Twin Lakes Reservoir - Fall

Twin Lakes Reservoir is a high alpine reservoir located above Brighton. It a somewhat tougher trail, but it is shorter. And it makes up for being a little tougher with some amazing views of Silver Lake and the surrounding area. we’ve done this one a couple of times, but with current conditions canceling our plans we made a last minute change. Plus, like I said, I love the views.

Twin Lakes

View of Silver Lake from the trail.

Quick Details:

Length: 1 mile from the trailhead, plus about .3 miles around Silver Lake to the TH. 2.6 out and back, a little longer if you want to continue around Silver Lake.
Difficulty: DR4 The trail is very rocky and it is a constant climb.
Elevation Gain: 710 feet.
Restroom: Yes, normally flush toilets but they are being rebuilt so currently porta-potties.
Dogs? No. Big Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.

To Get Here:

Head to the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon. Near the beginning of the one way loop road you will see the Solitude Nordic Center. Park here (overflow on the other side of the road).

Some great color on the way up the canyon (PSP (Passenger Seat Photography)).

The Trail:

Just behind the Silver Lake Visitor Center, and the beginning of the adventure.

You can see the trail we will be taking up just above that big patch of aspens.

Some great color above the outlet.

Little bit of reflection. Unfortunately, with the season of amazing fall colors also comes pine pollen, which likes to float on the lake making it a little gross.

 

Some amazing red aspens. we get a lot of yellow, and often orange, but red is rare. Might have to do with the really dry summer though.

Silver Lake with pine pollen.

Some great color on the other side.

About 3 tenths of a mile later we reached the Twin Lakes/Lake Solitude Trailhead. We did Lake Solitude just a couple months ago so I wanted to do Twin Lakes instead.

Lovely forest.

Once you pass the trailhead sign the crowds thin out dramatically. Silver Lake is very popular, but not many people venture beyond it.

Before long you will come to an intersection. In the summer months it is signed, but they remove them for winter. Forward goes to Lake Solitude, we want the left fork for Twin Lakes.

This is where the sign normally sits.

There is still some color up here, but a lot of it has fallen.

And the climb begins!

Some lovely color.

Yay, some by the trail.

Makes for a nice frame.

A little glimpse of Silver Lake below. Just wait, there is better.

Looking up towards Brighton.

Down canyon with a nice array of color.

This side trail heads back towards Lake Solitude, you can do a loop with both lakes, or even add Lake Mary without loosing too much elevation (though we haven’t done that yet so I am not sure how long it is).

The scree section. This used to make me nervous but I don’t mind it at all anymore. The trail is plenty wide.

This is a great spot to find pika’s. I got some better shots on the way down.

The scree field also provide a spectacular view of Silver Lake and the surrounding bowl.

You can see where Big Cottonwood Creek enters the lake on the right, and where is exits on the left.

Quick Panoramic.

Just incredible. This is probably my favorite local viewpoint.

The colors again.

Back to the rocky climb up.

There are some mine tailings along the way and it looks like there is some jade in there.

Another shot of the rocky climb.

Scott Hill. This one is easy to identify with the Mickey Mouse shaped mine tailings on the side.

Another patch of color.

Well the skies are looking a little ominous, but we decided to continue along as we are getting close.

Rocky trail.

Almost there! We can see the dam.

Mount Millicent.

The dam again.

Little shack of some sort.

Twin Lakes! Looking pretty low on water right now.

In fact the twins are almost separated again. The original Twin Lakes were combined when the dam was built for Twin Lakes Reservoir.

Of course, just as we reached the lake, it started raining. Which is oddly similar to the first time we came up here.

We decided to go as far as we were allowed onto the dam.

Another view of the reservoir. The rain turned to hail and we decided it was time to head on down.

Peak 10420 and Clayton Peak. Jupiter Bowl to the left. We could see the Twin Lakes from the side of that peak when we climbed up from Scotts Pass doing Shadow Lake.

Mount Millicent.

Neat streaks along this rock.

The rain really made the jade pop.

Neat family tree.

We noticed a side trail that took us out to this great viewpoint. Wow!

The rain scared off most of the crowds around Silver Lake.

I really love this view.

Hillside of color.

Back down to the scree fields and the great view it has.

A little closer.

Panoramic. Starting with the pointy peak on the left, Scotts Hill. Scotts Pass, Jupiter Bowl, Guardsman Pass, Peak 10420, and Clayton Peak.

Pika!

They were making different vocalizations today then their usual shrill chirp.

I liked the colorful leaves in the background.

I really enjoy watching the pikas. Particularly when they are hard at work gathering for winter, but these guys were just chillin.

More color.

Nekkid aspens.

More color.

Remains of an old structure.

More color.

Back to the intersection. Right will get us back to Silver Lake and the parking lot.

Back to Silver Lake.

The rain came back.

Synchronized diving.

Back down to the outlet.

Ducks on a log.

The trail we were on.

Mount Millicent.

Heading down the canyon (PSP). Looks like the peak of color is between Mill D and Solitude.

Kessler Peak across from Butler Fork (PSP).

Neat clouds in Millcreek Canyon (PSP).

That one is a little tougher than I remembered but it is still a great short trail with some absolutely incredible views. I mentioned the crowds thin out dramatically once you hit the trailhead so it is very enjoyable. I was sad to see a lot of the leaves had already fallen, but we did still get some nice fall color in. 9out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it was a lot of up on a rocky, rocky trail so going with a DR4.

Big Cottonwood Canyon is watershed so dogs are not allowed. Leave Fido at home today.