Ledgemere Picnic Area

 Ledgemere Picnic Area is a good sized picnic area near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon. It is a nice picnic area that features a creek, some pretty color this time of year, soaring cliffs, and a small cave. Of the 4 picnic areas in Big Cottonwood Canyon it is one of the larger ones. It is a fee area, however I was just walking through to check the area out so I think we were alright doing that.

Quick Details:

Length: About 4/10 of a mile loop.
Trail Type: Loop
Difficulty: It is paved and pretty level. DR2.
Elevation Gain: About 140 feet.
Restroom: Yes
Dogs? No. Big Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.
Other Info: Fee area. $15.00 per site.

To Get Here:

From Wasatch BLVD drive about 1.6 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The picnic area will be on the right. Additional parking on the left.

The Trail:

Color below some cliffs.

Color above the parking lot across the street.

Area sign.

Crossing Big Cottonwood Creek over the upper bridge.

Upstream.

Downstream.

Some color.

The creek again.

Looking up.

More color.

Looking up again.

The creek again.

Upstream.

More color.

I love these autumn decorated Christmas trees. They are even better after it has snowed some, and well, in the more appropriate season as well.

Striking color.

The creek again.

Cliffs.

Continuing to explore the area.

More color.

Not the best shot, but you can kind of see the developed individual sites have tables, firepits and grills.

More cliffs.

The creek again.

Ledgemere Cave.

It’s little.

Not very deep either. But it’s kind of fun.

Heading back.

I love how it looks like the leaves are floating.

Crossing back over the creek via the lower bridge.

Downstream.

Upstream.

Cliffs above.

The parking lot. If I understand it correctly, you do have to pay the day use fee to use it.

Cliffs again.

The creek again.

Upstream.

Downstream.

Pretty color.

Back to the parking lot across the road, looking up canyon.

More color.

Color and cliffs.

Some nice reds.

View down.

More color.

Cliffs again.

Heading down the canyon (Passenger Seat Photography (PSP)).

Nearing the mouth of the canyon (PSP).

Mouth of the canyon (PSP).

More color (PSP).

Looking across the canyon towards Antelope Island (PSP).

Downtown Salt Lake City (PSP).

Eclipse traffic heading north (PSP). I am happy we are heading south.

Meh, it is an alright picnic area, with some fun things to explore. Going with 6 out of 10 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it is paved and fairly flat DR2.

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