Silver Lake Loop is a scenic spot located 15 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton Resort at an elevation of 8,760 feet. The Silver Lake Loop Trail is a 0.9-mile loop with a minimal elevation gain of 55 feet, making it ADA accessible and an easy hike that takes about 19 minutes to complete.
This popular, family-friendly destination is perfect for summer hikes, especially in July and August when the wildflowers are in full bloom.
The trail winds around the lake and its wetlands, mostly along a wheelchair-accessible boardwalk. There are picnic tables, interpretive signs, and fishing access points along the route. For those seeking more adventure, several other trails intersect with the Silver Lake Loop, including the Twin Lakes Trail, Lake Solitude Trail, and the Brighton Lakes Trail.
The Silver Lake Loop Visitor Center offers trail maps and a wildflower guide for sale by the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation.
Trails Utah partnered with the US Forest Service (USFS) to complete two different sections of the trail, while the Town of Brighton, Salt Lake County, and Utah Department of Outdoor Recreation provided the funding for the revamp of the Silver Lake Loop Trail.
While the USFS worked on replacing the boardwalk section of the loop, Trails Utah refurbished the natural surface sections on the southern and eastern segments and assisted with the final section of boardwalk. Project work included replacing disintegrating handrails and wooden retaining walls with stacked rock.
The Silver Lake Loop is designed to accommodate wheelchairs and other adaptive modes of non-motorized transport. This makes it the only ADA-accessible trail in the Wasatch Mountains.
A ribbon cutting and grand opening for the Silver Lake Loop took place on October 11th, 2024.
Silver Lake Loop is located 15 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon near Brighton, Utah. The area features an accessible boardwalk with interpretive signs around a picturesque natural lake. The boardwalk is accessible from May to October, weather permitting, and is managed by the Solitude Nordic Center for cross-country skiing during the winter. This area is part of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest and is accessible via UT 190.
While grants cover some costs, donations and membership dollars are crucial for ongoing planning and environmental reviews. Consider supporting Trails Utah through donations or becoming a sustaining member.
