Today was Saturday, so it was time to get back into the mountains and try to wear out Jake. We didn't get started until after noon and AmyZ and I had to be at Skidog's at 5 p.m. to celebrate his second child's 1st birthday, so Dog Lake was an easy choice.
By ascending via the Big Water trail and descending via Little Water, it was a 5.7-mile loop with 1,292 feet of elevation gain, at least from the lowest overflow parking spot that we were forced to use. The trail was mobbed with people, which isn't terribly surprising as it was a nice weather Saturday, it's only 10 road miles from suburban SLC neighborhoods, and it's one of the few nearby mountain places without watershed restrictions so that you can bring your dog. Dog Lake is very appropriately named.
(For an interactive map of our GPS track with the photos placed visit http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php ... da37794b1e)
The Upper Canyon doesn't open until July 1 each year, so it's the first time I've been up there this season. The Upper Canyon trails are open to dogs off-leash on odd-numbered days only, and mountain bikes on even-numbered days only. That essentially transforms the hike to Dog Lake into one giant dog park every other day.
The elevation of this hike ranges from 7,498 feet to 8,738 feet, where the wildflowers are currently in full bloom:
With time being short we motored, averaging 2.4 mph, although we did spend enough time at the lake to let Jake swim and make some new friends. The water level is already frightfully low for this time of year; it looks more like late August or September's water level.
I was back home at 3:30 and made it to Skidog's on time. While we were there a thunderstorm pushed over the Oquirrh Mountains, through his Sandy neighborhood and on to the Wasatch, revealing in its wake a vivid double rainbow reaching down directly into Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Just another Saturday in Utah.
By ascending via the Big Water trail and descending via Little Water, it was a 5.7-mile loop with 1,292 feet of elevation gain, at least from the lowest overflow parking spot that we were forced to use. The trail was mobbed with people, which isn't terribly surprising as it was a nice weather Saturday, it's only 10 road miles from suburban SLC neighborhoods, and it's one of the few nearby mountain places without watershed restrictions so that you can bring your dog. Dog Lake is very appropriately named.
(For an interactive map of our GPS track with the photos placed visit http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php ... da37794b1e)
The Upper Canyon doesn't open until July 1 each year, so it's the first time I've been up there this season. The Upper Canyon trails are open to dogs off-leash on odd-numbered days only, and mountain bikes on even-numbered days only. That essentially transforms the hike to Dog Lake into one giant dog park every other day.
The elevation of this hike ranges from 7,498 feet to 8,738 feet, where the wildflowers are currently in full bloom:
With time being short we motored, averaging 2.4 mph, although we did spend enough time at the lake to let Jake swim and make some new friends. The water level is already frightfully low for this time of year; it looks more like late August or September's water level.
I was back home at 3:30 and made it to Skidog's on time. While we were there a thunderstorm pushed over the Oquirrh Mountains, through his Sandy neighborhood and on to the Wasatch, revealing in its wake a vivid double rainbow reaching down directly into Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Just another Saturday in Utah.
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