Lake Mary

Lake Mary is the first of three lakes on this beautiful trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City. There are two other lakes beyond Lake Mary: Lake Martha and Lake Catherine. If you have time, you should visit these lakes too! This popular trail travels on the Brighton Ski Resort for about 3/4 mile until it cuts west. There is a good trail to follow as you hike on the mountain meadows and in between patches of pine trees and aspen trees. This part is where you will gain about 700 ft in elevation until you come to Lake Mary. The trail begins at the Brighton Ski Resort. Just park anywhere in the giant parking area and hike up a hundred yards until you see the signs pointing you to Lake Catherine (which is the same trail to Lake Mary). Once you hike the roughly 3/4 mile you will go inside a pine forest and will probably hear a waterfall in the distance. Hike another hundred yards or so and you will come to a junction sign that points you to Dog Lake or to Lake Catherine. Take the right trail to Lake Mary. It's only about 1/2 mile more. You will cross over a small bridge. If you want to see the top of the waterfall follow the creek down a little ways and you will see it. It's very steep here so please be careful of the slippery edges. The trail will hug close to the creek and you will eventually see the dam to Lake Mary in the distance. Hike up the south side of the dam until you come to the top of it where Lake Mary will be in view. Lake Mary is the largest of the lakes. The lake is surrounded by granite rocks and pine trees! Mt. Millicent is directly west of Lake Mary. If you look to your south west you will see Mt. Wolverine. To get some better views of Lake Mary, continue hiking on the trail that goes to the east of the lake. Lake Mary is a great adventure for the whole family. Hiking to Lake Mary is pretty easy and can easily be extended by continuing on the trail to Lake Martha or even Lake Catherine.