Mill Creek to Desolation Lake

Mill Creek to Desolation Lake Trail

The Upper Mill Creek Canyon trail starts on the Big Water Trail then climbs the Great Western Trail to the Wasatch Crest. The trail is smooth and fast. The wildflowers and trees are awesome. But you'll climb 2300 vertical feet over 6 miles, so come prepared to use some thigh! Upper Mill Creek opens July 1. Bikes are allowed on this trail ONLY on even-numbered days!

Mike Engerberson looks at the view towards The Canyons ski resort as the trail reaches the Wasatch Crest at GPS N 40° 40.310' W 111° 36.074'. Photo September 18, 1999 by Bruce Argyle

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Important note: Dogs are allowed on Mill Creek Canyon trails, but don't take Fido over the ridge into Big Cottonwood Canyon! The last mile of the ride to the Desolation Lake overlook, you're in the Cottonwood Canyon watershed, where dogs are absolutely outlawed. If you're caught with a dog in Big Cottonwood, you WILL be busted!

Dominic Bria (Mad Scientist's marketing consultant and the respiratory therapist in multimedia Cardiac Arrest) and Jackie hide from a rain shower about 5 miles into the ride. Good time for lunch. Jackie does about 150 miles per month -- she does 20 mph behind the bikes on the downhill. Photo August 10, 1999.

Dominic and a Jack Russell terrier

At 1.5 miles, the Big Water Trail turns towards Dog Lake. You'll branch off on the Great Western. At 4.7 miles, the trail reaches the crest. Turn right (south) and continue the climb to Desolation Lake on the Wasatch Crest. You'll reach an altitude of 9,800 feet.

Daisies (as at left), sticky geranium, paintbrush, lupine, and other wildflowers create a riot of color along the trail. Photo Bruce Argyle August 10, 1999.

Most riders do Upper Mill Creek as an out-and-back: 6.5 miles to the Desolation Lake overlook, then a lightning-fast 6.5 mile return descent down the same trail. For a little more awesome alpine views, continue another 3.4 miles along the Wasatch Crest before your turn-around, for a 20-mile round trip.

Gary Argyle (left) and Dominic on the Great Western portion of the trail. Photo Bruce Argyle August 10, 1999.

About 3 miles up the trail

If you're up to a little rougher ride on the return trip, try a loop by dropping down the Desolation Lake trail. Intersection of the Crest with the Desolation Lake trail is GPS N 40° 39.508' W 111° 35.756'. After 2 miles and 1400 vertical feet of downhill, turn right up the hill towards Dog Lake at GPS N 40° 39.731' W 111° 37.733. This 1/2 mile is a killer uphill; about 600 vertical. Don't be ashamed to walk your bike. Ride past Dog Lake and pick up the original trail 1-1/2 miles later, then finish the last 1-1/2 miles down Big Water to the trailhead.

Gary rides the ridgeline between Park City and Mill Creek on the way to Desolation Lake. The red blossoms are Mountain Paintbrush. Photo Bruce Argyle August 10, 1999.

You can also ride this trail as a one-way from the Big Cottonwood side, which is how most riders do it. You'll have substantially less vertical feet to climb, but you need a shuttle car. See our Wasatch Crest Trail description.

Desolation Lake is an example of a glacier lake, formed within a cirque and dug down by the moving glacier. (Note the circular form of the small canyon within which Desolation Lake resides.) When the glacier melted (around 10,000 years ago), the depression filled with water.

This view is worth the vertical feet you'll climb to get there (2300 feet, to 9800 ft. elevation)! The Mad Scientist poses with #4 son Gary on the ridge above Desolation Lake. Photo by Dominic Bria.

Doc Argyle and Gary at Desolation Lake

Getting there: Get to Foothill Blvd on the east bench of Salt Lake City via I-215. Exit at 39th South. Take 3800 South eastbound into the Canyon. Mill Creek user fee is $3 per car as of 2009. Drive all the way to the top of the canyon. The trail begins on the south end of the Big Water Trailhead parking area GPS N 40° 40.922' W 111° 38.914'. (Note: the gate to upper Mill Creek Canyon is open to cars July 1 to November 1. Mountain bikes are only allowed on upper Mill Creek trails on EVEN numbered days!)

For a closeup of the alternate routes around the Big Water Trail, go to the Dog Lake page.

Riding resources for this trail:
Single-page riding guide
GPS track files and route (right-click and "Save as..."):
Garmin National Geographic Google Earth GPX
Medium-res topo: View High-res topo (900 KB): View

For additional information, including nearby lodging, rentals, camping, and current conditions, may we suggest:
General info on visiting Salt Lake City: http://www.slctravel.com/ http://www.go-utah.com/salt-lake-city
Lodging in Salt Lake City: http://www.utah.com/lodging/saltlakecity.htm
Utah outdoor activities: http://www.utahoutdooractivities.com/
Camping: http://www.outdoorsinutah.com/camping.htm
Ranger District (includes dog regulations, camping): http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/wcnf/unit/slrd/recreation/trails/mill_creek_canyon_trails.shtml