September 2, 2024 Labor Day Urban Hike at Red Butte Garden

 Red Butte Garden

Urban Hike

hikers:  mark and lecia

distance:  2.42 miles

elevation gain:  534 ft.

It was a free day at Red Butte Garden so we decided to go explore.  We had never been on the trails and didn't even know what was there beyond the paved garden areas.

We took the outer trail all the way around, including a detour to the stone house.  The trail is labeled as Zeke's trail on this map. 

Onward and Upward.

View of Salt Lake

The stone house.   

This is where they used to quarry red sandstone for homes, buildings at Ft. Douglas and the Salt Lake Temple.  The sandstone was torn out and replaced with granite before the temple was actually built.

This was on the way down when we were next to the stream.  

You can't see it but we could hear it!  It was so pleasant and pretty.

After the hike we took some time to walk around the gardens.

Saturday, August 10, 2024 THE GROTTO

 The Grotto

in Payson Canyon

hikers:  2 littles, 5 bigs

Only .65 miles round trip and it only took 17 minutes of hiking.

This is a fun, little hike that is not too hard for kids but with some stream crossings and a log for a bridge, so you know it is a hike.  

We were on our way home from Payson Lakes.  It wouldn't be worth the drive from our house just for the hike, but we were in the neighborhood. 

Payson Lake

Luckily there was parking when we got to the Grotto trailhead. Everyone cooperated for a photo!

Not hard, but not a walk in the park either.

The Grotto.  I think it is really cool!, but it was very crowded, including a mermaid having a photo shoot.  We didn't stay long  but started on our way back  down, walking thru the stream. 

If you are in Payson Canyon and driving by this is definitely worth a stop.  It didn't take long and for the amount of effort you get a fun hike and cool destination!

Friday, August 2, 2024 Cecret Lake from Alta Ski Resort

 Cecret Lake

hikers:  Mark and Lecia

distance:  5.3 miles

elevation gain:  1,211 feet

We parked in the parking lot, just before the tollbooth that goes up the canyon.  

This is where we started the hike.

Before we went too far we spotted a moose.  Other people on the trail were stopped and pointing their cameras so it was easy to know it was there.  

There were a lot of wildflowers out but it wasn't the peak of their blooming.  

lupine and Indian paintbrush

lupine

wild geranium - sticky purple geranium

Engelmann Aster

Indian paintbrush

After passing the meadow of wildflowers, this is the place to go left if you want to go the the Albion Basin campground area and the Cecret lake trailhead and parking. 

 

Last time we took the utility road to the right.  Less crowded, steeper, and further on you need to go thru the trees a short distance to get on the Cecret lake trail.

                                                       We saw a patch of snow.

Then we walked on this boardwalk for  a ways,

and saw signs that it is indeed a ski resort. 

 Here is the beginning of the trail to Cecret Lake.  There was lots of photography happening so it wasn't easy to get this picture with no one in it!

 

There were a few wet areas like this one to cross.

The last part of the hike is the steepest.

But if you keep going you are at the lake!  It is beautiful and this time we walked all the way around it.  This was our first time to do that!

Then we headed back down again.

Doing the hike from Alta ski resort allows you to see the meadow, adds a couple miles to to the journey, and saves a toll and there is a lot more parking available!

Saturday, July 27, 2024 Loop around Palisade Lake

 Palisade Lake Loop

hikers:  Mark and Lecia

distance:  2 miles

elevation gain: 134 feet

This was our much anticipated camping trip to Palisade State Park.  There were 7 of us camping  but only 2 of us went on this walk, or little hike, around the lake just after breakfast.  

We started at our campsite, which was at the Wakara Campground.

We walked down to the lake, which was not busy at all at  8:20 in the morning.

We took the Lakeshore Trail on the west side of the lake and it was really pretty!

We continued on a loop south at the end of the lake called the dance hall loop.  There was an overlook where we could see the town of Sterling!

Then when we were back at the lake we kept going to the camping areas and back to our campground.

This was a sign and map at the campground.  

And here is my map from strava.

July 17, 2024 Lisa Falls

 Lisa Falls

distance: just under .5 miles

elevation gain:  75 feet

hikers: Grandpa, Nana, and 6  grandchildren!

After our hike to donut falls last week I knew a hike with these kids and only 2 adults had to be a short one and this fit the bill for our grandchildren's day activity!  Everyone made it and there were few complaints.

I knew it was a short hike but I had forgotten it is steep!  

Over or under, take your pick.  

We made it to the falls!

Beautiful view.  I didn't take many pictures because my focus was on supervising the kiddos not photography.  This is such a great hike when you need something small.  The reward at the end pays off and there are rocks to climb on and to eat lunch on.  

July 10, 2024 Donut Falls

 Donut Falls

hikers:  7 kiddos (ages 16 months to 9 years) and 4 adults

length:   1.5 miles

elevation gain:   291 feet

# of other hikers:   parking lot was overflowing and lots of people at the falls

temperature:   over 100* in the valley so definitely less in the canyon!

fun rating:   depends on who you ask.  "good hike"  "this is long"  "I'm sooo tired"

After parking someone warned us the bridge was out and we could get wet or take the alternate route.  We decided on the alternate route but the trail would have worked also.  You had to cross the creek on a log and yes, some of us would have gotten wet!  

The alternate route was on a maintenance or access road for a while.  It was still a pretty hike and we could hear the rushing water in the creek.

This colorful butterfly was one of the wonders of nature we ran across.

This was the makeshift bridge we could have crossed.

Near the falls there was a rope to get down some rocks.  I don't remember it being there before but it was really helpful.  I don't have a picture of it but all the kids made it one way or another. 

After the hike we decided to have our picnic at the trailhead instead of driving somewhere else because the kids were pretty tired.

It was a fun hike, even though some of the kids were tired.  With little ones this small it was good to have a high adult to kid ratio.  We learned we can keep going even when it is hard.  We did it!!!

July 6, 2024 Rocky Mouth Fall

 Rocky Mouth Falls

hikers:  6 of us,  3 kiddos, 3 adults

elevation, length of hike: same as usual, .7 and 282 feet.   This was the first time we have been up there this year and part of the trail near the falls has been washed out so it looks a little different than usual and near the falls you hike thru the water.  Wasn't expecting that but just be prepared to walk in the water for a short way. 

Halfway there by the time you get to this trailhead.

Lots of water this year and because part of the trail 

has been washed out you will be getting your feet wet!

The water and rocks got a little tricky for this one.

But luckily Grandpa had his pack and was on first aid duty.

Lots of people at the falls.

Our explorer!

 

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