Twin Lakes Reservoir Summer

Twin Lakes Reservoir is a great, shot but kind of tougher hike up above Brighton in Big Cottonwood Canyon. It features a beautiful scenic high altitude lake surrounded by peaks, wildflowers, a good chance of wildlife and one of my absolute favorite nearby scenic vistas. It was at one time two lakes, hence it’s name. But the dam combined them into a larger reservoir. We did this one pretty recently, but we were with some friends camping nearby, so I thought I would show them the views.

Quick Details:

Length: 1 mile to twin lakes reservoir, 8/10 of a mile around silver lake. Total 2.8 miles. If you decide not to go around silver lake, and go the shorter route to the trailhead, counterclockwise around Silver Lake from the parking lot maybe 2.2 miles total. The trailhead is on the back side of Silver Lake.
Difficulty: Silver Lake: DR2 easy peasy mostly board walked. Twin Lakes DR5 a lot of up and rocky.
Elevation Gain: Silver Lake: Negligible, Twin Lakes: 710 feet.
Restroom: Yes at the Silver Lake parking lot. Flush toilettes.

To get here head up Big Cottonwood Canyon.As you enter the one way loop road at the top, look for the Silver Lake Solitude Nordic Center on the right (first driveway on the right). General Store on the left. If you make it to the big Brighton parking lot, you went too far.

You will have to walk around silver lake as the trail head is near the back end of it. I recommend going right (counter clockwise) as the trail head is a little closer from that direction.

On to the adventure!

Well, that is a little confusing. It is the Solitude Nordic Center, even though it is much, much closer to Brighton.

Looking towards the trail, and nearing Silver Lake.

Silver Lake, Millicent Peak to the left. I’m not sure if the peak on the right is named. Twin Lakes is nestled between to two.

Duck and ducklings.

Trailhead sign. Lake Solitude is also a great trail, a little longer, but a little easier.

Old trail sign at the trail split.

And into the woods we go!

Thick aspens.

Neat tree displaying the fortitude of conifers. It looks like the main trunk broke off a long time ago, and 2 family trees growing off of it continue to thrive.

More aspens.

Illuminati!

And up to one of my absolute favorite nearby viewpoints. The Brighton Valley and Silver Lake is incredible from up here!

Panoramic.

And a little closer.

Found some snow.

Gnarly tree.

Spring.

Rocky, rocky trail.

Loads of Glacier Lilies up here! We get them along the benches too, but much earlier in the year.

Rocky, piney peak.

The dam, almost there.

Twin Lakes Reservoir.

Panoramic. Millicent Peak on the left, I know Mt Wolverine is back there someone, but not sure which one. I think it might be the one to the right of Millicent.

Tree pollen.

Lots of fish!

The dam again.

The water is definitely higher than last time we were here, but it still has a couple feet to go before being full. You can see it has a ways to go before reaching the spillway.

View from the dam.

Panoramic of the view down Big Cottonwood Canyon from here.

I wish I could figure out what this peak was called.

Dry spillway.

If it was just us, we probably would have wondered around the lake a little bit, but we had a group, and the hosts of the group were expecting others, so we decided to head back down.

Mt. Millicent.

Me with mountain views.

Scraggly peak and wispy clouds.

I think this is an old tree that has about finished it’s decomposition process.

I think I see signs of glacier scraping.

The main trail, which I think used to be an old jeep road is very rocky. A thin side trail is on the other side. We usually hike up the rocky trail, and down this side one. I still am not sure which is better. The side trail has much steeper parts. I think next time we come up I will try to hike up the side trail.

The group hiking down. I was really impressed with the preteens they did the whole thing without a single complaint! The adults on the other hand…. LOL they did grumble a lot, apparently I threw the term ‘easy’ out (I honestly don’t recall doing so, as I know this is not a particularly easy trail). Anyway, after a couple threats of throwing me into the reservoir, they all said, tough aside, it was a great hike and they are glad they joined us. And I was happy to have the additional company.

Band of color.

Another amazing view.

I think this is Western Stone seed.

Paintbrush.

Out of bounds ski sign, The gist is, you are skiing out of bounds and assume all risks. It has to be a good 20 feet up. My issue is, is someone skiing down going to have time to read this?

Back to the landslide scar.

Pretty blue rock.

Back to that amazing viewpoint.

This really is one of my absolutely favorite view points.

Bluebells.

Catnip.

Beautiful forest!

As always, remember to look up!

Ruins from some old cabin.

You can see a glimpse of Silver Lake peeking out from behind the trees.

Twisted aspens.

Neat old twisted stump.

And we have made it back down to Silver Lake. As is tradition with us, we we hike these back trails, we always continue around the lake, because, crowded or not, I still love this lake.

Today they were doing some fun kids in nature event and had fun stations situated around the lake. I like wildlife and birds so I stopped when I saw the big birds.

I didn’t catch what this is, but it looks like a hawk. Possibly a red tailed hawk.

I caught it rousing its feathers. They do this as a form of grooming as it readjusts their feathers. The handler knew it was about to do it, so I was ready with the camera. Super neat!

Great Horned Owl. Man! Look at those claws! I love these guys! We found a nest with some babies when we did The Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point earlier this year. Us Americans view owls as wise, but I recently learned that there are some cultures that consider them to be dumb. Interesting cultural difference.

Ok, sorry, back to the lake.

Panoramic.

Pretty green forest.

And here is a view of the landslide section of the trail we did.

Silver Lake is really quite beautiful!

Another panoramic.

Small waves.

The small patch of pines.

One of the 2 inlets.

Beaver dam.

Mt. Millicent.

Well, even if it is a little bit of a tougher trail, I still love it. Amazing views, nice forest, a good chance of seeing wildlife, although not today really. Some wildflowers, and 2 beautiful alpine lakes. I highly recommend it!

As for difficulty, This one I will bump up to a DR5. It definitely up! even if it isn’t that long and very, very rocky.

Dogs are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon so leave your furry friend at home.