Green Pond

 The Green Pond Trail is a great little trail leading to a small pond near Snowbasin Resort. The trail features a lovely mixed forest with mountain views and a small pond. We decided to add this on to our scenic drive today since it is a shorter trail. Plus, its pretty so it was worth doing again.

Quick Details:

Length: The full trail is 2.6 miles one way. but it is only 3/4 of a mile to the pond. Add the ~1/2 mile loop around and it is a good 2 mile balloon out and back.
Trail Type: out and back, balloon, longer loop options.
Difficulty: DR3. Super easy going.
Elevation Gain: About 220 ft. (to the pond).
Restroom: No, there are some at Snowbasin.
Dogs? Yes, leashed.
Other Info:

To Get Here:

Head up Weber Canyon take exit 92 for UT167. Go under the overpass and turn right. Follow the signs for Snowbasin with a left to stay on 167. Turn left on UT226. About 1.3 miles the pull out will be on the right.

Heading towards Snowbasin (PSP).

Some nice color at the trailhead.

Trailhead sign. The trail itself is on the other side of the road.

Trail map, well for the trails below. Green Pond is above, again, on the other side of the road.

The view down towards Wheeler Creek East Fork and Middle Fork.

Panoramic.

Mountains on the other side.

Before we could start our hike we had a fun visitor.

A beautiful red-tail hawk.

He sat pretty for me for a little while.

A decent flight shot showing the red tail.

Another.

Another.

I got to watch him soar for a while, it was fantastic.

I think this is the shot of the day. Wow!

Okay, time to get on with our hike.

The Trail:

New trailhead sign.

Onto the trail!

I think we might have hit this trail at right about peak color. Hooray!

Some aspens.

More color.

More aspens.

Some nice orange.

Mixed color.

Pretty red.

Colorful forest.

There is a lot of color left, but also a lot that has already fallen.

Looking up.

More aspens.

I might have gone a little nuts taking pictures of the color.

There really is just something magical about being in the forest when the trees are all changing. I wish it wasn’t so fleeting.

Lots of color.

This little section is covered in ferns.

Red and orange maples.

Higher up.

More yellows as we hit some oaks.

When you hit this big clearing you are almost there.

More oaks.

The clearing again.

Near the top of the clearing you want to keep an eye out for this sign designating a picnic area on the left. This is the turn off for Green Pond. We completely walked right past it the first time we tried this trail cause well, we thought there would be a sign for the pond rather than a picnic area. If you hit the signed trail split for #12 Snowbasin Trail you went too far.

The side trail is a little thinner, but still defined.

Some color.

Before long we made it to the pond! Woo!

Beaver lodge.

Some more color.

The pond again.

Panoramic.

We decided to walk around the pond again. We went counter-clockwise today.

The beaver lodge again.

Nice color reflection.

Nice color.

Reflection and beaver lodge.

Closer look at the beaver lodge.

More color.

The other side of the lodge.

The pond.

More color reflection.

Panoramic.

Sunken tree stump.

Color reflection.

Found a flower hanging on.

Nearing the back end of the pond.

More reflection.

Yellow monkey flower.

The back end of the lake.

Panoramic.

I climbed up the hill to get a slightly above shot.

A dying out western cone flower.

I am curious what causes these round rings of what look like moss.

Clear water and more moss rings.

Shallow pond.

Clear water.

Color on the other side.

Panoramic.

Pretty blue dragonfly.

Another one landed on Landis’ leg. Apparently insects like Landis’ leg this year.

More weird moss rings.

A pretty orange dragonfly. These guys didn’t sit still very long.

The pond with the beaver lodge again.

Another panoramic.

More color.

Another blue dragonfly.

A pair of them.

The pond again.

Back towards the back end.

Another orange dragonfly.

The beaver lodge again.

Nearing the front end of the pond.

Another orange dragonfly.

The front of the pond. I believe I am standing on the dam here.

More mountains.

Yep, I was on the dam. A beaver dam actually. It’s kind of crazy to know it is strong enough to not only walk across, but to support a trail that who knows how many people walk across regularly. Beavers are truly amazing creatures.

The pond again.

Looking at the pond side of the dam. I wish I had detoured a bit to get a better shot of the other side.

A flower with a weird wasp on it.

The pond again.

Another panoramic.

Random lean-to.

One last view of the pond before heading back down.

Some color.

Oak leaves.

The peaks above.

Back to the clearing on the main trail.

More color.

Oaks.

Maples.

More oaks.

Nice mix.

Leaf littered trail.

Some aspens.

The fern covered gully again.

With a little bit of water coming down.

More ferns.

Closer.

Cradling some maple leaves.

More leaf littered trail.

Looking up.

Lots of color.

Different shades of maple leaves.

More color.

Fiery corridor.

A daisy-like flower still hanging on.

More maple leaves.

Nice mix of color.

Some nice red.

Red and yellow.

Aspen leaves.

Aspen trees.

Conjoined aspens.

Nice color.

Leaf piles.

I love being in the forest.

More maples.

More oaks.

Reds and yellows.

Looking up.

Nice forest.

Nice patch of aspens.

I love the twisted trunks.

Looking up.

Forest.

One of a few bridges near the beginning of the trail.

More pretty maples.

More aspens.

The middle bridge could use a little work.

More color.

Parts of the trail are a little rocky, but not too bad.

More color.

Another little bridge.

More aspens.

Oaks.

Almost back to the trailhead.

Vibrant red maples.

Bright yellows.

Little stream.

Short boardwalk at the beginning of the trail.

Back to the trailhead, which was busier than I have ever seen it. Heck the trail was busier than I have ever seen.

View down from the parking lot.

A couple sunflowers still hanging on.

View down again.

View up.

Panoramic.

Busy parking lot!

Well, I guess it is about time we get back to our scenic drive.

I really like this trail. It’s a little short for how far away it is, so I do tend to like to add it on to other adventures, but it was really nice today. You can also keep going for a longer adventure if you want. I mentioned it was a little busier than normal today, but not too horrible. Plus the color was outstanding today. 8 our of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it is really a mild climb up, you can barely even tell it is switchbacks. DR3.

Dogs are allowed, but should remain leashed. Please clean up after your furry friends.