Steep hike in Little Cottonwood Canyon to an alpine lake.
Little Cottonwood Canyon offers a smorgasbord of great hikes, and the Red Pine/White Pine Lakes tend to be quoted as a favorite.
Knowing the popularity of this hike, we got started early and made it to the trailhead by 7 AM. Like so many others, the actual parking lot gets crowded very quickly, so we resorted to parking along the road. Luckily, we were only a few steps from the trailhead, so missing out on the lot didn't add any meaningful mileage to the hike.
After departing from the trailhead, you'll quickly come to a small wooden bridge that passes over a roaring creek. It's here where you cut left if you'd like to visit Gloria Falls, but with the lake as our destination, we continued to the right.
The trail will quickly begin to incline and we passed a grove of trees that appeared to be flattened by an avalanche. Before long, the trail opens up to the west and provides great views of the canyon.
You'll come to a junction that leans up against the creek, with this being the spot where the trail to Red Pine Lake and White Pine Lake split. Both on the way up and on the way down, there was seemingly a group of people here that appeared confused on which way to go.
The trail will become a bit more technical from here, and you'll find yourself climbing over some large tree roots and over some larger rocks on the trail. Again, the trail continues along an upward trajectory.
Eventually, you'll reach the lake and this is definitely one that I'd recommend walking the circumference of. When you first arrive at the lake, you're among a small grove of trees at the north end of the lake. I found this to be the most beautiful spot with views of Pfeifferhorn and White Baldy.
We continued our hike to the right, walking along a retaining wall. As I walked this wall, I admired the clarity of the water, but was surprised by the number of deceased fish in the water.
You'll pass through another wooded area that was filled with campers on this day before reaching the south end of the lake where there is a massive rock slide.
From here, you'll start to hit some water crossings as you make you way around the second half of the lake. A particularly interesting feature was a massive rock with a stream flowing through a portion of it. The bottom was missing, creating a sizable ledge/shelter above the stream and a small cave inside the rock.
We continued along the last quarter of the lake, which while more of a traditional trail is rather thing and doesn't leave a lot of room for passing. Eventually, you'll complete the loop and head back the trail from which you came. We clocked in at about about 8.5 miles, but also added Gloria Falls to our hike. AllTrails notes the hike being about 7 miles to the lake and back (without the loop).
On this hike, you also can hike a little further up Red Pine Fork and get to the Upper Red Pine Lake. The depth of the upper lakes appears a bit lower and likely offers more clarity. All in all, it was a fantastic hike and we can't wait to get back to see the upper lakes.
Know Before You Go
Limited paved parking spots at the trailhead, most parking along the main road.
While the trail itself has many shaded spots, parts of the hike are exposed to the sun, but be sure to pack sunblock, hat, and plenty of water.
Swimming is NOT allowed in the lake as it is part of the watershed.
There was still a bit of snow on part of the trail in mid-June, so you may need crampons.
Resources
Video
Location
Found just a short drive up Route 210 in Little Cottonwood Canyon, closer to the Salt Lake City side. It's a little confusing, but you're looking for the White Pine Trailed. Limited parking in the lot, and most hikers will park on the road near the trailhead.
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