Willow Heights Trail (Willow Lake) and Dry Lake Hike

The hike to Willow Lake is a pretty easy one and worth doing at just about any time of the year. I hiked this in fall and the aspen colors were truly amazing. I think this would be a great hike to do in the winter too with snowshoes. Note: This is bear and moose country so be prepared for a possible encounter. The trail begins right on the side of the Big Cottonwood Canyon Road and you just find a spot to park. You are immediately enveloped in aspen trees as you slowly gain elevation to Willow Lake. Willow Lake is a small but beautiful lake surrounded by willow and aspen trees. It's another 1/2 mile to Dry Lake, which is also enveloped in trees. Dry Lake doesn't typically hold water, but it provides a different off-the-beaten-path type of experience. You will come to a fork in the trail - this is where the loop trail around the lake begins. To gain fastest access to Willow Lake take the left trail. You will pass back through some aspen trees and then circle back to where you can now stand at the west shore of Willow Lake. The lake is pretty small but the scenery makes for amazing photos. I noticed the trail went north and I decided then to continue hiking up to Dry Lake to see what that was all about. There is a campground spot that looked like it would be nice to stay at. From Willow Lake, it's another 1/2 mile to Dry Lake. The trail at first will be easy, then you will find a narrow spur trail after about 1/4 mile of hiking that will follow the gully, then cut nearly straight up the mountain. If you don't want to hike to Dry Lake then follow the main trail from this little spur back south. You will now be on the east side of Willow Lake and then meet back up at that fork from earlier. Or, you could just go back on the same trail you traveled. I rather liked Dry Lake and I will hike here again when I visit next. Dry Lake is very peaceful and is surrounded by dense trees and vegetation. I could easily imagine myself camping somewhere up here. I enjoyed hiking to Willow Lake! This trail is popular enough that you will come across other hikers but just be bear aware!