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Quick Details:
Length: The map says it is 1.8 miles. We ended up doing closer to 1.9.
Trail Type: Loop with Balloon and Spur Options.
Difficulty: DR3. There is a bit of a climb but it’s not too bad.
Elevation Gain: The map says 460 Ft. My app says 538
Restroom: Yes there is one at the Cecret Lake Trailhead, and a few in the Campground
Dogs? No. Little Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.
Other Info: I am pleased to announce the Alta shuttle is back! Although now instead of donation based, it is $5.00 per person. They have also added parking at the top and that is $8.00 per car.
To Get Here:
Drive to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. If you want to try your luck at finding parking continue past Alta and the ranger station and park at the Cecret Lake Trailhead. If you want to take the shuttle (or walk up) park at Alta. Normally this would be at the 2nd lot, Albion Base. But right now that is under construction and luckily they had a sign to direct us to the 1st lot, Wildcat Base. Note: If you plan on hiking up from or or down to here this will add an extra half mile through the Lower Albion Meadows.
The mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon (PSP (Passenger Seat Photography)). It’s been a good couple months since we’ve been up here.
One of the few waterfalls you can see from the road (PSP).
The tram above Snowbird (PSP).
Up to the Wildcat Basin. We waited about 15 minutes for the shuttle. It now leaves here on the hour and half hour and departs from the top on the half hours as well. Last one leaves at 6:00 PM.
Taking the shuttle up.
Collins Gulch (PSP Shuttle).
View down the canyon (PSP Shuttle).
The Trail:
We made it to the Cecret Lake Trailhead. The loop can go either way, but to do clockwise from here you have to go through the Albion Basin Campground for a little bit.
Right off the bat we see a hawk hunting above.
One of the headwaters of Little Cottonwood Creek. From what I can tell all of the creeks flowing down within the Albion Basin are considered the headwaters, but Cecret Lake is the main one.
The Supreme Ski Lift.
Hiking through the Albion Basin Campground. We were kind of checking out the spots to see if there was one we liked better.
I have never seen as many columbines over the years as I have this year. They seem to have really enjoyed the long winter and spring.
Some Indian paintbrush.
Just as the campground loop starts to curve to the north look for this side trail off of it.
If you happen to miss it, look for this gate.
Little patch of snow.
You will still be following a dirt road for a little longer.
Sugarloaf Peak above.
A giant patch of forget me nots.
Devils Castle! We will eventually get a little more up close and personal with it.
Neat little pinnacle.
From the other direction is Sugarloaf Peak. Cecret Lake is nestled below that.
The little creek again.
Stay on the main road (left).
Just a little longer past these cabins.
Squirrel!
This columbine has just a hint of blue on the outer petals. I've only seen that a few times, around this area and once in the Uintas.
Old trail closed for re-vegetation, keep going. Almost there though.
View of Devils Castle through the trees.
Again, as the road curves to the north look for the small trail to the southeast. It was signed last time we came by, but not today. It is a half mile up.
Gulch just above the trail.
Back to the trail. Most of the climb is along the road. Once you hit the trail it levels out quite a bit.
More paintbrush.
Entering the pretty woods.
Some buttercups.
Another patch of snow.
More forest.
Devils Castle again.
Looking down into the basin.
Devils Castle again. Uh.. there are going to be a lot of pictures of this peak. I think it is my favorite.
More paintbrush.
Some phlox.
Looking down canyon again.
The castle again. There is definitely more snow hanging on this year than the last time we did this.
Pretty forest.
The trail.
Neat stone fin.
Buttercups.
So pretty up here.
Scattered boulders.
Closeup of a spot on the castle that has little turrets.
The main peak.
Sugarloaf Peak.
Pretty trail again.
Devils Castle with some trees.
Approaching the giant scree field below the peak.
Mine tailings.
The mine itself is somewhere under that snow.
This debris field is massive. It got us to wondering if there was some catastrophic event that dropped most of this or if it has just been slowly coming down off the mountain for years.
Panoramic of the Albion Basin.
Some rock climbers.
The tailings pile again. I think this is the high point of the trail.
Looking up at the peak from directly below it.
Buttercups.
Through the scree!
Last time we did this trail we came from the other direction, and well, got off course somewhere along the way so we have done all up to this point before. Going forward will be all new to us.
More of the amazing view.
Looking up at the castle again.
A very young elkweed. It took a minute to identify it without any flowers.
Not sure what this is but it is all pokey stabby looking.
The massive debris field again.
Years of trail use has created a lovely flat section that resembles a cobblestone path.
Looking across towards Catherine Pass.
Another panoramic.
I always like to look for pikas when I am in high elevation scree fields. I was starting to get disappointed that we weren’t seeing or hearing any today and then this little guy popped up. He was gone before we knew it and didn’t pop back up. Guess they aren’t being very active right now.
Devils Castle again.
I couldn’t identify this, but it is pretty.
Parry primrose.
The castle again.
Another mine tailing pile.
The caste again.
Elkweed, another one of my favorites.
View across towards Catherine Pass again.
Back into the forest.
Pentemon.
Super pretty.
Another patch of snow.
I like how this one came out.
We actually had to hike through this patch. Luckily there were some decent foot holds and it wasn’t too slick.
Really enjoying the forest.
You can see the trail up to Cecret Lake.
Rocky slope.
Now we really start the decent.
More forest.
This seems a bit more steep than the road up so I think the way we went today is the preferred way.
Thick woods.
Weird fungus.
Super pretty forest.
An example of a snow bridge on a small scale. This can occur on a much larger scale and what may seem like solid snow might be completely hollowed out underneath. So, always be careful when crossing large swaths of snow in the springtime.
Another creek crossing.
This bridge leaves a little to be desired.
This creek appears to be a rather heavy flowing spring.
Forest above.
The spring again.
Creek again.
Pretty forest.
Trail split. I wasn’t 100% sure which one was the main trail. They both seem about to be used the same. We decided to go left.
Buttercups and sandworts.
Cool rock.
Forget me nots.
More pretty forest.
Another bridge that leaves a little to be desired.
Pretty creek.
From the other direction. Love the wildflowers surrounding it.
Hello handsome.
Handsome fella.
Pretty creek.
Neat rock.
I see this kind of thing fairly often, but it still never ceases to amaze me. Seeing flowers and even trees growing out of solid rock.
Neat rocks.
Open meadow.
Eventually we reached the main trail heading towards Cecret Lake. Again, no sign, so I am not sure if we are on the main trail, but it is a 4 way intersection as the map showed. Anyway, if you want to go back to the Cecret Lake Trailhead, the shuttle, or the campground, go right. If you want to continue down the Albion Meadows keep going forward. Or, you can add Cecret Lake by going left.
This is all new to us as well.
Paintbrush.
More forest.
Chickweed.
Fun rocks.
Eventually the thinner trail met up with this more established trail. I have a feeling this is probably the one on the map. So, I will have to try this trail again and take that other fork.
Looking down.
Pretty forest.
Another stream.
Little waterfall above.
Stream and waterfall.
This bridge is nice and sturdy at least.
Downstream.
Lovely view.
I heard they had built an overflow parking lot this year, and I am pretty sure this is it.
More pretty forest.
Nice little pond.
Yes, that is definitely the new parking lot.
I thought this might be a white elephant head but now I am leaning towards it being a white bog orchid. I’ve been hoping to see a wild orchid so.. yay!
However, speaking of elephant heads here we go. These are another of my favorite flowers. You can probably tell why they are called elephant heads. What are the odds of seeing all 3 of my favorite wildflowers on one adventure? Well, I guess in the Albion Basin pretty high.
Columbines.
If you planned to ride the shuttle down, you will head right here back towards the parking lots and the campground. We however decided to walk down the Upper and Lower Albion Meadows and check out the wildflowers so we went left. I made that a separate post though. This will add about 2.2 miles downhill.
Well, I really enjoyed that hike! I had originally planned on doing Cecret Lake today and kind of last minute changed my mind and am glad I did. I like Cecret Lake, but it can get a bit crowded. I enjoyed the solitude and quietness we experienced on the trail today. The wildflowers are really fantastic up here today. I also really enjoyed that even though we did a trail we have done before, and are very familiar with the area, we experienced so much new trail today, Lastly, I am just thrilled the shuttle is back so I can do these upper trails the way I prefer to do them! My only gripe is the spiderweb of trails that make me uncertain I am following the main trail, but I am going to forgive that today. 10 squirrels out of 10 today.
As for difficulty, I think it was fairly easy going. Most of the elevation gain was at the beginning on a dirt road so it’s graded fairly well. DR3.
Dogs are not allowed as Little Cottonwood Canyon is watershed. Be sure to leave Fido at home.
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