Upper Red Pine sits about 400ft (1/2 mile) further along. I tried to get there last year but took the wrong path; I was at the proper elevation, as I found the lake on my photos, but way to the left of the lake. I actually think I was taking the high route over to White Pine.
I still want to get to Upper Red Pine but that's not happening today because of heat. (Predicted temperature of 102 in valley and almost 90 at Alta.) But Red Pine is still great; the flowers are blooming; I'm ready to go!
I take off just before 8:30am. Lots of people are out hiking for a Friday. The temps are already in the 70s at the trail head.
The trail is still mostly in the shade - yea!
The first bridge (not far from parking) crosses a stream which, even with the lack of rain, is flowing nicely.
It's about 0,8 mile and 300ft to the next stream. Lovely flowers along the way: geraniums, tall jacob's ladder, mint, etc. In the wetter areas, the Monkshood is blooming.
I arrive at the second creek. Here the trail splits; one going to White Pine and the other to Red Pine and Maybird Lakes. Of course, I take the trail to Red Pine. The trail heads up the creek for a little bit and then crosses on a footbridge. It then heads back into the woods and to the northwest towards Red Pine Canyon. The views towards the Salt Lake Valley are wonderful this morning.
It's a steady climb from here to the 2.5 mile footbridge.
There are still some wet rocky sections. The flowers in these sections are wonderful including the bright Lewis Monkeyflower.
I'm closing in on the 2.5 mile mark (1500ft) as I can hear the creek flowing.
I arrive to a beautifully sunny meadow filled with flowers.
I head straight (crossing the footbridge will take me to Maybird Lakes - a less popular but wonderful place). This section is very wet and muddy - making a great home for orchids.
Paintbrush, Columbine and other flowers.
The final 1/2 mile is the toughest section in my opinion as it climbs 500ft some of it on a very rocky trail. For the most part, it is thru the woods but there are a few open sections.
Along the way, I find Elephant head.
I know I'm getting close to the lake when tall rocky cliffs rise to my right.
And soon I'm at Red Pine Lake. I have company!
I head along the western shoreline towards the dam on the south end. The water levels are lower; there's no water flowing from the lake.
I can walk along the shore to the dam. I climb on to walk to the island to check out the view from a different angle.
Then I head back across the dam and over to take the trail on the north side. The entire mountain side is full of colors!
I follow the trail thru the flowers to the eastern side of the lake.
But as I'm looking around, something brown moving thru the flowers catches my eye. It's a Dusky Grouse! I quickly lose it in the vegetation. :(
But I keep looking as I'm hearing a "humm, humm" sound. And there standing on a rock is another Grouse - perfectly still and making that "humm" sound repeatedly. (I also see another moving thru the flowers -- 3 total.) Pretty cool!
She's pretty content as I move past her on the trail.
I arrive on the other side of the lake and poke around for a bit.
Before finding a nice spot for lunch.
There are clouds passing by but when the sun is shining, the yellow flowers reflect in the water.
Time to head back
thru the flowers.
And back down.
On the way down, I see a Checkered White
Milbert's Tortoiseshell, Clouded Sulpher and Northern Checkerspot.
I also see this really pretty moth nectaring
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