Albion Meadows Trail to Germania Pass

Albion Basin is one of the great wildflower meadows of northern Utah, and this trail takes you right through the heart of it. Heading southeast from Alta Ski Resort, the many service roads, cat tracks and branching trails give you a ton of options to customize your route. The route up Germania Pass to overlook Albion Basin is one of the best. After hiking Catherine's Pass many times, it is great to view the meadows from the opposite perspective. The trail is not steep while you are walking in the meadow, which makes it great for novice hikers, but the pitch increases steadily once you head up Germania. You have a great chance to see a moose, deer, grouse, hawk or hummingbirds in this area. In summer the flowers here are pretty spectacular, but so are the colors in the fall, so make sure you come back more than once. You can even reach Cecret Lake from Germania Pass, which is a helpful way to skip the small, crowded parking lots higher up. Mountain biking is very popular on these trails, so keep an eye out for downhill riders. And remember, dogs are prohibited in Little Cottonwood Canyon.