Dog Lake Via Mill D North

Dog Lake is a small lake high up near the ridgeline between Big Cottonwood Canyon and Millcreek Canyon. It can be accessed via Millcreek Canyon on the Big Water Trail or in Big Cottonwood Canyon via Mill D or Butler Fork. Since we were camping nearby I decided to see what the Mill D north Trail had in store for us. This trailhead also goes up to Desolation lake but that is at least another mile longer.

Quick Details:

Length 2.6 Miles to the lake
Difficulty: DR5 A lot of up!
Elevation Gain: 1500 ft.
Pets: No.

We have been doing an annual camping trip with a bunch of our friends at Jordan Pines. It is always a good time, but since we are up the canyon I tend to get a good hike in as well. After hiking up to Doughnut Falls again, I decided to check out the Mill D North trail.

To get here drive 9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon to the Mill D North trailhead. You can park at the Mill D South one if needed, but then you have to scurry across Big Cottonwood Canyon Rd, which is a bit dicey.

Mill D North on the left, South on the right. Both are pretty much full. very popular trailheads. Then again, the entire canyon was packed yesterday and today. First real nice weekend in a while without rain tends to drive people up to the mountains!

Trailhead sign.

Interesting geological sign. The jist is a small glacier coming out of Mill D South met a larger slower glacier coming down Big Cottonwood here and got wedged down here for a while.

And the trailhead. I thought I was going to be climbing up this little gulch, and well you do, but only for a minute.

Beautiful and green up here.

Nice view of I think Kessler Peak on the right and… Reed and Benson Ridge to the left Mill D South Fork in between.

Pretty blue flowers growing out of a rock.

The U shape of Mill D South from the glacier coming down out of it.

This section of the trail lifts you up above the canyon pretty quickly. Some nice pine trees though this rockslide section.

Eventually the trail rounds a corner, and you are NOW in the canyon of Mill D North.

Green mountains, blue skies. Yes, that is a cabin down there.

For the most part the trail is comfortably wide, but there are definitely some thin sections.

Moving into the aspens.

There are loads of wildflowers up here.

After a while high up on a steep slope, the bottom of the canyon is slowly catching up to the trail. This one wasn’t too bad, but I am not a big fan of trails on steep slopes.

And here is the stream. Kind of a trickle.

I have never seen so many butterflies in one spot before, holy cow! They seriously had to have just emerged.

The trail then follows the stream for a while.

This trail is seriously beautiful.

Looking down the canyon. Pretty sure that is still Reed and Benson Ridge.

The creek again.

More aspens.

At the 2 mile mark (I think) the trail splits. another .6 miles to Dog Lake, or another 1.9 miles to Desolation lake. The reason I am kind of confused is the earlier sign said dog lake 2.6 miles, desolation lake 3.5 so…are the missing .4 miles before or after this sign? Anyway, we had planned on Dog Lake, and that is where we were going.

Still in the aspens.

This last section of trail is seriously UP! So we had to take quite a few breaks to catch our breaths.

Looking up. What a beautiful day!

More aspens.

Ants on a flower.

It looks like we are nearing the ridgeline.

Yep, definitely getting flatter. That last push was rough!

First glimpse of the lake!

The other side of the sign. I guess this is officially the ridgeline, we are now in Millcreek Canyon, or considering the lake has no inlets or outlets, a bowl between the 2 canyons.

And here is Dog Lake. 8745 feet in elevation.

There is the trail that continues down into Millcreek.

I climbed up the hill to get an upper view.

Logs at the bottom.

It’s a small lake, but it sure is pretty.

Some yellow flowers.

A log and it’s shadow.

Panoramic.

Chipmunk!

Well, we had a wonderful time at the lake, but it was time we headed home.

Eh, you can’t see it really, but there is a deer back there.

Headin back down.

Aspens!

And back into the conifers.

reed and Benson Ridge and Days Fork.

White butterfly.

Green hills above.

Like the Doughnut Falls trail, this trail is popular enough that the stones are worn smooth

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Days Fork.

Some fun rocks in a landslide section

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Rock formation below.

Caterpillar nest.

And a last look into Mill D South.

Well, that is a great trail. it is a little longer and tougher than we are used to but it was really pretty and I am glad that we did it. Even if my body is protesting a bit.

The trail itself is really pretty and that section with all the butterflies felt like being in a fairytale. But it was really a tough trail for such a small lake and there were quite a few bikes we had to dodge. Going with 8 squirrels.

As for difficulty, it starts out rough, and really ends pretty rough. So going with a DR5.

Big Cottonwood Canyon is watershed so dogs are not allowed. They are allowed at Dog Lake, but only if you take them up via the Millcreek Canyon side.

Doughnut Falls From Jordan Pines Campground 2015

Doughnut falls is a fantastic short hike to a very unique waterfall up Big Cottonwood Canyon. The hike itself is easy, and does offer a view of the extraordinary waterfall disappearing into a hole.

Quick Details:

Length: About a half mile from the trail head. From the campground, add about another half mile.
Difficulty: DR3 Easy. pretty easy hiking unless you decide to go up to the falls.
Elevation Gain: Unknown. Not too much though.
Pets: No

In what has become a yearly tradition a bunch of friends camped at Jordan Pines campground which is directly below the Doughnut Falls trailhead. While here, I decided to hike up again to Doughnut Falls and then to Dog Lake. (See next post).

To get here travel 9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon you will see a large, most likely packed parking lot on the right. You can park here if the upper lot is full and add about 3 quarters of a mile to the hike. Otherwise continue up the road to the trailhead parking. This is a popular trail, and the parking lot fills fast so be advised.

If you decide to camp, Jordan pines is a little ways up this side road at Mill D South. Cross Big Cottonwood Creek, and then follow the signs to the left. This is a group site, so be sure you have some friends.

Home sweet home for the night.

Our main gathering place. We always use the same site so I don’t know how the others are, but this one has this great group area with a bunch of tables, and ample room around a fire pit. then there are a couple trails around it with a bunch of great spots to put up a tent.

We had a bunny friend come by.

Did you know they roll around in the dirt? At first I thought it was somebodies dog, until I remembered they aren’t allowed up here. Cute little guy. Best of the wildlife I saw this trip. One year we saw deer and moose though so it is a great spot to see wildlife.

Big dipper.

Well after a great night of camping and having fun we decided to get a hiking!

At the back of our group site a trail goes back up to the mountains. Last year, I had hoped it connected to Doughnut Falls and I was right. So we decided to go back that way.

At the back of the campground is the quick really steep section. it isn’t too bad, but it does wind me.

But before long you come to a nice flat open meadow.

Some great wildflowers along the way. I can’t say I have ever seen the lower one before.

The trailhead parking lot. I did mention this is a very popular trail right?

Crossing the creek. There is a bridge here.

It is very pretty up here this time of year.

The narrow canyon. This means you are almost there.

Looking back down.

First glimpse of the waterfall. If you have little ones, this will probably be end of the line for you. From here you have to cross the creek.

Landis deciding on the best way across.

Well. this is new. I guess after quite a few falls (at least 1 fatal if I recall correctly) last year they decided to put this in.

It is obviously super effective. But let’s be honest, people are going to do what they want. The forest service put that in to cover their butts. This way, if someone falls, they can’t sue as not being informed. It’s pretty sad that it’s come to that.

I have never, and probably would never go very far up the trail to the left there. Now, up the rocks, when the water is a LOT lower than it is right now, that is fine. But, like last year, I feel the water was a little too high to climb it today. If you do want to see the waterfall up close plan on coming later in the season when the water levels are lower.

Helpful tip: The rock above the kid in red shouldn’t have that much water flowing over it. It should be wet with maybe small waves washing over it occasionally, or dry. but, that is my opinion of course.

That said, even at low flow this is very dangerous. A lot of people have fallen and gotten hurt, some people have even died. Even the most sure footed, experienced and confident climber cannot be aware of all the dangers, let alone what other idiots around are doing. Do so at your own risk.

The water disappearing into the side of the mountain.

With the stream below.

This is the rock I mentioned earlier. If it has this much water flowing over it, the water is a bit too high for my comfort.

The falls with minimal people. Time to head back.

Crossing the creek again.

I think this is Kessler Peak.

Cars lining the road near the trailhead. If you decide to do this, pay close attention to the signs. there is not much space, and the rangers ticket quite often.

Above the trailhead, there is a signed trail down to the Spruces Campground. this is about 100 yards below the trailhead, and is not signed at all, but this is the trail back down to Jordan Pines.

Terrible picture of a Steller’s Jay.

Great view up canyon from the Mill D fork near Big Cottonwood Canyon Road.

Wildflowers galore.

Well this, as always, is an amazing trail. Even with the crowds I really enjoy doing it, although, without climbing up to really experience the falls it kind of takes away from it. But, we still had a great time. 9 squirrels out of 10.

Difficulty, for the most part is a DR3. Super easy and mostly flat. Now if you plan to scramble up the boulders to the cave that will jump it to a DR5.

Big Cottonwood Canyon is watershed so dogs are not allowed.