Are the flowers out yet, or behind in the bloom? Cecret Lake is a small beautiful alpine lake in Albion Basin at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon. It is not known why the name was spelled with a C instead of an S. Assumptions are that it was named by a miner working in the area. Cecret Lake is an excellent beginner hike and very popular. Cecret Lake 8595 Albion Basin Rd Salt Lake City UT 84121. The Albion Basin area is one of the best and most accessible places for hikers to enjoy he outdoors. Albion Basin Summer Road: This United States Forest Service road is one of the highest elevation vehicle access points in the Wasatch Mountains, and as such it is extremely popular. We parked at the Albion Basin Campground, so you can put that into google maps. Cecret Lake is about 10 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road and east of Salt Lake City, Utah. It started to get dark so we headed back to the car but this is a hike I’d love to do again and try to find the lake. RELATED POST: Check out these botanical gardens. The organizers do have hikes for people of all ages, but if you plan to do a larger hike with young kids, here are some ways to make hiking more fun – and help you keep some sanity. This very popular, easy to moderate trail features interpretive signs along the route. From the Albion Basin Campground, the hike to Cecret Lake is 1.5 miles roundtrip. The lake can be accessed in the summer by parking on the main road in Little Cottonwood Canyon and hiking up a dirt trail to the lake. The Indian paintbrush and the other colorful flowers of the high Utah mountains are a wonderful way to relax. Albion Basin: Wildflowers and the Hike to Cecret Lake. 2020 UPDATE: I haven’t hiked up to Albion Basin this year, but I follow several online Utah hiking forums. See more ideas about albion basin, albion, utah. Your email address will not be published. The primary activities were hiking, rock climbing, and camping but dogs and bikes were not allowed. It is a great hike in so many ways – wildlife, wildflowers and scenery. Today the gate was closed to … The hike to Cecret Lake (yes, that is how they spell it) is a little less than a mile and the elevation climb is a little less than 500 feet. This sounds like it could be in order today! There were restrooms near the trailhead but I did not see water. This trail connects the Upper … If you’re trying to go in mid-July (when the wildflowers are in bloom), plan extra time to get to a parking spot. Don’t blame me, blame the U.S. Forest Service. The hike to Cecret Lake is a great short hike for people of all ages and skill levels. Is the trail still snow packed? What makes it even more of a treat is that it's really only open for about two months each year. For more information and to read the daily avalanche forecast please visit: https://utahava 17 Reviews. You’ll drive as far as you can on pavement, parking at the Alta Ski Resort lodge (Albion Grill). If you buy something through one of those links, you won’t pay a penny more, but I’ll get a small commission, which helps me gather more travel tips for you. Cecret Lake is reached by driving up Little Cottonwood Canyon to Albion Basin above Alta Ski Resort. In addition, there was the Albion Basin… Aug 29, 2014 - Cecret Lake is about 10 miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon Road and east of Salt Lake City, Utah. 07/10/2020 Andrea W. Andrea W. Gorgeous scenery and wildflowers. Do you think there will still be flowers? There were restrooms near the trailhead but I did not see water. This area is also part of the Wasatch National Forest. The trail is 1.2 miles each way and gains about 450 feet in elevation. This reroute allows hikers to enjoy the beautiful wildflowers of the Albion Meadows from the trail. It's easy enough for almost everyone but children find it enough of a challenge that they will feel a sense of accomplishment when they reach the lake. As with any hike, it’s a good idea to have the right gear with you. Hiking to the Albion Basin and Cecret Lake up at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon is one of my favorite s. It's absolutely stunning, especially in July when the wildflowers are exploding around every rock and turn of the trail. Good luck. It is well-marked and easy to find. Cecret Lake (Little Cottonwood) 1.6 mi RT. There is snow there most of the year, but mid summer through early fall it is a wonderful family hike. The last 2.5 miles to the … From the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, drive 11.1 miles to a parking lot on the left side of the road just before the entrance to Albion Basin Campground. Know Before You Go. (Updated Aug. 30, 2020). This is a easy loop trail in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The Cecret Lake trailhead (40.577986, -111.612986) is located near the Albion Basin Campground at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon.To reach the trailhead from I-215 in Salt Lake City: Take Exit 6 for 6200 S/Wasatch Blvd. Overview. As you hike up the trail, you will … Hiking is possible year round, but you may encounter snow November through May. I love the light purple and white colors of it, as well as the look. I hiked through Alta & Albion Basin to Cecret Lake. It was still warm, but so much cooler than it was in the valley. Someone mentioned on a Facebook group that there are lots of buds, but the flowers aren’t there just yet. The United States Geological Survey officially spells the name of this lake as "Cecret Lake". We've tried to do this hike once before, but it was too cold. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. If you’re looking for streams, wildflowers, fossils, and a lake, this is the hike for you. Albion Basin is about 45 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City, up Little Cottonwood Canyon. The easy trail is just 1.7 miles out and back. The Sunnyside Chairlift Trailhead parking area is approximately 2 miles past the town of Alta on … Sometimes this is referred to as Secret Lake. I just heard from a few people who have been up there within the last week and they said there is still some snow but the trails are open. If you hike from the parking lot to Cecret Lake, you’ll have hiked roughly 5 miles roundtrip. In addition, they will likely encounter work crews performing the final construction activities and site restoration. You can hike up to Cecret Lake any time (though it’s covered in snow and is part of Alta Ski Resort in the winter), July is when the wildflowers paint the mountains. But why stop at the lake, when you can continue just one more mile and summit Sugarloaf Peak? The hike is just under 1 mile to the lake and should take about 30 minutes. That’s how you know you’re going the right way. Please walk lightly in this area. Also Sugarloaf Mountain and Devil's Castle. Drive south on Wasatch Blvd. The ride is a broad, smooth dirt road that climbs up to a camping area below Cecret Lake. Menu & Reservations Make Reservations . RELATED POST: Explore the Mighty 5 – Utah’s National Parks. Cecret Lake offers amazing views of the upper Albion Basin. Just 30 minutes from downtown Salt Lake City you arrive at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon at the town of Alta, home of a world-class ski resort at over 9,000 feet. If traffic is too heavy, you may not be able to drive up the dirt road to park. Cecret Lake is an excellent beginner hike and very popular. Cecret Lake (pronounced like the word ‘secret’) is an easy, family friendly hike located at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon Road that starts at the west side of the Albion Basin Campground. Access from the Albion Meadows Trail, Cecret Lake Trailhead. Beautiful photo of the lake. Cecret Lake is a beautiful alpine lake high in the Wasatch Mountains that offers beautiful views of the Albion Basin and Little Cottonwood Canyon. This lake is unique for the orange tinted rocks, many of which have almost rectangular prism shapes. Albion Basin is part of the Alta ski area, at the top of Salt Lake's Little Cottonwood Canyon. The basin is truly breathtaking and the air is so cool up here. Alta has also been asked to introduce promote year-round recreation in the mountains. Cecret Lake Trail – Albion Basin Campground, Utah. If you’re looking for a wonderful time exploring Utah’s wilderness, plan a hike up to Cecret Lake. How to get there: From Salt Lake City it was about an hour drive. If you're looking for information on the area singletrack, see the Catherines Pass or Devil's Castle pages. For more information and to read the daily avalanche forecast please visit: https://utahava Website: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/regions/intermountain/AlbionBasin/. This out-and-back is 3 miles each way, with 820 feet of altitude gain. Order Online Tickets Tickets See Availability Directions {{::location.tagLine.value.text}} Sponsored Topics. [4] This drinking water comes from several hundred inches of snow each year that lasts into July. How to get there: From Salt Lake City it was about an hour drive. There is snow there most of the year, but mid summer through early fall it is a wonderful family hike. The primary activities were hiking, rock climbing, and camping but dogs and bikes were not allowed. Parking was free. The shuttle bus up to the meadows may cost you $6. 1-2 hours. This is the view of Cecret Lake from the north looking south. After I enjoyed hiking in the Albion basin, if you make it up to the campground, then Cecret Lake is only 0.9 miles more, so of course I headed up to see the beautiful lake. You’ll also come across many families or brides & grooms getting their photos taken. There are lots of buds but the flowers aren’t showing just yet. The … This 2.2 mile, unpaved road provides access to the Catherine’s Pass and Cecret Lake trailheads, as well as the Albion Basin Campground. The wildflowers are in full force, wildlife wander through the mountains, and a family hike to Cecret Lake (pronounced secret lake) is good for the soul. This trail goes by Cecret Lake and Albion Basin Campground. No photo bombing, please. After you drive to the very top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and park at the Albion Grill, you will find the trail just right behind the grill. But the mosquitoes are out in full-force around sunset – so be prepared. The basin hosts the Wasatch Wildflower Festival annually in late July or early August, complete with guided nature walks. You’ll find a building on your way up called Alf’s. I spent a couple of days in Snowbird Utah at the Cliff Lodge with friends. I look forward to sharing my travel tips with you. So much so that the city of Alta provides a free shuttle bus on the weekends beginning mid July to transport hikers to the trailheads for both Lake Catherine and Cecret Lake. July-October (Albion Basin gate is closed at other times) *wildflowers in August!!! But that’s just my opinion. Gonna load up the fam and head up the canyon! Cecret Lake - Albion Basin, Utah Fact-- Cecret Lake (sometimes spelled Secret) is not a secret. It’ll make you want to move to Utah if you don’t already live here. . The ride is a broad, smooth dirt road that climbs up to a camping area below Cecret Lake. Your email address will not be published. This 1.8 mile round-trip takes hikers from Cecret Lake trailhead through the Albion Basin Campground and along a densely-forested single-track, and brings hikers to within a few hundred feet of the dark, looming walls of Devil’s Castle itself. I love to travel and take photos. Menu & Reservations Make Reservations . The trailhead is also the starting … From the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon, drive 11.1 miles to a parking lot on the left side of the road just before the entrance to Albion Basin Campground. We parked at the Albion Basin Campground, so you can put that into google maps. You’ll drive as far as you can on pavement, parking at the Alta Ski Resort lodge (Albion Grill). I'm heading to Wyoming for a week and will be off the internet. You can drive on a dirt road and get further up the canyon, but we enjoyed starting at the bottom of Albion Basin and hiking up to Cecret Lake. And some people spell it that way. Albion Basin is located in the heart of the central Wasatch Range, so pedaling through this magnificent alpine sanctuary far outweighs any discomfort experienced along the way. Albion Basin is part of the Alta ski area, at the top of Salt Lake's Little Cottonwood Canyon. There is a shuttle from the Alta Ski Resort to the Upper Meadows of Albion Basin. 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