crossing.

The log was too wobbly for my tastes, so I took my chances below with the rocks.

A little waterfall above.

Little patch of snow.

Trail Split. You want to go left. Right leads to private cabins.

Forget me nots.

Devils Castle. I think we made a good choice pivoting trails today. It looks like there is more snow back there.

Sugarloaf Peak.

Devils Castle.

Panoramic.

An explosion of Color.

Devils Castle.

Sugarloaf Peak.

4th stream and crossing. Someone has added perfect little stepping stones across this one.

From the other side.

Another quick forest section.

Enjoy Wildlife… From a Distance

Forest.

Some shooting stars, one of my favorite wildflowers.

The 5th stream and crossing. Someone has added convenient stepping stones in this one as well.

Sugarloaf Peak.

Glacier scrapes.

Another side stream.

Neat rock stack.

Then the real climb starts. Ooph.

Devils Castle.

Little waterfall coming out of Cecret Lake.

A very pretty penstemon.

Pretty yellow flowers.

It is just at the top of that hill.

Devils Castle.

Old sign post. They replaced all of the signs a couple of years ago, and moved this one up just a little bit.

The hill we have to climb again.

Catherine Pass from the other direction.

Panoramic

Mount Wolverine, Mount Tuscarora, Catherine Pass, Point Supreme, East Castle, Devils Castle, Sugarloaf Peak.

I didn't get Patsy Marley to the left.

Here is the old sign from 2022 to confirm. I am kind of sad they got rid of this one.

It was replaced with this sign, just about 20 feet or so uphill. 24 Hours to a Faucet.

The hill we have to climb.

Devils Castle.

Then we start the switchbacks.

Yellow flowers.

Mine tailings.

Starting the climb.

Top of the mine tailings.

Mine.

Continuing along.

The next switchback.

The final switchback.

Wallflowers. I grew these in my garden once.

Sometime I struggle a little on these switchbacks, but I did fine today. I don’t question why my fear of heights is so random sometimes. But, I will take the win today.

Then the final push.

We made it! Phew! Such a stunning emerald green lake.

Boulders.

Nice clear water.

Sugarloaf Peak above.

The new dam and spillway.

We decided to explore the other direction.

Iceberg.

Devils Castle.

I don’t think we will be going around the lake today. I don’t want to slip and take a snowy ride down directly into the lake.

The lake and Sugarloaf Peak.

Panoramic.

The lake again.

Cecret Lake.

An itty bitty little side pond.

The lake and Sugarloaf Peak again.

The iceberg again.

Devils Castle above the lake.

Looking towards the front.

Panoramic.

The snow at the back end. Yep, I don’t need to mess with that today.

The moon.

Pretty yellow flowers.

I think this is the first time that this particular point didn’t have people! I was taking a rest, but uh, now I want to take advantage of that.

It is a good viewpoint.

Panoramic.

Sugarloaf Peak again.

Devils Castle.

Alright, time to start back.

This rock outcrop is a little more submerged than usual.

The front of the lake again.

Yellow flowers.

Glacier scrapes.

More yellow flowers.

Rock outcrop. 

Devils Castle.

Rock outcrop again. This one is also usually occupied, but it is a little more submerged than usual.

Sugarloaf Peak.

Devils Castle.

Scattered boulders.

Devils Castle.

Last look at the lake before we head back down.

Catherine Pass across the way. Oh, and here you can see Patsey Marley on the left side.

The middle switchback.

The narrow gully the outlet comes down.

We don’t often see this cliff without climbers on it. It is a popular wall for rock climbers.

The lower switchback.

This boulder came down a couple of years ago. It is a bit of a challenge to get around, but not too bad. I think I have tried both sides now, and was able to get around it just fine.

The mine tailings.

Catherine Pass again.

Devils Castle.

Continuing down.

Sugarloaf Peak.

Devils Castle.

More glacier scrapes.

The top, or 5th stream crossing again.

With the well placed stepping stones.

The 4th crossing, with more well placed stepping stones.

There is a little viewpoint out there, but, we have done it.

Devils Castle.

Forget me nots.

The 3rd creek crossing.

With the little waterfall.

I decided to try the log crossing, due to the large crowd below. I made it, but I did not like it. I hate wiggly log crossings.

Devils Castle.

Columbine.

Pretty forest.

The 2nd stream crossing. I didn't take a picture but a car came by heading towards the private cabins. So be aware it happens. It's only happened to us 2 or 3 times, but it happens.

The stream heading downhill.

The 1st stream crossing.

Downstream.

Looking up.

Forest.

Creek crossing.

Columbine.

Loads of columbines.

The creek upstream.

Downstream.

Back down to the parking lot.

The general path we took today.

Heading back down the Summer Road (PSP).

Just past the Catherine Pass Trailhead (PSP).

Marmot (PSP)

Bonus Content

We decided to do a quick stop by the Town of Alta Memorial Grove (PSP). It has been a minute since we have stopped here.

Little trail out.

Geranium.

Continuing out.

Information sign, detailing the peaks across the way.

Devils Castle and Sugarloaf Peak.

Greeley Hill.

The canyon, and Mount Superior.

Panoramic. Devils Castle, Sugarloaf Peak, Greeley Hill, The canyon and Mount Superior.

Microwave tower.

The memorial marker again.

The trail continued down a bit so we followed it.

More fun boulders.

Nice little meadow.

The monument.

Devils Castle and Sugarloaf Peak.

Panoramic.

View down.

Pretty wallflowers.

Heading back to the car.

Little lady bug waiting on the car.

Snow cat (PSP).

Continuing down (PSP).

Last view of the peaks (PSP).

Near the bottom (PSP).

The construction (PSP).

The toll booth (PSP).

Back on the main canyon road (PSP).

Pretty canyon (PSP)

Every time we come up here I take a picture here on the way down (PSP). I just love the view of the perfect U shaped canyon. I really, really hope they don’t destroy it with that stupid gondola idea.

This part is called the 7 curves (PSP). It is Landis’ absolute favorite part to drive.

Nearing the mouth of the canyon (PSP).

Well that was just lovely! It s really an absolutely amazing shorter hike. I see little ones all through older people. I see people in flip flops (though I seriously do not recommend that). It is a bit of a climb, but its not so bad. I am going to remove a squirrel due to free range parents who don't teach their kids any kind of trail etiquette. 9 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, like I said, a bit of a climb, but it is short. DR4.

Dogs are not allowed in Little Cottonwood Canyon, so be sure to leave Fido home for this one.