Silver Lake

Salt Lake City, Utah

3.8/5

based on 8 reviews

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Details

Distance

0.94 miles

Elevation Gain

49 ft

Route Type

Loop

Description

Added by Lindsay Daniels

Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon has a 1 mile loop trail taking you around the lake. There is the possibility to make it a 4-mile roundtrip hike.

This quick hike to a beautiful lake in the Wasatch Mountains is perfect for the whole family. Park at the visitor center at the Silver Lake Recreation Area near Brighton Ski Resort, pick up a trail map and walk behind the building to find the trailhead. You can also pick up a wildflower guide at the visitor center - there are incredible blooms in the summer months.

The trailhead leads you to a one mile loop trail that wraps around Silver Lake. This trail is family friendly and wheelchair accessible. For those more adventurous hikers, there are several other trail junctions if you wish to extend your hike on to Twin Lakes, Lake Solitude, and the Brighton Lakes. These trails involve much more climbing and may not be quite so family friendly.

Getting there:

From Salt Lake City, take I-215 and exit at 6200 South. Follow the road signs to Big Cottonwood Canyon and the Brighton and Solitude ski resorts. Continue up Big Cottonwood Canyon for 14.2 miles to the Silver Lake Visitor’s Center.

Note: the trail is best used March through November.

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Reviews

Dawn Rohde

Silver Lake

01/16/23

This is a nice boarder walkway. It is a young family favorite. You can also fish there too.

5.0

Travis Poulson

Silver Lake

09/03/18

This is one of the best spots to catch the fall leaves in all their glory. Time it so that the aspens are in full swing and you won't be able to take pictures fast enough. Gorgeous!

4.0

Jenny Zehner

Silver Lake

05/27/17

Definitely not a hike, more like a walk. Still a cool view though 👍🏼

1.0

Michaela Velarde

Silver Lake

04/12/17

Very easy. Was able to push my baby in her stroller.

4.0

Explorer

Jackson Smith

Explorer

Silver Lake

01/25/17

There couldn't be a more awesome place to go for a short mountain walk with the family. Its super easy and even more beautiful.

5.0

Bryony Richards

Silver Lake

05/21/16

A fun place to snowshoe and Nordic ski in the winter, great family hiking spot in the summer, and a phenomenal place to see the fall colors!!

5.0

riley finnegan

Silver Lake

03/29/16

go at night when there's a full moon--pretty dank

5.0

Khürt Williams

Silver Lake

03/26/16

Disappointed. Closed to hiking because lake was under ice and snow.

1.0

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Hike and Camp at the Twin Lakes Reservoir

The trailhead begins at the Solitude Nordic Center. Walking around Silver Lake, you get a chance to observe the ducks and lovely wetlands area. This trail then leads you into the lower aspens, and if you are hiking just as fall colors have begun to emerge, they create a glowing effect in the woods. A cat track takes you across a crumbling boulder field, followed by a short yet steep hike to the...

Cross-Country Ski at the Solitude Nordic Center

Located at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Solitude Mountain Resort is known for it's quaint atmosphere and great downhill skiing. But for those who want to get away from the crowds, try something different, and get a great workout in the process, it also offers 20 Kilometers of groomed cross-country trails that run right through a beautiful conifer and aspen forest.Your adventure starts at ...

Photograph Star Trails at Silver Lake

Silver Lake is one of the easiest, most accessible hikes in the Wasatch, located at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, close to the ski resorts of Brighton and Solitude.The lake is accessible all year; with a boardwalk or a well-signed path circling the lake through spring to fall. In the winter the lake become a frozen snowshoe and nordic skiing area.A full hike around the lake takes abou...

Hike Lakes Mary, Martha and Catherine (Brighton Lakes)

This trail is a local favorite because you can make it as hard or as easy as you want it to be! You can stop at the first lake which is only 1 mile from the parkinglot, or you can go to the top of one or more of the 5 peaks that are surrounding the lakes for an added challenge. It is 3.5 miles round trip just to reach all 3 of the lakes without ascending any of the peaks. The elevation gain is ...

Night Photography at Brighton

Park at the main parking lot at Brighton Ski Resort and head up the hill (under the Majestic Lift is a good place to start). Hiking is generally easy, even with snow on the ground, due to compaction of the snowpack during the daytime. However, snowshoeing and skinning with skis can be a good alternative if there have been recent storms.Approximately 0.5 miles up the slope, the stars will be vis...

Photograph Guardsman Pass & The Alpine Loop

Since this is a loop you can start at either end, but this is the way we did it. Start driving up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Enjoy the views and take in the impressive peaks on either side of the road. See the changes in vegetation as you gain elevation in the canyon. As you near the top and pass Solitude Ski Area, there will be a small road on your left. This is Guardsman Pass road. Take this road...

Silver Lake

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Leave No Trace

Nearby

Hike and Camp at the Twin Lakes Reservoir

Cross-Country Ski at the Solitude Nordic Center

Photograph Star Trails at Silver Lake

Hike Lakes Mary, Martha and Catherine (Brighton Lakes)

Night Photography at Brighton

Photograph Guardsman Pass & The Alpine Loop

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