Sept 29 - Five Lake Day! (Silver, Solitude, Twin, Mary and Dog) -- Big Cottonwood Canyon

Partly sunny day with temps in the 70s forecast.

This is the start of my 5 day week-end. The original plan was to drive north to Lakewood Utah and hike up Lakewood Canyon (a 1st time hike for me). But check-in is 4pm and that could be a lot of time to kill so I decided last night to head to Antelope Island first and then my final destination of Garden City (Bear Lake); a first time visit for me.

But this morning, I decided to stay local (I can control my arrive time at my destination that way) and head up to Twins Lake and try to take the connector to Lake Mary and Dog Lake. I tried this once years ago from Lake Mary and lost the trail and turn around. Today, I'm going from Twin Lakes.

The colors are really starting to pop up the Big Cottonwood now!

It's in the 40s and drizzling when I arrive. Leftovers from last night's rains. It's just one big dark cloud so it'll be over soon.

They've started to tear out the right side of the boardwalk; it'll be rebuilt (it needs it badly) so I start off the only direction I can go counterclockwise.

Trees around Silver Lake are turning yellow; still a ways to go but there are definitely pops of color.

There are Mallards on the lake and something else swimming; it's a beaver!!!

The beaver runs into the ducks and then dives.

I continue around the lake a bit farther and notice a beaver on the far side. That's 2 beavers!! Or maybe it's just where the original beaver came up after he dove. I think it's the later.

I continue onto Lake Solitude spotting a doe and 2 fawns along the way.

And there's a Pika vegetation pile on the first smaller rock slide.

Lake Solitude is really colorful this morning with the yellow on all the vegetation. Too bad it's not sunny.

I climb the hill and head to my perch for a short break.

Then it's down to Twins Lakes. 

I don't stop. I just head over to the other side of the dam to pick up the connector trail.

On the other side, I take a quick peek at the lake.

Onto something new! It's exciting and I hope it really takes me to Lake Mary.

Lovely hike with sporadic (colorful) views down canyon.

I'm walking next to large scree fields

under the Millicent Lift

Just incredible!!

It's a lot of downhill (happy I took it in this direction).

In the woods, the colors of the ground vegetation is awesome!

Lots of squirrels scaring me with their screaming when I pass -- jumped at least 3 times.

The trail eventually starts uphill and I find the place where I lost the trail last time. Seems pretty obvious to be now.

Finally, I arrive at Lake Mary. Love this view! And there's Fall colors as well!

Then I head over to Dog Lake.

No moose today but worth the stop.

Then it's downhill and a walk back to the Silver Lake parking pass a waterfall.


Awesome day! (And it's not done yet!)

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