Silver Lake Loop Trail Hike

The Silver Lake Loop is a beautiful family-friendly hike in Big Cottonwood Canyon located at the base of Brighton Ski Resort. The 1-mile loop follows a well-constructed and wheelchair-accessible boardwalk from the Silver Lake Visitor Center and makes its way around the lake, over the wetlands, and through a short forested section. The trail on the far side of the lake leaves the boardwalk for a well-maintained gravel path. It is important to stay on the boardwalk or pathway at all times as they are there to protect the surrounding wetlands and wildlife. As you make your way around the loop, you'll pass a number of interpretive signs, fishing platforms, and picnic tables that make the lake an entertaining and exciting place to spend the day with your family.

The biodiversity around this small lake is quite impressive. There are aquatic wetlands and sedge meadows, emergent seeps, willow thickets, conifer forests and aspen groves, and over 100 species of plants. Though this is accessible throughout the spring, summer, and fall, July and August are ideal times to visit as the wildflowers are in full bloom. Keep your eyes open for wildlife including ducks, birds, beavers, and even moose. If you should encounter a moose at Silver Lake, stay calm and do not approach the animal. Moose are wild and unpredictable, so it's best to keep your distance. 

No matter what time of year you visit, you'll be rewarded with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. If you'd like a closer look at those mountains, the Silver Lake Visitor Center is the starting point for a number of other great trails. Head up the Twin Lakes Trail, Lake Solitude Trail or the Brighton Lakes Trail should you be looking for a longer hike.