Silver Lake

Silver Lake is a beautiful lake settled high up in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City. The Lake is about 11 acres in size and is surrounded by tall mountains and pine, spruce, and aspen trees. The wooden boardwalk provides a very leisurely and enjoyable experience and even those who use wheelchairs or have mobility issues will have no problem getting out to the lake. If you are a fisherman or fisherwoman, you will be happy to know that there are some decent sized Brook and Rainbow Trout. I asked one guy who was fishing and he said the fishing was "great" so I guess it's great. You need a fishing license and will want to check the state website for more fishing information. If you are hiking in the warmer months you will have the opportunity to find many wildflowers and animal sightings. The wildflowers usually bloom mid-July! You can see many mountain and alpine flowers including fireweed and monkshood. I have seen many different types of waterfowl, birds, squirrels, chipmunks, and even a moose. This is bear country so always be prepared for that too. However, this is a VERY popular trail so prepare to see dozens of people or more. When I visited Silver Lake in July, I saw two large groups of school children and about a hundred more people so it can get quite crowded. As you begin the trail from the parking area you will be on the wooden boardwalk. The trail makes a loop so it really doesn't matter which way you start. I always go left so I can have immediate access to the lake and stand on the fishing platform to watch people fish. The trail then circles around the lake and has several different interpretive signs about the wildlife and the Big Cottonwood Canyon watershed. This is an absolutely beautiful hike and it's great to just leisurely walk and admire Silver Lake and surrounding mountains. If you have any questions about Silver Lake or want to see fish and watershed displays and hands-on displays, then check out the Silver Lake Visitor Center at the trailhead. Sometimes they offer guided field trips. Inquire inside for more information. Since all of Big Cottonwood Canyon is a watershed for Salt Lake City you aren't allowed to swim in any of the lakes in the canyons. They are pretty strict on this too.