Hiking to Lake Solitude - Out and About in Utah

We woke up on Saturday to hear Neal and Thomas fighting over a Wii game. We knew immediately that we needed to go somewhere. Fast. We got up, dressed, had smoothies for breakfast and headed up Big Cottonwood Canyon.

We go to Silver Lake at Brighton every summer but we hadn't been there yet this year. It's one of our favorite places. The trail and board walk around the lake are perfect for a leisurely stroll and we always see wildlife. This year we decided that we'd explore the trail that leads from Silver Lake to Lake Solitude. According to the sign it's just over a mile to the lake.

The kids were anxious to be explorers. Utah Dad and I had hiked that trail years ago but the kids had never been the entire way (Lake Solitude can also be accessed by trails from Solitude Ski Resort and the older kids have been there). Utah Dad carried Molly in the back pack but the other four kids hiked on their own.

When we started, I really didn't expect that we'd make it all the way with the smaller kids. They were awesome. I was especially impressed by Lilly. She hiked the entire way without whining. She fell twice on her face but she just got back up and kept on going.

The trail to Lake Solitude has some rocky, steep parts but it's worth the trip. The wildflowers are amazing right now. Breathtaking views.

When we got to Lake Solitude we were warned by other hikers that there was a mother moose and her calf in the willows along the trail. We decided to be safe with our little family and took a higher route.

We were rewarded with views of wildlife too. Once back to Silver Lake, we stopped along the trail to watch an osprey dive for fish in the lake. While we were watching the bird, Amberly pointed out a moose cow walking non-chalantly through the grasses between the lake and the parking lot.

On the really hot days in the valley, there's not much better than driving high into the mountains and finding the cooler temperatures. The best part of the day was that the kids didn't fight with each other and were so exhausted that evening that they went to bed early without complaining.

If you don't feel like taking a longer hike, you can ride the ski lift at Solitude and take a shorter trail to the lake. Solitude also boasts a challenging and fun 18-hole frisbee golf course on the mountainside.

**The pictures were taken with my new Sony Bloggie Duo camera. It was great because it fit nicely in my pocket.**