Lake Solitude

 Lake Solitude is a beautiful high alpine lake located near the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. The trail features a beautiful mixed forest, some great views, and of course the lake. Earlier in the year it also features wildflowers as well. It is also a good trail to see some wildlife, as it is not a particularly busy trail. Generally the lakes name certainly rings true as it is a very quiet and peaceful trail. It is another one of those trails that we like and tend to try and do at least once a year.

Quick Details:

Length: About 3 miles out and back including about 3/10 of a mile around Silver Lake (each way, unless you decide to do the full loop). You can also add the half mile loop around the lake if desired.
Trail Type: Out and back, Balloon option, loop options.
Difficulty: DR3. It is a bit of a climb, but not too bad.
Elevation Gain: About 550 feet.
Restroom: There are flush toilets at the visitor center.
Dogs? No. Big Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.
Other Info: This is now a fee area. $10.00 for a 3 day pass.

To Get Here:

Drive to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. As you enter the one way loop for Brighton the Solitude Nordic Center/visitor center will be on the right. Overflow parking across the street. If both lots are full (which we have experienced) you can park at the big Brighton parking lot which will add ~2/10 of a mile each way.

The quickest way to get to the trailhead from here is to take the Silver Lake loop to the right, to the northwest corner of the lake. About 3/10ths of a mile. You can go to the left, but that is about 6/10ths of a mile.

The Silver Lake boardwalk reconstruction project is finally complete! So we decided to do the loop again, and I decided to make that a separate post.

The Trail:

At the northwest corner of Silver Lake is the trailhead. There is normally a sign here, but all of the signs have been taken down for the season. I imagine they do this to get them out of the way for skiing.

Into the woods. Unfortunately for us most of the aspens appear to be done for the year. I had hoped that with the unusually warm weather, and lack of storms that we might have some more time with the color, but I guess not.

They had excavated this area out during the Silver Lake boardwalk reconstruction. I thought they might have plans to build something here, but now they filled it with logs. So, my guess is it was a temporary equipment storage area while they were rebuilding the boardwalk.

Up to the four way split. Left leads to Twin Lakes, also a nice hike. Forward leads to Lake Solitude, and right is a cross-country skiing trail only open in winter. So, forward we go.

Sign post. Again, they have removed the signs for the season. You just have to trust that me having done both trails as many times as I have know where I am going. 

Continuing up.

Nekkid aspens. Dang, I was hoping to get some color in today.

Well, there is some color on this fallen aspen.

This trail is pretty rocky.

Well, the baby aspens are still peaking.

Across the canyon we can see Scott Hill and Guardsman Pass.

Aspens and baby aspens.

Aspens.

Uphill.

October Christmas tree. I love how the fallen leaves decorate the conifers.

Fun stone steps.

I think this might be the trail that connects over to Twin Lakes, but I am not 100% sure.

More stone steps on the other side.

Another trail split. Aside from the major trail splits, just keep to the left, or uphill.

Scott Hill. It is super recognizable with the Mickey Mouse shaped mine tailings.

This part makes me a little nervous, with my fear of heights. But I am able to power through it. I just kind of hate it a little.

Ski lift. Oi.

There is a frisbee golf or frolf course up here.

Well, at least we don’t have to climb up that! And well, this is an exception to the rule I mentioned earlier. Stay on the thin dirt trail, don't follow the wide dirt trail up to the ski lift.

Back into the woods.

More forest.

Looking up.

Well, I was interested in the color, and then I noticed a deer butt.

Four way split. Right is the old trail which I don't know where it leads anymore, left goes towards the ski lift. Forward will get us to the lake. Also, this is where the first scree field is.

The first of three scree fields.

I usually see pikas in this field. I can see some of their hay piles, but no pikas. Darn.

Some bluebells hanging on.

Our deer friend is being pretty chill today. I mean we aren’t super close, but they usually do not hang around once they spot you.

More woods.

The second scree field.

Look at the size of that hay pile! So pikas gather flowers and grasses and other food into these hay piles, which they then use to sustain them through winter since they do not hibernate.

Little bit of fall color above.

We finally did see a pika in this scree field. Hello cutey!

Another patch of color.

Another on the trail.

Small patch of trees.

The hillside.

Bigger patch of trees.

I think these are lodgepole pines.

Looking up.

Then we reach the third, and largest scree field. This means you are almost there.

It’s a little rocky through here too.

We often see pikas and sometimes even marmots in here. We could hear some pikas but didn’t see any today.

One last patch of trees.

Final push.

We made it! Lake Solitude. It is looking a little low today.

With the peak above it.

There were a pair of Steller’s Jays going back and fourth up here.

Panoramic of the lake.

Steller’s Jay again. One of my favorites. I just love their coloring and their little mohawks.

The lake again.

Again.

Panoramic.

Another one.

The pair of Steller’s Jays.

One of them flying.

We debated about walking around the lake, it only about a half mile, but we decided we wanted to explore the newly completed boardwalk around Silver Lake instead, and didn’t really think we had time to do both before it got too dark.

One last parting shot.

One last panoramic.

Heading back down.

Down to the big scree field.

We could hear some pikas but didn’t spot any.

Forest.

Deer butt in the distance.

Little patch of color.

Deer hanging out next to the trail who wasn’t very skittish either.

She even went back to getting her nom on.

Another patch of color.

The middle scree field.

The one pika was still hanging out (or maybe an another one, I don’t know). So I pulled out the telephoto lens to get better pictures of it.

Caught him making a call.

Quick little cleaning session.

Back to being regal. I just love these little guys and think they are super adorable.

Color above.

Our little deer friend is still hanging out above the lower scree field.

The lower scree field.

Deer friend again.

You want the trail to the left, and keep heading downhill. Right leads up the the ski lift which isn’t currently running.

Forest.

Some flowers that have gone to seed.

The top of the sunrise ski lift.

Some color on the other side of the canyon.

Heading under the sunrise ski lift.

More color across the canyon.

Continuing down.

Guardsman Pass across the canyon.

Scott Hill.

I wonder what these different colored ribbons are for. We saw a few purple, and a few pink.

Forest.

Under a rather large tree.

Back down to the stone steps.

Second set.

Baby aspens.

Aspens.

There are some faint patches of gold hiding back there.

More baby aspens.

Scott Hill.

Guardsman Pass.

Down to the 4 way split. Forward will get us back to Silver Lake and the trailhead. Right leads to Twin Lakes, and left is a winter cross country ski trail.

Pretty fallen leaf.

Mixed forest.

Aspen leaf hanging on.

Back down to Silver Lake.

We decided we wanted to check out the newly finished boardwalk reconstruction, since it has been closed for a few years now. I decided to make that a separate post though so I am going to end here.

I really enjoy this hike. Once you get past Silver Lake you run into very few people, and well the lake lives up to it’s name. Today was a little busier than usual with a whole 2 groups hanging out along the shores haha. Normally we pretty much have it to ourselves though. It is a pretty lake though, and a lovely trail. I was sad that the color was mostly done though. But otherwise it was great. 9 out of 10 squirrels today.

As for difficulty, it is generally a pretty mild climb above Silver Lake. DR3.

Dogs are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon due to watershed restrictions. So please be sure to leave Fido home for this one.