The Trek in a snapshot
Trek Planner Maps
Trailhead: 40.59822, -111.58412
Lake Martha: 40.58573, -111.59144
Experience. Discover. Explore.
Follow along on our adventure then go out on your own!
On this trail you will see two lakes: first Lake Mary and then Lake Martha.
The trail begins at the Brighton Ski Resort. Just park anywhere in the giant parking area and hike up a hundred yards until you see the signs pointing you to Lake Catherine (which is the same trail to Lake Martha).
Lake Martha is at the middle of a beautiful trail in Big Cottonwood Canyon near Salt Lake City. This popular trail travels on the Brighton Ski Resort for about 3/4 mile until it cuts west. There is a good trail to follow as you hike on the mountain meadows and in between patches of pine trees and aspen trees. This part is where you will gain about 700 ft in elevation until you come to Lake Mary.
Once you hike the roughly 3/4 mile you will go inside a pine forest and will probably hear a waterfall in the distance. Hike another hundred yards or so and you will come to a junction sign that points you to Dog Lake or to Lake Catherine. Take the right trail to Lake Catherine. Lake Martha is in between Lake Mary and Lake Catherine.
You will cross over a small bridge and if you want to see the top of the waterfall follow the creek down a little ways and you will see it. It’s very steep here so please be careful of the slippery edges.
Go back to the bridge and continue on the trail.
The trail will hug close to the creek and you will eventually see the dam to Lake Mary in the distance. Hike up the south side of the dam until you come to the top of it where Lake Mary will be in view.
Lake Mary is the largest of the the two lakes on this hike. The lake is surrounded by granite rocks and pine trees! Mt. Millicent is directly the west of Lake Mary. If you look to your south west you will see Mt. Wolverine.
The trail to Lake Martha continues on the east side of the lake and then skirts the southern side until you see a small creek. This creek comes from Lake Martha. Lake Martha is very close to Lake Mary so it’s not too much farther!
Lake Martha is the smallest of the two lakes and is below Mt. Tuscarora. Mt. Wolverine is just behind Mt. Tuscarora now.
If you want some better views of Lake Martha hike up the trail a little ways farther until you come to a clearing in the trees.
Personal Thoughts
The hike to Lake Martha is great one! If you are looking for a great adventure up Big Cottonwood Canyon, you have found it.
[…] the pine forest it gets immensely better! There are three other lakes beyond Dog Lake: Lake Mary, Lake Martha and Lake Catherine. If you have time, you should visit these lakes […]