Random Rambler: Oktoberfest at Snowbird

Oktoberfest Is an amazing beer festival at Snowbird, near the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. It just keeps getting bigger and bigger, but it is still something we enjoy doing almost every year. With the weather, we thought this would be a good choice for our adventure today. Plus, it's the 2nd to last weekend so it was definitely time.

Quick Details:

Length: As much as you decide to do. We wandered about for a little more than 2 1/2 miles.
Trail Type: Meander
Difficulty: It is paved, and fairly flat. DR2.
Elevation Gain: NA
Restroom: Several flush toilet options, and they bring in quite a few port-o-potties as well.
Dogs? No. Little Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.
Other Info: While the event itself is free, they have started charging to park in their lots ($15 bucks!). You can avoid that by parking along Little Cottonwood Road which will add some walking depending on your luck. Plus plan on festival prices for beer and food.

Please drink responsibly.

To Get Here:

From the mouth of the canyon (where the 2 roads meet) drive about 6.4 miles up the canyon to the 1st or 2nd Snowbird gates. The 2nd gate is closer, but you may not find parking, so the 1st is better for that. As mentioned if you are cheap, like we normally are, there is free parking along the road. You just have to fight all the other cheap people. There are a lot haha.

Alternately, you can park at the park and ride and use their shuttle service. Looks like you need to reserve a seat for that now. Which is probably for the best. I heard some fights broke out due to not having enough room for all the people last year.

The Adventure:

Amazing low clouds (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

Little Cottonwood Canyon (PSP).

Closer (PSP).

The canyon (PSP). And wow, that tree on the right sure looks like s spooky ass witch. Dang.

Color and granite (PSP).

Granite cliffs with an ephemeral waterfall (PSP).

Holy enormous buzz saw, Batman (PSP).

Color and snow above (PSP).

Vivid patch (PSP).

Closer (PSP).

I was a little worried the huge storm would have blown all the leaves down (PSP). But, there are still a lot to enjoy.

Lovely patch of golds (PSP).

Again (PSP).

Oh boy, heading towards some snow (PSP).

A tale of 2 seasons (PSP).

More color (PSP).

Sometimes (most times) we are cheap and try to avoid paying whatever fee’s (PSP). However today we just were not having it and just paid the (super steep in my opinion) $15 dollars for parking. Oof. However, sometimes it's just easier to suck it up and pay instead of wasting time looking for the free option and then hoofing it in from however far away you find a spot. Oi.

The parking attendant asked me if I was going to get some sick shots today.. and my tired oblivious ass was just like… uh, I hope so? Thinking he was talking about alcohol. Landis clued me in afterwards that he was talking about the camera around my neck. hahahaha derp.

More color (PSP).

The Adventure:

I think we found a pretty good parking spot, just below the valet lot, but now we have to hoof it in. It was only about a quarter mile or so, so not too bad. Last year I think we had closer to a mile to hoof in.

Color and snow.

The tram is running today. I briefly considered riding it up for a second. I have done it, but it is not my favorite thing to do with my fear of heights. But, one of these days I will do it again.

We made it!

I feel like a dumbass though. the security people kept pulling my attention, and well, it being Utah and all, I was just pulling out my ID thinking that I needed to show it before getting in… well, first dude was surprised my camera made it through the metal detector… sweet. 2nd dude wanted to check my backpack (camel bag, just water). Then when we finally hit the beer line I didn’t think about it and just got in line… now they wanted to check my ID hahaha oi. Maybe I should be having a drink just yet. Hah!

Fun fossil reproduction.

I forget what company this was, but I found them to be a little more expensive than I like.

These guys built a snowman hah! I mean, there was definitely enough snow to do so. But wow, it sure feels a little early to see one.

Color.

Clouds.

Clouds around a little peak.

Neat triple truss bridge. We’ll come back to that.

Color.

Cloudy peak again.

Neat statue.

Again.

Downstream Little Cottonwood Creek.

Upstream.

Little waterfall.

The triple truss bridge again.

In the bridge.

I didn’t get a picture of them, but there is a set of stairs on this side to get up to it. So it is not ADA compliant.

Inside.

There are little viewing platforms between each truss.

As far as long bridges go, this one didn’t bother me. It is pretty dang sturdy. The bridge below on the other hand….

Little Cottonwood Creek, and the smaller bridge below. It looks super sturdy doesn’t it? But I could definitely feel the vibrations of people crossing it. But, the bridge we are on, not at all. They did a good job with this one.

Upstream.

Into the middle section.

The roller coaster. It is actually super fun! I wanted to try it again today, but we just didn’t get around to it. Meh, maybe next time.

The creek again.

The third section of the bridge.

I think I might add this to my neat bridges post, because, well, it is a neat bridge!

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with bridges. I think they can be super neat, but I am also scared of heights so... yeah. it's a bit rough.

The creek again.

The far end. We couldn’t bring our beers past here so I guess we just need to return the way we came. We could have wandered across the lawn, but, the bridge is neat. It just leads to the next hotel anyway.

The bridge seems well, superficial this time of year, but I imagine in winter it is likely more useful.

Well poop. I thought I got a picture of it, but I guess I didn’t. there is a sign on this end that warns that this is not an ADA compliant bridge (due to the stairs on the other end).. That would really suck to go all the way across it to find it was not accessible.

View down canyon.

Back down.

Viewpoint.

The middle section.

The cloud covered peak again.

Another viewpoint.

The views from it.

The other side.

Pretty oranges.

The final section of the bridge.

The mountains again.

Fun Snowbird logo.

Fun little mining station.

The cloudy peak again.

Down canyon.

Snow.

Broken mug. I was kind of shocked that no one came along to sweep up the broken glass. I watched other patrons use their feet to sweep it into this little pile, but no one came along to remove the hazard. Meh. We saw someone break their mug last year too, and they were right on it.

Down canyon again.

Cloudy peak. I was really digging on the clouds around this little peak today haha.

They added an extra dining tent this year. We decided to try poutine for the first time for both of us. It’s one of those foods that sounded like it could be really good, or just weird. It actually ended up being really good! We were both happy to finally try it. We got our food and last beers with about 10 minutes before it shut down for the day. It's a shame it only goes until 6.

Street performer. He was pretty funny, and talented.

We didn’t have the best view in the tent, but wow look at all those cylinders he is balancing on.

Up canyon.

The main event tent.

Large Jenga blocks.

Patches of color on the mountain.

“This Stone is from the top of the Matterhorn.

This stone removed from the top of the Matterhorn on October 16th, 1984 and presented to the town of Snowbird, Utah. January 14, 1985, should serve in years to come as a symbol of the long friendship between Switzerland and the United States and of the cooperation between Snowbird and Switzerland in promoting the great sport of skiing.

Presented on behalf of Swiss ski-resorts: Bettmeraln-Reideralp, Engelbeng, Flims-Laax, Grachen,Grindelwald, Murren, Saas-Fee, Verhier and Zemmatt.

Swissain, Frontier Horizon and Frontier Airlines

Swiss products: Chocolate Tobler, Lowerbran Brewery Zurich, Prouins Winery, Swiss Cheese Association, Swiss Bank Corporation, Swiss Watch <Swatch>.”

Holy crap. Transcribing plaques in English is tough, but toss in a foreign language and oh my gosh. So, Apologies to Swiss speaking people if I absolutely murdered any of that. Jeeze. But that is neat that the rock came from the top of the Matterhorn!

Little Cottonwood Creek.

Sign warning you to not approach the wildlife. Neither of us had heard of a pine marten before. I guessed (correctly, I might add) that is was like a weasel.

Snowy peaks.

The neat triple truss bridge again.

Itty bitty little patch of stunning golds.

Cloudy peak again.

At this point we are just trying to finish off our beers before we explore the Observation Point Trail. In a normal world we could just do that while we finished our beers, but we’re in fucking Utah so you know… just deal with the bullshit rules that stupid people create.

The Observation Point Trail.

After our short little hike we made our way into the main building, or well, the Snowbird Center.

All of the vendors have closed up shop for the day. Which I mean, It is after the event ended so that is to be expected.

Snowbird logo on the Snowbird Center.

Giant screen with a moose.

25 or so years ago this little room was a small arcade. It was about the only fun thing to do for a teenager up here at night. Shame it’s now just lockers.

Fun moose art on the Snowbird logo.

Everything is shut down.

The main gate.

Now we just have the quarter mile or so hoof down to the car.

The imagery just makes me laugh.

The front of the main entrance.

Down canyon.

Again.

A peak peeking out from the clouds. I am guessing Mount Baldy? But I am not 100% sure.

Closer. Also, I think that might be the Mid Gad Restaurant?

View down again.

Closer.

Mount Baldy? again.

Just loving the fun clouds.

Heading down the canyon (PSP).

One of my favorite views along the Wasatch Front (PSP). The perfect U shaped canyon.

Again (PSP).

Continuing down (PSP). Kind of surprised I can get any pictures with the dwindling light.

Last bit of sunset (PSP).

That was a super fun day! I got a little bit of fall color in, and enjoyed a couple of beers in the mountains, and lederhosen, and German food, and it really is just good old fun. Plus we got to explore a super easy trail I have been meaning to check out for a while now. 10 out of 10 squirrels.