Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Silver Lake is one of my favorite places to go in the fall but, like every other person in the state of Utah (my sister and I took a drive along the Alpine Loop over the weekend and, because all of the parking lots were full, there were lots of cars parked along the side of the road which made the narrow switchbacks a lot of fun to drive), I am finding great solace in nature so I decided to go there yesterday.

I went early in the morning so there were very few cars up the canyon and only a few people at the lake.  A man was fishing with his two adorable sons, who were between three and five years old, and when I asked if they had caught anything as I walked by they excitedly squealed that they had caught two rainbow trout!

Silver Lake is near the Brighton Ski Resort at the top of Big Cottonwood Canyon.  There is a large parking lot right by the trailhead.  A boardwalk extends into a meadow and then continues around the lake shoreline.  On the far side of the lake the path becomes a dirt trail but it is very well maintained.

It is a really easy hike that is just under a mile and the majority of it is flat with a boardwalk.  There are even a few benches along the boardwalk near overlooks with display boards giving information about the wetland ecosystem.

On the other side of the lake there is a dirt path with a few changes in elevation but it is really easy to navigate. I loved walking through the forest and I saw quite a few little critters.

I loved being in the mountain air and it felt so invigorating to be hiking again.  It has been a while and I want to continue now that I have more time.

To get to Big Cottonwood Canyon, take the 6200 S. exit on I-215 and follow the signs to Brighton/Solitude.  Silver Lake is right at the top of the canyon and there are lots of signs.  It took me about an hour to get there from my house in Bountiful (I was slowed down by a bit of construction just before Solitude Ski Resort).  I enjoyed this hike immensely and I highly recommend it, especially for kids or for people who want a nice leisurely stroll through beautiful scenery.

Red Butte Garden

I have been to the Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre many times for concerts but I have never actually seen the gardens before.  Sean and I decided to visit yesterday and we spent a wonderful morning wandering around.  There are lots of different themed gardens and both Sean and I decided that our favorite was the Fragrance Garden (it smelled really good).

Red Butte Garden has over 50 different plants that are particularly suited to the growing conditions in Utah and I especially enjoyed the purple coneflowers.

Some of the many structures throughout the gardens.  Each area had benches and even swings tucked into little nooks where you could sit and relax.  We sat on a few of these benches and it was so peaceful and relaxing, especially when there was a breeze.

The landscaping in the gardens has won many awards.  Sean really liked the pattern in this garden.

There are streams (Sean took my picture while I was standing on a bridge crossing a stream), ponds, waterfalls, and other water features throughout the garden.  I loved listening to the water!

In addition to the paved walking paths around the gardens, there are also five miles of hiking trails through natural areas in the foothills of the mountains.  Sean and I took a bit of a wrong turn and hiked a lot more than we had bargained for (hence the reason we sat for a little while on a bench) but it was so beautiful with meadows filled with wildflowers.

There are many whimsical sculptures placed throughout the gardens.  These are Sean's favorites!

To get to Red Butte Garden we drove east on 400 S. (which eventually becomes 500 S. and then Foothill Drive) and then we turned left on Wakara Way and followed it all the way to the parking lot in front of the Visitor's Center.  It took about 25 minutes to get there from my house in Bountiful.  The garden is open seven days a week from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm.  Due to Covid-19, entrances into the garden are staggered every 30 minutes and you must reserve your entry time online (go here).  Tickets for adults are $14.00, seniors (age 65+) are $12.00, and children (3-17) are $7.00.  Both Sean and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit (I want to come back in the spring) and I highly recommend it!

Note:  As previously mentioned, I love seeing concerts at Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre!  I've seen Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Natalie Cole, Crosby, Stills & Nash,  Time for Three with the Utah Symphony, and Howard Jones (twice).  I miss outdoor concerts!