Silver Lake to Twin Lakes (4.4 miles)

Location: Big Cottonwood Canyon

The Silver lake trail begins deep in the Big Cottonwood Canyon past the spruces campground which led us to the Donut Falls Trail. 

We passed the Solitude Ski Resort.

The entrance to Silver Lake

There is a small educational center at the beginning of the trail.

Silver Lake is ringed by a wooden boardwalk which leads to the actual trails to Twin Lakes and Lake Solitude.

The boardwalk used to border Silver Lake, but the lake is drying up and is being replaced by the grassy plain visible in the picture below.

Silver Lake

The sign indicating the trail beyond Silver Lake. 

A beaver we sighted on a rocky out grove next to the trail.

Silver lake as viewed from the Twin Lakes Trail. 

Twin Lakes

Break Time:

Upon reaching Twin Lakes we decided we hadn't had enough and decided to walk around the lakes.

The trail back.

We reached Twin Lakes in 40 min. This part of the trail is suitable for all ages, although towards the end of the trail you may have to carry small children for the final 10 minutes of the hike. The entire hike took us 2.5 hours to go around Twin Lakes. This is part of the hike is of moderate difficulty and I think suitable for adults.

Prince of Wales Mine (From Alta, Grizzly Gulch 2.1 miles)

We first tried this hike yesterday and ended up finding the certainly less traveled path up the steep slope to the dirt paved trail.

On the way back to our car we found the actual trail but the adventure to find the trail took up most of our hiking time so we decided to pursue the Prince of Wales mine again today.

The beginning is steep but doable for children of all ages. However, after about a mile the trail becomes very narrow and there is a lot of loose gravel which makes it difficult. At this point I would not recommend going farther if you have small kids.

The beginning of the trail is marked by the yellow hash marks on the pavement. 

That parking below is where we began our hike

We essentially made it to the top of the mountain although we did not find the Prince of Wales mine. Maybe next time!

Spruces trail to Donut Falls (4 miles)

Location: Big Cottonwood Canyon

We took the Spruces trail to the Donut falls trail. The spruced trail begins in a campground that you have to walk through to get to the trail itself. We parked outside the campgrounds and walked to the trails. This took us 2.5 hours. It is an easy hike, as long as you have the stamina for it.

The entrance of the campground

There is s big loop of campsites, and the fastest way to the trail is by going through the short loop located on the right (where it says wrong way).

Break time

On we go

A part of the trail that has been blocked off.

We crossed a short boardwalk as we approached the Donut Falls 

There is a fork in the trail, but Donut falls lies on the left trail. (We explored both trails)

Donut Falls: there is a way to get to the top of the falls, but you have to climb along the side of the waterfall. Your feet will get wet and it's easier to do towards the end of the summer when the falls are dryer. 

A break at the top.

On the way back, the Spruces trail is demarcated by this sign.

Of note there is a way to just do the Donut Falls hike without doing the Spruces Trail, which decreases the distance by about 2 miles. We also ran part of the trail which was extremely enjoyable.