The Trek in a snapshot
Trek Planner Maps
Parking: 40.63024, -111.60413
Willow Lake: 40.63727, -111.5978
Dry Lake: 40.64164, -111.59211
Experience. Discover. Explore.
Follow along on our adventure then go out on your own!
Note: This is bear and moose country so be prepared for a possible encounter. I saw bear scat on the north side of the lake and had a bear encounter (read below for the full story).
The hike to Willow Lake is a pretty easy one and worth doing at just about any time of the year. I hiked this in fall and the aspen colors were truly amazing. I think this would be a great hike to do in the winter too with snowshoes.
The trail begins right on the side of the Big Cottonwood Canyon Road and you just find a spot to park. You are immediately enveloped in aspen trees as you slowly gain elevation to Willow Lake. This is a mildly popular trail, but expect more hikers on weekends and on holidays.
I took my sweet time taking photos and admiring the fall colors until I got to a large open field. I saw a large group of people taking what I thought were engagement photos. This really is a beautiful area!
You will come to a fork in the trail – this is where the loop trail around the lake begins. To gain fastest access to Willow Lake take the left trail. You will pass back through some aspen trees and then circle back to where you can now stand at the west shore of Willow Lake. The lake is pretty small but with scenery makes for amazing photos. I saw about 6 other people quietly enjoying the lake.
I noticed the trail went north and I decided then to continue hiking up to Dry Lake to see what that was all about. There is a campground spot that looked like it would be nice to stay at. I’ll post the GPS coordinates below for Insider members Only:
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From Willow Lake, it’s another 1/2 mile to Dry Lake. It’s totally optional too. The trail at first will be easy then you will find a narrow spur trail after about 1/4 mile of hiking that will follow the gully then cut nearly straight up the mountain. It’s obvious not many people hike on this trail but it’s one I would recommend if you want to do something different and see a neat place.
If you don’t want to hike to Dry Lake then follow the main trail from this little spur back south. You will now be on the east side of Willow Lake and then meet back up at that fork from earlier. Or, you could just go back on the same trail you traveled.
I rather liked Dry Lake and I will hike here again when I visit next. Dry Lake is very peaceful and is surrounded by dense trees and vegetation. I could easily imagine myself camping somewhere up here.
As I was coming back down the trail I had a black bear encounter.
– Full Story –
I was taking pictures at Willow Lake and then decided to hike to Dry Lake up above. As I was hiking I saw several piles of bear scat, but wasn’t too worried since there were lots of people at Willow Lake hiking around. I got to Dry Lake (no one else was there) and then went to an overlook of Willow Lake. I had a weird gut feeling to just hike straight down the very steep hillside back to Willow Lake, but instead I hiked back down the same trail I came up.
As I was hiking down, I suddenly became aware of how quiet the gully I was hiking in was. I stopped for a second to check my GPS when I heard what I thought was scratching or digging in the dirt and leaves about 100 yards in front of me. It sounded like a moose or deer was digging through the dirt for something. I pulled out my camera and waited…
Then all of a sudden a big black bear became visible through the trees and I saw it digging at the ground. I could then hear it panting and it went through the trees so I couldn’t see it. I was hoping it would appear again but I kept hearing the bear panting and digging at the ground and I was waiting for an opportunity for a good picture.
Then the bear went beyond the hillside where I couldn’t see it anymore. (During this time I was talking loud and making my presence known). I also scouted the area for any trees I could climb if things got dire and picked up some rocks just in case.
It was probably a minute that went by then my adrenaline immediately and randomly spiked and I heard something inside of me say “RUN!” At that same moment, I saw the bear coming around the hill right towards me!
I started to walk fast backwards up the same trail I just came down (still making my presence known), but the bear was still coming towards me. As soon as I got out of sight I took off running straight up the steep hillside until I came to the same overlook I was at before. I stopped to catch my breath and then fumbled my way down through brush and trees until I was back at Willow Lake.
I looked back and saw the black bear at the overlook where I was just standing.
I’m not sure if the bear would have attacked me but I was just glad to get out without me finding out!
Personal Thoughts
I enjoyed hiking to Willow Lake! After being traumatized from that black bear, I think I would hike to Willow Lake again. This trail is popular enough that you will come across other hikers but just be bear aware!
