Hiking and Camping Big Cottonwood
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Mineral Fork Trail
Mineral Fork Trail follows an old mining road past abandoned mines, cabins, and rusting equipment to a high glacial cirque. Waterfalls, alpine meadows, wildflowers, and abundant birdlife make the steep climb worthwhile.
The signed trailhead is on the south side of the road six miles up the canyon (0.8 mile past Moss Ledge Picnic Area). You’ll climb 2,000 feet in three miles to the Wasatch Mine, whose mineralized water makes up much of the flow of Mineral Fork Creek. Another two miles and 1,400 feet of climbing lead to Regulator Johnson Mine.
A loop trip can be made by climbing the ridge west of Regulator Johnson (no trail) and descending Mill B South Fork Trail to Lake Blanche and the main road, coming out 1.5 miles west of the Mineral Fork Trailhead. See Mount Aire and Dromedary Peak 7.5-minute topo maps.
Brighton Lakes Trail
Brighton Lakes Trail winds through some of the prettiest lake country in the range. Families enjoy outings on this easy trail, which begins in Brighton behind the Brighton Lodge. Silver Lake has a boardwalk giving full access to fishing docks.
The first section follows Big Cottonwood Creek through stands of aspen and evergreens. The trail continues south across meadows filled with wildflowers, then climbs more steeply to Brighton Overlook, one mile from the start. Dog Lake, surrounded by old mine dumps, lies 200 yards to the south.
Continue on the main trail one-half mile to Lake Mary, a large, deep lake below Mount Millicent. Lake Martha is another one-half mile up the trail. Another mile of climbing takes you to Lake Catherine, bordered by a pretty alpine meadow on the north and by the steep talus slopes of Sunset and Pioneer Peaks on the south.
Total elevation gain for the three-mile hike to Lake Catherine is 1,200 feet. Hikers can also go another one-half mile to Catherine Pass and descend 1.5 miles to Albion Basin in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Sunset Peak (elev. 10,648 feet) can be climbed by following a one-half-mile trail from the pass. See the Brighton 7.5-minute topo map.
Campgrounds
At an elevation of 7,500 feet, Spruces Campground (9.7 miles up the canyon, 877/444-6777, www.reserveamerica.com, late May–mid-Oct., has water) is the largest campground in the area.
Except for a couple of group sites, all of the campsites at Redman Campground (13 miles up the canyon, mid-June–early Oct., has water), located between Solitude and Brighton at an elevation of 8,300 feet, are first come, first served.
Jordan Pines has several large group camping sites (8.8 miles from the canyon entrance, 877/444-6777, www.reserveamerica.com, has water) available by reservation only.
Please note that, in order to preserve the Salt Lake City watershed, dogs are not permitted at these campgrounds. This is strictly enforced!
© W.C. McRae and Judy Jewell from Moon Utah, 8th Edition
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