Clayton Peak

One of the easiest 10,000-foot peaks to climb in the Wasatch Range is Clayton Peak at the end of Big Cottonwood Canyon.  This peak straddles the Salt Lake-Wasatch County line near the upper terminus of the Great Western Express ski lift at the Brighton Resort.  It is one of the few vantage points where six world-class ski resorts can be viewed at once.  Clayton Peak also offers spectacular views of the Heber Valley, Mount Timpanogos, and the Uinta Mountains to the east.  During the time we went up, there happened to be a team of Varsity Scouts at the summit, signaling other scouts with mirrors on some of the surrounding peaks.  Clayton Peak can be hiked from basically two starting points; the Lake Mary-Catherine Pass trailhead near the southeast edge of the parking lot at Brighton Ski Resort, and the summit at Guardsman Pass to the north of Clayton Peak.

To reach the Lake Mary-Catherine Pass trailhead from the Salt Lake Valley, take the 6200 South (Exit 6) off of I-215 and turn right (at the light) onto Wasatch Boulevard (SR 190).  At Fort Union Boulevard (7200 South), turn left (east) to go up Big Cottonwood Canyon towards the Brighton and Solitude Ski Resorts.  Continue driving all the way to the end of the canyon to the Brighton Ski Resort parking area (about 14.6 miles).  The trail begins at an information board not far from some resort structures.  During the first part of the climb, various service roads that lace through the area will be encountered, making it easy to become sidetracked if you're not paying attention to the general trail path.  At around 0.8 miles the trail splits; the left fork goes towards Dog Lake (not the Dog Lake described in the previous post) and the right fork goes to Lake Mary.  If more time is available, the extra quarter-mile hike to Lake Mary is certainly worth the effort.  To continue on to Clayton Peak, however, the left fork towards Dog Lake is taken.  This route continues through a generally forested area for about 1.3 miles to reach Snake Creek Pass, where the Heber Valley area comes into view.  Follow the service road that leads northwestward towards the base of Clayton Peak.  Upon reaching the base, the trail picks up again for a rocky ascent through a series of switchbacks to the 10,721-foot summit.  Distance from the Lake Mary-Catherine Pass trailhead to Clayton Peak is approximately 2.7 miles one-way with an elevation gain of approximately 1,950 feet.

Clayton Peak as viewed from
Snake Creek Pass

At the summit of Clayton Peak with
Mount Timpanogos directly behind me –
Photo credit: Joe Harline

For those interested in climbing Clayton Peak from Guardsman Pass, the road to Guardsman Pass splits to the left (east) from the main highway at about 13.9 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  Follow this road through several switchbacks for approximately 3.1 miles to reach Guardsman Pass at 9,700 feet elevation.  The trail from this direction ascends a steep ridge towards the southwest, and involves skirting around the right (west) side of a false summit (10420) to reach Clayton Peak.  Distance from Guardsman Pass to Clayton Peak is approximately 1.4 miles one-way with an elevation gain of 1,021 feet.

Dog Lake & Lake Desolation

Another easy to moderate hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon is the Mill D North Fork trail to Dog Lake and Lake Desolation.  This is a popular area for mountain bikers, particularly on the even-numbered calendar days, so keep an eye out for them and be considerate.  Weekdays are generally less crowded than the weekends to hike on the trail.  During the winter months, it is not unusual to see snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the area.  Dog Lake and Lake Desolation are approximately 2.5 miles hiking distance from each other, and can be hiked within the same trip given sufficient time.

The trailhead at Mill D North Fork is reached from the Salt Lake Valley by taking the 6200 South (Exit 6) off of I-215 and turning right (at the light) onto Wasatch Boulevard (SR 190).  At Fort Union Boulevard (7200 South), turn left (east) to go up Big Cottonwood Canyon towards the Brighton and Solitude Ski Resorts.  Continue driving for approximately 9.0 miles up the canyon to the Mill D North Fork turn-out area located left (north) of the highway across from the Jordan Pines turn-off.  The trail ascends Reynolds Gulch very briefly before veering to the right (eastward) to curve around the mountain towards Mill D North Fork Canyon.  Resort homes will appear across the stream near the mouth of the canyon while approaching it.  In the canyon beyond the resort home area, the trail reaches the Mill D North Fork streambed, which varies in water flow depending on the season.  After approximately 1.7 miles the trail splits; the left trail going to Dog Lake (another 0.6 miles) while the right trail goes to Lake Desolation (another 1.9 miles).  A spring lies downhill from the point where the trail splits.

Dog Lake as viewed from the north; dogs

are allowed at Dog Lake from Mill Creek

Sign where the trail splits to
Dog Lake and Lake Desolation



The trail to Dog Lake ascends a moderately steep drainage that levels out some just before reaching the lake at approximately 8,735 feet elevation.  Unlike most surrounding lakes in the Wasatch Range, Dog Lake lies in the midst of a forest instead of a cirque.  While dogs are permitted at this lake, they can only be brought in from the Mill Creek side.  No dogs are allowed in Big Cottonwood Canyon due to the area being a vital watershed for the Salt Lake Valley.  Anyone caught with a dog beyond the warning signs near the south perimeter of Dog Lake could face a hefty fine.  Distance from the Mill D North Fork trailhead to Dog Lake is approximately 2.3 miles one-way with an elevation gain of approximately 1,450 feet.

Continuing along the trail to Lake Desolation (or Desolation Lake to some), the route makes a moderately steep climb northward and then levels out some after veering in more of an easterly direction.  Occasional meadows appear along this stretch and the surrounding peaks become more visible the closer you get to Lake Desolation.  A final climb comes about 0.5 miles before the lake while ascending the northwest rim of the basin where the lake lies.  The trail continues beyond Lake Desolation to join with the Great Western Trail, which provide spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.  From the northwest rim, a descent of about 50 feet is made to reach the shore of the lake at approximately 9,200 feet elevation.  Distance from the Mill D North Fork trailhead to Lake Desolation is approximately 3.6 miles one-way with an elevation gain of a little less than 2,000 feet.

Approaching Lake Desolation
from the northwest

Warning sign near the south perimeter of
Dog Lake – warning of no dogs or horses