Willow Heights

 Willow Heights is a great trail located in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The trail features some mixed forest, wildflowers, and a nice little lake. You also have a pretty good chance of seeing wildlife. A few years ago they rerouted both trails, and they are both generally easier, however I have now decided that I prefer to go up the east trail, and down the west trail. This is another one of our favorite trails that we tend to do often. In fact we were here just a few months ago.

Quick Details:

Length: The east trail to the crossroads is about a mile. The west route is 9/10ths of a mile. And the loop around the lake is about 8/10ths of a mile. For a total of 2.7 miles.
Trail Type: Figure 8, Loop, Out and back.
Difficulty: DR3. Both trails are a bit of a climb. I find the east trail, while longer, is easier.
Elevation Gain: About 650 ft.
Restroom: No. Nearest one I know of for sure is at the Solitude Nordic Center. Or there might be some in Solitude Resort.
Dogs? No. Big Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Head up Big Cottonwood Canyon about 11.6 miles up, 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.

Entering Big Cottonwood Canyon (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP).

They are currently working on rerouting the Mill B South trail, and are building a boardwalk through the wetlands here (PSP). I hope the construction doesn't spook the beavers.

The Trail:

The dedication boulder I mentioned. This is really cool, the area was slated to be sold to a developer to build more houses. But Salt Lake City saved it for us to enjoy.

Some of the geranium leaves are starting to change color already!

Yet, some of the flowers remain.

They still haven’t updated the sign to reflect the rerouted trails.

Lovely aspens.

I wonder what kind of animal digs these bigger holes.

The original trail to the right has been closed to revegetate. It was shorter, but it was definitely a steeper, rockier climb. So, the reroute is to the left.

More aspens.

The trail split. The east trail to the right, is slightly longer, but is definitely easier. We went up the west, left fork a few months ago, and even though it is shorter, it seemed to take longer! So we went right today.

More aspens.

Cute little butterfly. I’m not 100% sure, but I think it is a woodland skipper.

An almost spent fireweed.

Some daisies.

With an adorable little bumble bee.

There is a very short section before the first switchback that makes me a little nervous. However, I handled it a lot better today. I think because its short, and I can see to where it ends I made it through just fine today.

Then after the trail switches back, it's fine.

Butterfly. I call these 1810’s cause the pattern appears to show that. But I guess it is a some kind of fritillary.

Some kind of mint.

View down canyon.

I really enjoy a nice thick aspen forest.

After the 3rd switchback, the trail is super, super easy.

More fun aspens.

Looking up.

Yay! We found some paintbrush.

Some parts of the trail seem awfully overgrown, for such a popular trail! I guess the summer rains might be to blame. But this is why I prefer to wear pants when I go hiking.

Another cute bumblebee on a western cone flower.

Approaching the big clearing. This means you are almost there.

I love the cone shaped peaks up here.

The big clearing again.

More cone shaped peaks.

In spring there is a little pond here. Now it’s dried up with a ring of flowers around the edge, and some purple plants in the middle.

At about a mile we reached the crossroads. If you just want to go around the lake, either way is fine. If you just want to go to the lake, head forward. It is the quickest way to a kind of beach. I tend to prefer to go forward, so that is what we did.

One of the cone shaped peaks.

I think this was the best fireweed we saw today.

Different shades of geranium.

Final creek crossing. There is not an official bridge here, yet. But with the improvements they have been making, I would not be surprised if they put one in eventually.

Another nice fireweed.

First good view of the lake.

Better view. Some great reflection today.

Ducks chilling on rocks.

The lake again.

Ducklings!!!! Awwww.

The lake again. We like to do the loop “around” the lake. It technically is around the lake, but in a much wider arc where the lake is not visible for most of it. There is some marshland the loops skirts. But it's a nice easy loop through some pretty forest so I enjoy doing it.

The lake with the peaks on the other side of the canyon.

Heading back into the woods.

Earlier in the season this is full of water.

More overgrown trail.

Entering the aspens again.

Earlier in the season this is completely flooded over from some spring.

Aspens.

Loads and loads of western cone flowers.

Looking up.

More aspens.

Fallen trees from the September 2019 windstorm. Some of them have new trails that go around them, others you have to climb over them.

Super thin trail through thick brush.

Fallen trees you have to walk over.

Larkspur.

Not sure what these are.

Paintbrush.

Lovely trail through the woods.

The bumblebees are super digging all the coneflowers, and are busily buzzing all around us.

Larkspur.

Thin trail through thick brush. Add in the sound of a bunch of bumblebees buzzing, and well, it's a little disconcerting.

Pretty aspen forest.

More paintbrush.

Big ol mushrooms.

Lots of paintbrush.

The other side of the lake.

With the peaks above.

Back to the big clearing with the nice view to the other side of the canyon and Silver Fork.

Panoramic.

Back to the crossroads. We decided to head down the west fork, so strait across.

Looking across to Silver Fork.

Daisies.

Looking across the big clearing.

Back into the woods.

Paintbrush.

This trail has a couple reroutes as well. Here is a short one.

Newish upper bridge.

Geranium.

Daisies.

Paintbrush.

Daisies.

Another section that was rerouted.

Another quick view of the creek that one of the switchbacks allows you to see.

Mint.

Lovely forest.

Looking across to Silver Fork again.

This trail is steep and rocky.

The 3rd switchback takes you near the creek again. After this you want to keep your eyes open for the turn off.

Lovely forest.

Paintbrush.

More geranium leaves starting to change.

Watch for this trail turn off. If you miss it, its not the end of the world, but you will end up in a neighborhood and have to hike up the main road back to your car.

Paintbrush.

Aspens.

The newish lower bridge.

The creek.

Back down to where the 2 trails split off.

Forest.

More geranium leaves that are turning.

Another bee in some daisies.

Heading back down the canyon (PSP).

Uhg. This construction project is such a pain (PSP). Luckily we only had to wait for one cycle this time.

The road side sunflowers are a sign that summer is coming to it’s end (PSP).

I really enjoy this trail, in all seasons. There is always something interesting to see, and well, I really enjoy the aspen forests. It was not terribly busy today either. It was absolutely beautiful up there today. Super lush and green. The only downside was not seeing a moose haha. I do see them often up there, but not every time. 10 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, if you go the way I did its not too bad at all, DR3. The other route is a little tougher.

Dogs are not allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon, so be sure to leave Fido home.