Silver Lake Trail

There are several bodies of water called Silver Lake in the Wasatch Mountains thanks to the region's rich mining history. The version in American Fork Canyon requires a beautiful and fun hike to reach it, taking you up toward the peaks of the Pfeifferhorn and White Baldy. The trail begins at the far end of a reservoir named Silver Lake Flat, which is located up a 3-mile dirt road with some absolutely incredible views of Mount Timpanogos. The precarious drive up gives you a bit of separation from the crowds at Tibble Fork Reservoir below. The first half of the trail is shaded in summer by the thick aspen and pine trees growing overhead. Along the way are several small waterfalls and creek crossings with wildflowers lining the trail. The second half of the trail is exposed, but it allows you to see the stunning views to the south and the peaks to the north. You can see the cirques of Timpanogos behind Silver Lake Flat as you gain elevation, which is an awesome sight.

Once on top of the final plateau you'll reach the medium-sized alpine lake with a large waterfall running down from its rocky spillway. Several small waterfalls were cascading into Silver Lake from the last few patches of snow. Further up the mountain is Silver Glance Lake, sitting on a higher plateau to the north. This is a really stunning hike and well worth the drive and hike it takes to get up here. The iconic White Baldy sits to the north and the Pfeifferhorn sits to its west, so the setting is one of pure alpine splendor. This is one of the prettiest hikes in American Fork Canyon, and it has all the great aspects you'll want in a high altitude lake trail.