Random Rambler: Albion Meadow Trail

The Albion Meadow Trail is a super short route through the Albion Meadows in the Albion Basin at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. This newer route offers a short amazing trail through the best part of the wildflower meadow. On our way to the Devils Castle trail I noticed that the meadows seemed to be popping off with wildflowers right now so I decided to add this on while we were up here. We have done it a few times, but only done the main part last year for the first time.

Quick Details:

Length: 1 mile out and back.
Trail Type: Out and back, loop options, connector.
Difficulty: DR3. It’s a bit of a climb, but not crazy.
Elevation Gain: 200 feet.
Restroom: Yes there is a vault toilet at the trailhead.
Dogs? No. Little Cottonwood Canyon is watershed.
Other Info: Fee area, $12.00 per car as of 2025. Also the trail starts at the top so the return trip is uphill. You can avoid both of those issues by starting from the Albion Base but that will be a bit longer and more elevation.

To Get Here:

Head to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Pay the Summer Road fee And continue about 1.9 miles to the Catherine Pass Trailhead.

The Trail:

Trailhead kiosk. You want to take the stone steps that are just to the right of this down.

Heading down into the meadow.

Trail split. You want to head right for the simple out and back. You can do a loop by hanging left, but I think it would be better to come back up that way.

Into the meadow.

Starting out a little thin.

But, before long we start hitting some thick arnica.

One of several designated pullouts to take photos. You can use these to get that perfect photo surrounded by wildflowers without trampling the wildflowers.

Please use the pullouts and do not trample the flowers.

View from it.

Geraniums.

Arnica.

Lined trail.

Lots of arnica.

A whole meadow of them.

Geraniums.

Lupine.

Meadow.

Geraniums.

A nice mix.

Lots of Jacobs ladder.

Jacobs ladder and lupine.

The meadows.

The cascades on Greely Hill are extra loud today.

Devils Castle and Sugarloaf Peak.

A big patch of wildflowers on the other side on the basin.

Another photo pull out.

Jacob’s ladder with the peaks.

Looking down canyon.

Jacobs Ladder.

Arnica and mint.

Mint.

Lupine.

Paintbrush.

Columbine.

Paintbrush and lupine.

Lots of arnica.

Some really pale blue, almost white lupine. I learned a few years ago that they do come in white. Just in my experience it is pretty rare to see, at least around here.

Paintbrush.

Jacobs ladder.

With a little bee.

It’s cute. Not as cute as a bee napping in a Jacobs ladder, but still cute.

Look at all of the pollen he’s carrying.

Geraniums.

Down canyon again.

Arnica and geranium.

Devils Castle and Sugarloaf Peak.

Cute white butterflies. They don’t really stop and sit still for long.

Lots of arnica and Catherine Pass above.

Closer, with a little spider.

Closer. I think it is a crab spider of some sort. The like to sit on flowers to ambush prey. My favorite is the Goldenrod Crab Spider. They can change color to blend in better.

Arnica and peaks.

Geraniums.

Paintbrush.

Geraniums.

Devils Castle and Sugarloaf Peak again.

Continuing down.

Lupine and peaks.

Closer to the lupine.

Down canyon.

Paintbrush.

Lupine.

Paintbrush.

Another paintbrush. There are tons of different species of paintbrush.

Continuing down.

Western coneflowers.

Down canyon again, and the last switchback.

Bits of arnica.

Lupine and peaks.

The meadow above.

Geranium.

Down to the Albion Meadows Trail. You have several options from here to do shorter or longer loops. Since this was our second adventure for the day we decided to just do the return trip since it is shortest. One of these days we’ll get around to doing the shorter loop option (left here, left at Alfs, and left on the connector trail back to the trailhead).

This little sign is quite faded, but we could make out that they are rebuilding the supreme lift so there is a section above Alf’s that is closed.

Forget me nots.

Heading back up.

Geraniums.

I am pretty sure these are larkspur that haven’t bloomed yet.

Arnica and mint.

Mint.

The biggest bumblebee I have ever seen. Holy crap.

The lowest switchback.

Green hills and fluffy clouds.

The peaks.

These are cute. Chickweed I believe.

Paintbrush.

Geranium.

The peaks.

Continuing up.

Lupine with another bumblebee.

Digital crop. He appears to have a lot of pollen as well.

Just the lupine.

Some more.

Jacobs ladder and peaks.

Lupine, Jacobs ladder and peaks.

2nd lowest switchback and Catherine Pass. above.

Devils Castle and Sugarloaf Peak.

Continuing up.

Old microwave tower up on the ridge above.

Paintbrush.

Western coneflower.

Paintbrush.

Starting to hit the large arnica patch.

Arnica and peaks.

Colorful hill.

Downcanyon.

Jacobs ladder.

Paintbrush.

I call these 1870 butterflies, cause that is what it looks like it says on the left wing. It is some sort of fritillary. This one was nice enough to sit still for a second.

Lupine.

2nd from the top switchback.

Arnica and peaks.

Down canyon.

Continuing up.

Larkspur starting to bloom and peaks.

Jacobs ladder and peaks.

Colorful mix.

Back into the big arnica patch.

Uphill.

Downhill.

Panoramic.

Arnica and peaks.

Again.

Hey, lets add some lupine too. Actually, I quite like this shot.

Just arnica and peaks.

Some geranium.

Lots of arnica.

Panoramic. Devils Castle, Sugarloaf Peak, Germania Pass, and Greely Hill above the meadow of arnica.

Lots of arnica.

Another panoramic.

Nearing the top.

The rangers have the lights going above. They were gone by the time we reached the top, so no idea what was going on. Just glad it wasn’t due to us.

The meadow below.

Mint and peaks.

The top switchback is super short leading back to the parking lot.

Fun stone steps.

Determined penstemon growing in the steps.

Devils Castle and Sugarloaf Peak from the trailhead.

Sugarloaf Peak, Germania Pass, and Greely Hill.

Panoramic.

The meadow below.

Heading back down the Summer Road (PSP).

One of my favorite viewpoints in the canyon (PSP). It showcases the perfect U shape.

Again (PSP).

The mouth of the canyon (PSP).

Well, that was a super fun add-on today! I love that there are so many options to check out the trail, but I still sorely miss the shuttle that the pandemic killed. Anyway, it was surprisingly not very busy today, the weather was great, the flowers were awesome, though I do note some of my favorites have not come in yet. 10 out of 10 squirrels today.