Trail ascends eastward. Go in the morning when there's more shade and it's cooler. We saw a moose resting a little way off the trail. While more experienced hikers will enjoy the East Greeley/Backside hike. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Notify me of new posts by email. Albion Basin is a place all locals to Utah should definitely hike in the Summer at least once in their lifetime! The trail can be a tough (steep/rocky) but well worth it- also, as you come around to the construction area, about midway up the trail towards Cecret, not a lot of flowers, still mice but you can turn back and know you aren’t missing any blooms. Great hikes up White/Red Pine and also Albion Basin. Wildflowers in bloom. Make sure you pay attention to the map, lots of forks in the road! We were really tired when we got close to the lake. albion-basin-utah-hiking July 27, 2016 Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Didn’t make it all the way up — trail got really thin and steep and I wasn’t feeling it. At the lake itself, take your time to travel the It reminds me of the Alps!!!! Plan on hiking the Albion Basin? You come across a closer lot that has a fee if you want a shorter hike. Free parking is available in the Town of Alta and at the Wildcat base area. Loved it! Super busy in the approach to Cecret Lake, of course, but ample solitude from the other side of the lake and up toward Sugarloaf. The route is a little longer than starting from the upper parking lot but that just gives you more time to enjoy Albion Basin. Fun hike. Cecret Lake is so popular due to the prettiness and relative ease of the hike. Once the snow melts, Alta is a beautiful place to explore alpine lakes, rugged mountain peaks and midsummer wildflowers painting every valley in between. Breathtaking views. Cecret Lake from Albion Base is a 4.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mounthaven, Utah that features a lake and is rated as moderate. We went on a Saturday, late morning though. The Grizzly Gulch/Twin Lakes Pass trail is a great hike to enjoy views of Alta Ski Area on the way to the ridgeline dividing Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons. Our #1 go-to hike in the Alta area. Amazing waterfalls in spring and fields of gold aspen groves in fall. The flowers are beautiful and there are a couple of different starting points. Hiking in the Albion Basin, photography permit information, Alta Environmental Center Stewardship events, and summer trail maps for all of you Alta summer needs. Starting at the entry station at the end of the Little Cottonwood Canyon road at 8700 feet elevation, you'll head up the dirt Albion Basin road to the campground. To improve your experience Update You may encounter moose, mountain | Privacy Policy, Running Trails Near Alta | Trail Running Project >. Summer at Alta. Access the Cecret Lake Trailhead following 1.4 miles on the Upper Albion Meadows Trail. No matter which starting point you choose, the views of this meadow full of vibrant wildflowers will blow you away. 8 moose 4 deer. Also, reportedly the upper parking lot typically fills up fast and requires a fee to access so you can also get to Cecret Lake from Alta and avoid the parking mess. Pretty cool day. At mile 1.9, the Catherine's Pass Trail ascends eastward. Albion Basin is about 45 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, up Little Cottonwood Canyon. Lake Mary via Brighton Lakes and Catherine Pass Trail, Lower Albion Meadows Interpretive Trail [CLOSED]. The views are beautiful and the path is wide. The trail to Cardiff Pass (and on to the top of Superior) is perfect for experienced hikers. we had the lake all to ourselves. On the short trail to the lake (1.7 miles), you’ll likely see moose. Albion Basin Alta, Utah After I enjoyed hiking in the Albion basin, if you make it up to the campground, then Cecret Lake is only 0.9 miles more, so of course I headed up to see the beautiful lake. The hike is beautiful beyond belief!!! With over 13 miles of Forest Service trails, there are plenty of trails to distance yourself from others. Length 4.5 mi Elevation gain 1,213 ft Route type Out & Back Variety of terrain. The Lower Albion Meadows Trail is a wonderful trail for families with children and those new to hiking at elevation. Please respect the rights of private landowners and stay on designated roads and trails. Albion Basin trail is easy and great for those new to hiking The Albion Basin wildflowers are Cecret Lake: Round-trip length: 1.7 miles Just uphill from Albion Note that the use of motorized vehicles on trails is prohibited. Deer, birds and oftentimes moose. Another day, tho. Mountain goats are … The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until October. Annoying busy. Although most of the land in Alta is public land and part of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, many parcels of private land exist within the National Forest. Only complaint is that the top 1/4 (after a parking lot) was SOOOO busy! Consequently, first-time mountain bikers and newcomers to the Wasatch Front will likely feel the constricting effect on their lungs … Nice an quiet on a Tuesday. nice trail to do on a super hot day! Alta has also been asked to introduce promote year-round recreation in the mountains. This trail is 3.6 miles out and back and is said to have the prettiest wildflowers in Salt Lake City. If you want an easier hike, drive up and pay at the toll!! Be aware of ongoing construction around Alf’s Restaurant. Great for beginners! Numerous paths take visitors through spectacular wildflower meadows full of brilliant colors and fragrances. Little Cottonwood Canyon is famous for its snow, so be patient and wait for the slopes and trails to melt. If you’re interested in staying in the area overnight, you’re in luck! Follow the Summer Road 1.6 miles to Access to the Catherine’s Pass Trailhead. Lots of wild life . A pretty hike early in the morning, but the trail and lake gets crowded quickly after sunrise. Following Albion Basin is the Cecret Lake trailhead–a quick hike with a beautiful pay off! This trail accesses or travels through potential avalanche terrain. Saw a moose, great temperature. South-facing trails on the north side of the Town of Alta are some of the first to melt each spring. A nice hike. View the Summer Map with Trail Descriptions, ©2020 Alta Ski Area. The flowers a spectacular. Elevation - 10,664. Albion Basin is one of the great wildflower meadows of northern Utah, and this trail takes you right through the heart of it. -Devil’s Castle Loop is another lesser known trail in Albion Basin. It was hard and windy but a good hike overall. Generally speaking, lower elevation trails and trails on the north side of Highway 210 will be the first to melt out and become hikeable. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is best used from May until September. This 1.8 mile round-trip takes hikers from Cecret Lake trailhead through the Albion Basin Campground and along a densely-forested single-track, and brings hikers to within a few hundred feet of the dark, looming walls of Devil’s Castle itself. The Albion Basin Summer Road begins at the Albion Base Area parking. The route up Germania Pass to overlook Albion Basin is one of the best. Did this trail the third week of July, absolutely stunning. The Albion Basin is a beautiful place to explore once the snow melts. The Lake is gorgeous! Albion Basin is a beautiful place and Devil's Castle provides the ultimate backdrop. Please refer to Summer Trail Map for trailhead parking locations and trail descriptions >. Please let me know if you have any other questions about this hike! Yes, I have worked on it, or better, I have work to do [wink wink]. Gotta try this hike in July. There is parking much closer to the lake that we will have to try next time. Catherine Pass Trail information is provided through Intermountain LiVe Well's healthy trails, another great way to enjoy outdoor activity and get moving. Park City Mountain Sports Club hikes Albion Basin to Sunset Peak via Catherine Pass. The Collins Gulch is one of the last trails to melt, often home to skiers seeking out summer turns well into July. Fun little adventure! These make for some sunny hiking trails through aspen trees. Length 3.6 miElevation gain 744 ftRoute type Out & back This is a great trail for the family. For more information and to read the daily avalanche forecast please visit: https://utahavalanchecenter.org One of the most renown, Albion Basin - in the heart of the Wasatch mountains - is located at the top of glacially-carved Little Cottonwood Canyon, above the ski resorts of Alta and Snowbird at over 9,500 feet. Averaging 547” of snow each ski season, it takes a little while for the snow to melt and trails to dry. It certainly doesn’t have a monopoly on beauty, wildlife, or wildflowers, as so many hikes can give you those. Cecret Lake, Catherine’s Pass, Supreme Point and the Devil’s Castle Loop are some of the more popular hikes originating from the Cecret Lake and Catherine’s Pass Trailheads. Know Before You Go. My kids love this hike. Your browser is not supported. We parked near the bottom and noticed there is a parking lot closer to Cecret Lake. Bring a camera. With limited parking in the Albion Basin, an amenity fee per vehicle will be charged. Always a fun one to do. Drive to the very top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and park at the Albion Grill. Little Cottonwood Canyon is a protected watershed—providing up to 14% of Salt Lake City's drinking water. Hand and foot climbing is necessary. Continue up the obvious dirt road (Albion Basin Road, passable by sedans) till it ends at the Albion Basin Campground. With limited parking in the Albion Basin, an amenity fee per vehicle will be charged. Albion Basin — This is a hike where the trail is the destination. The pass at the ridge is a beautiful spot with a rugged, alpine feel. You can drive on a dirt road and get further up the canyon, but we enjoyed starting at the bottom of Albion Basin and hiking up to Cecret Lake. In order to balance the number of visitors to Cecret Lake and the Albion Basin, Alta charges a fee for use of the Summer Road that accesses the Cecret Lake and Catherine’s Pass trailheads. Take lots of snacks and water. Cecret Lake (40.5713401 Users have reported that during winter and spring the gravel road leading to the trailhead might be closed. The hills are alive and adventure awaits. Heard an owl and saw some animal that I couldn’t identify. Please note that due to construction and infrastructure improvement projects, we have suspended lift-served hiking from the Sunnyside lift. Heading southeast from Alta Ski Resort, the many service roads, cat tracks and branching trails give you a ton of options to customize your route. We park at the Albion basin lot, and hike to Cecret Lake. The hike from the upper parking lot along Albion Basin Road is just one mile long, with an elevation gain of just 406 feet. We started the hike at about 5:30pm and it was perfect weather. This lake is unique for the orange tinted rocks, many of which have almost rectangular prism shapes. Parking at the Albion and Wildcat base areas is always free. This trail is heavily trafficked, but still very worthwhile. This trail has lots of wildlife, a varied and beautiful terrain with interesting rock formations, and ends at a scenic lake. To get to the trailhead, drive to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. Nice clear trail with beautiful scenery the whole way. Loved the variations in scenery from rocky paths , boulders to forest dirt trails ending at cecret lake. Do it! We started at the basin, pretty quick to elevation! If you are visiting Utah, make sure to put this on your bucket list! The climb via Albion Basin Road By the most direct route, there's over 1000 vertical feet of climbing just to reach the singletrack. We are all stewards of these lands and it is each hiker's responsibility to stay on designated trails, leave the flowers for the bees and leave behind only footsteps. Albion Basin Cottonwood Canyon After Life Best Hikes Camping And Hiking Salt Lake City I Need You Stay Tuned Hammock Instagram post by @visitsaltlake • Jul 11, 2015 at 9:11pm UTC If you need me, Albion my hammock. Since 1938, Alta Ski Area has been a steward of Little Cottonwood Canyon, working to revegetate the mountains left barren from late-19th and early-20th century miners. Description: The Wasatch-Cache National Forest is home to many spectacular wildflower-viewing sites in the Intermountain Region. Albion Basin Trail can be found at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. In the summer, amazing wildflowers color the fields of Albion Basin. This hike has a steady incline all the way, and is very good exercise. The Upper Albion Meadows Trail connects to the Cecret Lake and Catherine’s Pass trailheads are perfect for intermediate hikers. The Collins Gulch trail is for advanced hikers looking to gain 2,000 feet of elevation over 2.6 miles. You can find driving directions Hummingbirds and deer frequent this Albion Basin, the start of the short hike is only a 40-minute drive from the Convention Center, so you can turn it into a dawn patrol before the show or sneak it in when you have a few free hours. All rights reserved. It is a short hike to the base of Devil's Castle, but the easiest climbing route requires Class 5.2-5.5 YDS moves with exposure. your browser. Besides the near constant construction noise, this was a great hike! Albion Meadows Trail is a 3.6 mile out and back trail located near Sandy, Utah that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. Easy hike for recovery day, This is a beautiful hike. Not too big of a deal but worth knowing. Alta and the Albion Basin are reached from the Salt Lake Valley by taking the 6200 South exit (Exit 6) off of I-215 and turning right (at the light) onto Wasatch Boulevard (SR 190). Beautiful lake esp in the morning. Go up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road (UT-210) towards Alta Ski Resort until the pavement ends. You’ll drive as far as you can on pavement, parking at the Alta Ski Resort lodge (Albion Grill). Free parking is available in the Town of Alta and at the Wildcat base area. Drive to the very top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and park at the Albion Grill. Tons of chipmunks and we did see a couple of deer and some squirrels. Alta had beautiful scenery. Keep an eye out for historic remnants of Alta’s mining history. went on a wednesday afternoon and traffic was light. There’s a large campsite at Albion Basin, which lets early risers get a sunrise start on their hikes. The rock of Devil's Castle is of high quality and is surpassed only by the rock quality of Lone Peak . The easy trail is just 1.7 miles out and back. The fee this summer is $8 per vehicle. Wildflower Hike In Albion Basin At Albion Basin, wildflowers you will see include lupine, Indian paintbrush, American bistort, sunflowers, fireweed, and many more! Really good climb up to lake. Home to wildflowers and wildlife, there are plenty of great trails for beginning and advanced hikers. It is a busier trail but still enjoyable. We have seen lots of wildlife on this hike. Albion Basin Campground (40.57639, -111.61278) The trail starts at the west side of the Albion Basin Campground, at the top of the Little Cottonwood Canyon Road. We love Alta! Not really sure it was I’m the brush and was grayish bigger than a raccoon or porcupine but still small and low to the ground. If you take this trail you don't have to pay for parking which is nice. The upper lots are $8 and when we saw them, they were packed anyways with people waiting for others to leave so they could park. Albion Basin is famous for its wildflowers and rightfully so. It’s a little long for younger kids, and didn’t make it all the way to the lake but it was still nice. Adventurous hikers can continue west along the ridge for another 1.5 miles, and gain another 1,000 feet, to reach the summits of Superior and Monte Cristo Peaks. I would highly suggest going on a weekday or way early or late. Albion Basin, where you’ll start your hike, is famous for its stunning array of wildflowers (mid-August is your best bet). Albion Basin would be one of the easiest off-road bike routes in the Wasatch Range if not for a trailhead elevation of nearly 9,000 feet. Hiking is one of the best ways to enjoy the beauty and serenity of Alta in the summer. Beautiful well marked trail. The grades are mild with only a few areas above 10%. The flowers were in full bloom and we saw a moose as well! Beautiful, moderate, wildflowers galore. It is well-marked and easy to find. You can do a quick sunrise hike like we did this day, or you can pack a picnic & spend an afternoon! It climbs very gradually over its course from 8700ft to 9500ft. a little busy tho (: The wildflowers have all mostly dried out. Favorite Summer Hikes by Alta Lodge June 27, 2016 June 27, 2016 0 Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Albion Basin Alta Catherin's Pass Cecret Lake Wasatch Hiker wildflowers Wildflowers are Everywhere! Cecret Lake from Albion Base is a 7.2 kilometer heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Mounthaven, Utah that features a lake and is rated as moderate. We got to see the lake with light and the sunset on the way down. Pull into the Albion Basin Campground - you'll find the trailhead on the west side. A little steep in a few spots but not too difficult. Few people on the first half of the trail if you start at Albion. Albion Basin hike to Cecret Lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah (My Paris-Hilton Pose) I ran closer to the lake, asked him to snap a few shots while I twisted my body and stuck my boobs out. The Catherine Pass trailhead (40.582903, -111.618494) is located in Albion Basin near the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. It was good hike. Beautiful scenery and rock formations. As you hike, please consider the following: Please respect closed trail signs and do not pick or trample the wildflowers. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is best used from May until September. With over 13 miles of Forest Service trails, there are plenty of trails to distance yourself from others. Wildflower Hike In Albion Basin At Albion Basin, wildflowers you will see include lupine, Indian paintbrush, American bistort, sunflowers, fireweed, and many more! Amazing! :-). For the snow melts is 3.6 miles out and back at elevation get moving as so many can. With trail descriptions > quality and is surpassed only by the rock quality of Peak! The fields of gold aspen groves in fall beautiful scenery the whole.... 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