June 30 - Cecret Lake (Little Cottonwood Canyon)

Back to UT hiking today. Just doing a short hike up to Cecret Lake. It will be even shorter if the Albion Basin summer road is open but that usually doesn't happen until July 1 (sometimes later depending on when the snow melt).

Cloudy morning in the mid-70s when I leave at 8:30am.

There's not much snow left in the mountains now - just a little here and there.

I get to the end of the road in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

The summer road into the Albion Basin is still closed; opens July 11, the latest I've seen in 4 summers. Lots of equipment on the road getting it ready.

So I into the Albion Grill parking and walk up through the upper meadows to the actual Cecret Lake trail - about 2 miles (1500ft) one way.

Lots of birds chirping this morning but I only see the robins.

The summer flower peak bloom is a week or two away as only the bluebells are in full bloom. The Paintbrush, Cinquefoil and Geraniums are just starting.

I find some Shooting Star blooming in a very wet area.

I make it thru the trees and into the big meadow. Lots of green and lots of buds ahead. And the first peeks of Devil's Castle ahead.

Soon there's a split in the trail - gravel or dirt. I take the dirt trail on the way up. I'm looking for moose and twice I think I might see one but they end up just being humans.

After passing a couple of ski lifts, the trail heads back into the woods and follows a beautiful looking and sounding stream.

The White Columbine are blooming here.

I see Marsh Marigolds here.

I finally get to the trail that will take me to Cecret Lake. The sun is poking out now (yea!).

I see some buttercups blooming both large

and small.

There are some few small creek crossings but large rocks lead easily across.

The views of Devil's Castle are getting better with every step.

I'm at the final stretch to the lake up thru the rocks.

I come around there final corner and there's Cecret Lake with Sugarloaf Mt watching over.

Surprised to see only 2 other people here. But that's fine with me.

Great views this morning.

I walk around the lake to the other side.

I see some of the Tiger Salamander larvae in the water - they look like fish with legs

I spend a little time on the other side and debate about going higher above the lake but the clouds are rolling back in (there's an 80% of mountain storms this afternoon).

I decide to head back down.

With the still sun out, I keep a lookout for butterflies. I see one Two-banded Checkered Skipper on the rocks coming down from the lake.

Back in the green lush vegetation, I see a Silvery Blue nectaring on Forget Me Knots.

And a White (unknown species) even further down.

I take the gravel trail back down instead of the dirt path to change things up. There seems to be more plants in bloom on this trail. Still mostly bluebells but the Tall White Jacob's ladder is a close second.

There are also Forget Me Knots, Paintbrush as I continue my way down.

At the end I look back and see the dark clouds over the trail. Good timing on my part.

Great hike!