Willow Heights - Fall

Willow Heights is a fantastic shorter trail through an amazing aspen forest which leads to lovely lake. This is one of our favorite hikes and we do it fairly often, in fact we just did it a couple of months ago. Today I decided to just drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon and see where the color was so we ended up here.

Quick Details:

Length: The sign says .75. My app put the east trail at .8 and the west trail at .9. Add .8 around the lake for a total 2.5 mile loop.
Trail Type: Loop, Double Loop, Figure 8 or Out and back.
Difficulty: DR4. This one is quite the climb!
Elevation Gain: About 600 ft.
Restroom: No. Closest I am aware of is at the Nordic Center by Silver Lake.
Dogs? No. Big Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.

To Get Here:

Head up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Past the Silver Fork Lodge. About halfway between mile marker 13 and 14 there will be a boulder on the left (north) side of the road. If you reach Solitude you went too far, but don’t worry. the canyon ends at a loop that will easily turn you around.

The Trail:

Trail Marker.

This area was slated to become a development, but luckily Salt Lake County was able to secure the funds to purchase it and preserve it for us to enjoy. I think that is why it has the neighborhood sounding name.

Trail kiosk.

Bare aspens.

Thankfully there are still quite a few patches of yellow.

Trail split. Right is a bit shorter, but much more steep. Left is a bit longer, but an easier climb.

A particularly colorful patch.

And then naked.

Hit another good patch.

Geranium leaves are pretty in the fall.

More color.

This one to show how hazy it is today.

A nice flat segment to enjoy for a second after a climb.

Looking up towards Brighton.

Small patch.

Random equipment.

Color on the hillside above.

Looking down the hazy canyon.

Another lovely patch.

Well, this is new. Looks like they are building a new trail?

More color.

Looking up.

Looking up again.

A very talkative crow. I don’t know what his deal was but he was sure making a lot of noise.

Another nice flat segment. Yay.

Thanks for the offer, but uh, you don’t look too comfortable.

Small clearing.

Looks like they plan to divert the creek crossing.

Not much to the creek this late in the year.

Naked aspens, blue sky.

I really like this one.

We have reached the big meadow. This means you are almost to the lake.

I love the cone shaped peaks around this valley. Including these twins.

Didn’t get a picture of the trail split, but you can go around the lake either way. I always go left though, because that offers the best view of the lake.

I like how some aspens hold their leaves until they turn black.

One of the cone shaped peaks.

First view of the lake.

Panoramic.

Crossing the outlet.

Willows.

The lake again.

The northwestern shore is probably the best place to enjoy the lake. It has a nice beach feel, is dry, and there isn’t a lot of vegetation to get in the way.

Ducks!

Another panoramic.

A nice patch of color to the north.

I enjoy doing the path around the lake. Its a nice flat stroll, which is appreciated after the long climb. Not to mention it is quite pretty, and only adds .8 miles. Even if it doesn’t necessary go around the lake. The northern section is quite swampy, so it goes around that.

Another panoramic of the lake.

The lake with the view across the canyon.

Again.

Heading into the woods.

Willows and naked aspens.

Getting closer to the patch of color.

Short segment that is a little thin and overgrown. Not too bad.

Lovely patch of color.

I just love the aspen forest up here. Naked or not.

Oh boy. it' looks like the great Windpocolypse of September 2020 took out quite a few trees up here. Some are easy enough to step over, some people have worked a new trail around already.

Some ripped up by the roots, some snapped off from the trunk. Like I said, we were up here just a few months ago, I know for a fact these were not down last time we were here.

More downed trees.

Pretty forest.

More downed trees.

This one broke over another tree.

More. Its kind of sad to see this many fallen trees up here. There are a ton more, so the forest remains, but still a little sad.

Forest.

The peaks above again.

The lake from the east side.

The peaks on the other side of Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Panoramic.

I always get curious when I see random side trails. Sometimes that curiosity gets the better of me, and I might venture down it a little ways, or sometimes a little longer ways haha. but, today I ignored the urge.

Back to the 4 way trail split. As has become our norm, we decided to go down the eastern trail, just to see if there were any more patches of color.

The trail across the big clearing.

This little divot might have a pond in it earlier in the year. The first time we came up here we thought it might have been the lake and were very much disappointed, but luckily continued up to the actual lake.

Naked aspens and peaks.

View down Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Into the naked forest!

I love the geranium leaves.

Mixed forest.

I like this one.

Huh. another side trail is being built?

More aspens.

More downed trees.

More aspens.

Huh. It looks like they are building switchbacks. That should make this a little easier, but probably quite a bit longer.

Some color up on the hills.

We are entering a nice patch of color as well.

Although some of them are looking like they are just about done.

I do love the geranium leaves.

Some more color at the steeper section.

A particularly vibrant patch! Yay!

The bottom of the new switchback trail at the bottom of the steep section. I looked up this groups instagram, as the sign recommended. They seem to be focused on building bike trails. I’m not opposed to bike trails, but, I don’t know if I necessarily want one here. They might actually just be building a hiking trail too though. Hard to tell from instagram.

More color.

Geranium leaves.

More color.

Starting to thin out near the bottom.

I always really enjoy this trail, no matter the season. Although I will say, it seems longer than it really is due to being a little tougher. However, it is becoming increasingly popular. Today wasn’t too bad though. I used to always see moose on this trail, but haven’t the last few times we have done it. Doesn’t mean they don’t hang out here anymore. I do still enjoy the thick aspen forest. Anyway, still a good 10 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it is a little shorter, but a littler tougher. DR4.

Dogs are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Be sure to leave Fido at home.