| Show Utah's wilderness trails offer outdoor adventure David Canfield Feature Editor when the leaves A Autumn start changing colors is a wonderful time to go and see seethe seethe seethe the beautiful scenery Ut Utah h hhas has to offer Probably the best way to see most of it is by hiking on any of the wilderness wilderness wilderness wilder- wilder ness trails around the Wasatch Front The canyons and mountains mountains moun moun- near Salt Lake City have haye many wonderful trails surrounded surrounded surrounded sur sur- sur- sur rounded by brilliant autumn colors during September and October Big and Little Cottonwood Cottonwood Cottonwood Cotton- Cotton wood Canyons have many trails for any hiker from beginner to advanced which can be accessed from ski resorts or roads One of the better trails in Northern Utah is in the Skyline Drive area near the Sunset Campground 53 miles up Farmington Canyon which leads to Sunset Point Another good hiking area is in City Creek Canyon which has a trail accessed by car and is approximately six miles past the picnic areas For years people have enjoyed enjoyed enjoyed en en- joyed this areas area's diverse vegetation wildlife and scenery A popular hiking destination destination destination destina destina- tion from the end of the road is City Creek Meadows four miles away and two thousand feet higher in altitude Cottonwood Cottonwood Cottonwood Cot- Cot Gulch about a mile half in has a side trail which leads to an old I mining area Within the next j i couple of miles the trail and winds through aspen groves then passes two small ponds The trail bei becomes be- be i 1 comes hard to follow at this 1 i point but hikers can continue one mile farther to City Creek Meadows Millcreek Canyon provides two very good trails Salt Sal t Lake Overlook on Desolation Trail is a good group hiking destination The trail begins in the Box BoxElder BoxElder BoxElder Elder Picnic Area climbs 1200 feet in two miles and provides views of the valley More energetic hikers can continue beyond the overlook overlook overlook over over- look to Desolation Lake which is a mile 19 trip For those who like to explore explore explore ex ex- history there is the Mineral Fork trail up Big Cottonwood Cottonwood Cottonwood Cot- Cot Canyon which follows follows fol fol- fol- fol lows an old mining road and passes abandoned mines cabins and rustic equipment This trail is fairly steep steep- but the scenic waterfalls meadows wild flowers and abundant wildlife are worth the effort An easier trail is s the Brighton Lakes Trail which leads through some of the most beautiful l lake ke country in the range This is a very good trail which begins behind behind be be- behind hind the Brighton ski resort behind the lodge It is also the trail head for the Brighton Nature Trail Guide booklets are available at the trail head Both paths begin by following Big Cottonwood Creek through aspens and evergreens which are beautiful beautiful beautiful ful this time of year then splits into two separate trails Finally Little Cottonwood Canyon has a few scenic trails of varying lengths White Pine Red Pine and Maybird Gulch trails each lead to alpine lakes All three trails begin at the same point then head into separate val val- val val- leys On each one hikers enjoy wild flowers and high- high country scenery Hiking on the White Plain trail you can see the effects of several avalanches The trails divide after one mile If you continue continue continue con con- straight across the stream you will reach Red Pine Lake and Maybird Gulch a sharp turn left will take you to White Pine Lake For further information on trails throughout the area contact the Salt Lake Ranger District office located at South East near the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon L 9 i. i or q 0 O y at ac c e y Po ION e Y t t GOL to 4 t. t s s 's sp p y v CANYON CAN OH CI MILL SKI A LEAS LEA'S teNO aNO f ff I p PARK DESOLA C CF CM lilT MT OL LAtel AlIa 1 rf CITY ern SIt AlItA C G. G G UA U SOLITUDE Ski t a ASS CG C Q TWIN PEAKS Iff tI 31 U Kl N TIE COTTONWOOD no I ON Alao EA A C G. G |
