Big Cottonwood Canyon
Distance: ~6.9 miles RT), ~2746 feet elevation gain
Difficulty: Moderate/Difficult
Accessible June-October
Dogs ARE NOT allowed
One of my absolute favorite hikes to do in mid/late September.
The Lake Blanche Trailhead is 4.4 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon in the Mill B South Fork Picnic Ground. You can also park on the main street leading up to the picnic ground when the parking lot fills up. There are restrooms at the bottom.
This hike has a steady incline the entire way up, but is worth the climb! The lake at the top is STUNNING and one you won't want to miss. There are two smaller lakes to the west of Lake Blanche as well. Depending on how fast you hike, you can do this one in 2.5-4 hours. My group of women hiked up in an hour and a half, spent a half hour-1 hour at the lake, and then got down in about an hour. It's not kid-friendly, but is one everyone needs to do once those leaves start to turn! It's incredible.
