Inspired by Andree's Donut Falls post, I have an Out and About in Utah of my own. The Brighton Lake Trail is located at the Brighton Ski Resort parking lot at the very top of Big Cottonwood Canyon where you take up a wide trail that winds for about a half mile up the main ski run at the Brighton Ski Resort. There is some meadow and trail restoration going on in that area, so the old trail is overgrown and covered with fallen trees, the hence winding up the ski run. After you trek up the first part with the ski run, the trail joins back up with the old and head back into the trees up to Lake Mary.There are four lakes on the Brighton Lakes Trail. The first is Dog Lake where the trail comes to a fork and Dog Lake is 500 ft. to the right. After coming back from Dog Lake, you head back up the trail toward Lake Mary which is another half mile from the Dog Lake split-off. Just past Lake Mary is Lake Martha, and on beyond that Lake Katherine which is another mile past Lake Mary. The hike is four miles total, but has many opportunities to explore and hike around the perimeter of each lake or even climb another mile past Lake Catherine into Albion Basin.
As far as bringing kids on this hike, I say do it. It will be tough though. The first mile up to Lake Mary is pretty steep...a 760 vertical feet climb during that first mile. After that however, the hike is relatively easy and fun. There is a lot of plant life to experience as the trail goes through aspens, pines, and wildflower meadows. I have been doing this hike nearly every year of my life since I was about six. We whined the whole way up, but once my little sister and I got to Lake Mary we were bounding off the rocks and having a great old time. So use disgression, if you're up to taking it slow and encouraging your kids up that first mile, completely doable and well worth the smiles when you make it to Lake Mary, which is absolutely beautiful. But if you're not prepared to push your kids (and yourselves up the mountain), maybe wait another year or so.
A couple of weeks ago I went on this hike on one of my days off. Here are some pictures from my experience. If you would like to read more about my adventure, click here.
Sign at the split off for Dog Lake.
Dog Lake...in the marshy distance.
Eating Lunch on the Rock Island in Lake Mary
Lake Martha
And last but not least, my favorite, Lake Katherine
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