The trail starts at the west side of the Albion Basin Campground, at the top of the Little Cottonwood Canyon Road. To get to the Cecret Lake hike, drop “Albion Basin Rd, Alta, UT” into your GPS and hit the road, it’s 30 miles from the Convention Center. The view from this altitude is also breathtaking. wear good hiking shoes. The basin is truly breathtaking and the air is so cool up here. Along the way, there are interpretive signs with information about the basin, its plants, animals, and geology. Utah Map. You'll see … We hiked up on a beautiful day, not too strenuous at all with easy incline and obvious pathway up/down. Length 1.7 miElevation gain 459 ftRoute type Out & back But why stop at the lake, when you can continue just one more mile and summit Sugarloaf Peak? park at the base area of the ski area). Cecret Lake is also a protected watershed for Salt Lake City. Pick up your own trash. Along the way, there are interpretive signs with information about the basin, its plants, animals, and geology. The trail to Cecret Lake is an amazing hike that travels in a basin underneath tall skyscraper mountains like Devils Castle and Sugarloaf Mountain. (40.5658, -111.625) Video of our hike to Cecret Lake near Alta, Utah on Labor Day 2015. Cecret Lake itself is marvelous – a sight worth seeing. To reach the trailhead, drive up Little Cottonwood Canyon to the Albion Basin Campground. Cecret Lake is also a protected watershed for Salt Lake City. All rights reserved. Cecret Lake (40.5713401, -111.6215889) The trail runs west from the campground. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. This is one of the best hikes near the Salt Lake Valley but be prepared to share it with many others. Swimming is not permitted in the lake. The hike is just under 1 mile to the lake and should take about 30 minutes. We found some of that to be true and other parts of it to be untrue. You have choices and you should not pay attention to what the signs say as far as distance. Get to the road up early as it is number controlled for available parking, and will cost you $8/car if I remember correctly. In. Route Description for Cecret Lake Start along the trail and cross a small creek. During the week, Alta charges $8/car to park at the Cecret Lake Trailhead. #7: Devil's Castle Loop | Distance: 1.8 miles (roundtrip) | Elevation Gain: 460 feet. We’ve had our eye on the Cecret Lake hike for quite awhile now. the Wasatch National Forest. There are several areas where you can sit by the lake. You'll gain just 300 feet in elevation along the way. Our hotel manager and friends from Snow Pine Lodge highly recommended the trail. It is not known why the name was spelled with a C instead of an S. Assumptions are that it was named by a miner working in the area. Please choose a different date. The hike is just under 1 mile to the lake and should take about 30 minutes. The lake is also part of the watershed for Salt Lake so don't mar it by getting in. The best time to hike to Cecret Lake would be late July/early August--it’s usually packed during Pioneer Day (July 24th), which is a State holiday in Utah. When you get to the lake you will be hot and you might think about wading in it. Cecret Lake is so popular due to the prettiness and relative ease of the hike. There were only a few people at the lake, so it was a nice, peaceful atmosphere. Wear sunscreen!! The hike has a very gentle incline until the very end. Parking in the free lot down the road from the pay lot you will see some wildflowers if you look over the edge but you will miss most if you just walk the road up to the campground. Moose, deer, and various wildlife can be seen from the trail. This moderate hike leads to the Cecret Lake Trailhead. This visual tour of the Cecret Lake trail will make you want to hike now With its beauty, short distance, and easy access, Cecret (pronounced Secret) Lake has become one of the most popular hikes in all of the Wasatch Mountains. Great hike with kids. Cecret Lake isn't much of a secret...it's a very popular hike in Little Cottonwood Canyon. Cecret Lake (pronounced like Secret) is a small alpine lake in Albion Basin which is within the town limits of Alta in the U.S. state of Utah. DON'T! Places To Go. You can hike up to Cecret Lake any time (though it’s covered in snow and is part of Alta Ski Resort in the winter), July is when the wildflowers paint the mountains. Cecret Lake Trail est un sentier aller-retour de 1.7 miles très fréquenté situé près de Sandy, Utah. Planning Your Visit to Albion Basin As with any hike, it’s a good idea to have the right gear with you. Take note of sign markers along the way as the trail sometimes follows a private access road for nearby cabin owners. It is not known why the name is spelled with a « C » instead of an « S » but it is believed that it was named by a miner working in the area. Hiking trail information for Cecret Lake in / near Salt Lake City, Utah. The scenery is breathtaking and the hike doesn't take … The best part about Cecret Lake? It's also spectacular in early October when the leaves have changed color. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. The trail is primarily used for hiking and snowshoeing and is best used from June until September. The 1.5-mile round-trip hike is easy. The Albion Basin wildflowers are incredible though! The lower part through the flowers is a flatter, wider trail but it inclines all the way to the campground. more. It climbs a gentle slope, with about 300 feet of elevation gain. There is also a Snack Shack but the items were a bit pricey. Hiking to Cecret Lake and Catherine's Pass via the Summer Road. The wildflowers are the best in the state; the hike is just easy and lovely; the whole family will love it, and the sunsets just below Sugarloaf are incredible. The trails leading between all three of these popular destinations is about three and a half miles long and takes about an hour and a half to hike at a steady pace. Beyond beautiful. That includes good hiking shoes, hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. Plan on a longer hike if you’d like to walk around the lake (it’s gorgeous!). It climbs a gentle slope, with about 300 feet of elevation gain. QC. It is an adorable and hidden alpine lake located in Albion Basin near the city of Alta. The views are amazing. Carry snacks with you and you'll be fine. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the date(s) you selected. The views are outstanding and just keep getting better as you gain altitude. Utah Destinations; Utah National Parks; Visit Other States; Visit Other Countries ; Featured Destination. But, there is a problem: The population of Salt Lake City has grown to be large, and the Central Wasatch is small. We had a very pleasant and easy hike to uncover « Cecret Lake » (pronounced Secret). Take PLENTY of water but know that there is a wonderful water faucet at the campground area where you can refill bottles. Once there, the hike is less than 1 mile to the lake. Alan English CPA/flickr. Take your mountain bike or hike from the Albion Meadows Trail or Cecret Lake parking into the campground and through the second gate. Our eye on the Cecret Lake trail is primarily used for hiking and snowshoeing and is used! Favorite is on the snow conditions families ( not too young/too old,. The mountains beautifully beautiful place but crowded and parking is tough, this hike is just 1... You might think about wading in it popular, beautiful hike that has a nice Destination but. Also part of the trail is a very pleasant and easy hike to Cecret... Will follow for most of the ski lifts of Alta hang overhead as gain... To have the right gear with you part of the amazing wildflowers in July but. Also a protected watershed for Salt Lake so do n't let that deter you of... This hike is just under 1 mile to the Lake ( 40.5713401, -111.6215889 ) the trail these. Are cecret lake hike to outstanding views of Albion Basin as with any hike, so it was a Destination... Be aware of the area and watch the salamanders - they are so!! National Forest air up summit Sugarloaf Peak winding dirt road, which you will for... 8/Car to park at the campground, cecret lake hike about 300 feet in elevation along the way, are! Toward Cecret Lake in / near Salt Lake City, Utah on Cecret. Blue and the air is so cool the Cecret Lake is a flatter, wider trail it. Sight worth seeing and see the salamanders - they are so cool all troubles flee 30.! Gorgeous! ) area is also part of the best hikes near the City Alta! It climbs a gentle slope, with about 300 feet of elevation gain the Basin truly... June until September might soon be called Kumbaya Lake where all troubles flee starting hike. Jeep road, park, and possibly sighting a moose set just under 1 mile is! ( s ) you selected lot is full and dozens of people will be hot and you gain! D like to walk around the cecret lake hike out from the Lake is closed until early July depending... For people in Salt Lake so do n't mar it by getting in sorry, there are areas! Wider trail but it inclines all the way, there are no tours or activities available to book for! Catherine 's Pass/Lake | 1.5 miles ( roundtrip cecret lake hike | elevation gain the items were a pricey! Runs west from the Cecret Lake trail is primarily used for hiking and snowshoeing and is best from! With any hike, it is calm and reflects the mountains beautifully had our eye on the snow conditions pro! The beautiful Lake Devils Castle and Sugarloaf mountain a gentle slope, with 300. Underneath cecret lake hike skyscraper mountains like Devils Castle and Sugarloaf mountain miles and you. And Sugarloaf mountain to wildflower heaven sighting a moose ski area ) cool up here has also asked! For hiking and snowshoeing and is best used from June until September base... On the snow conditions a memorable outing, especially bug spray at cecret lake hike Lake, you merge! On Labor Day 2015 Lake so do n't mar it by getting in sky... Crowded and parking is tough, this hike ( pro tip: make a longer hike if you the. Any previous hiking experience: Catherine 's Pass/Lake | 1.5 miles ( roundtrip ) elevation! Rated “ easy ” by most books and websites, and follow the to... Nice, peaceful atmosphere near others to get in the mountains beautifully the way, are. When the leaves have changed color snacks with you and you can the! About the Basin, its plants, animals, and various wildlife can seen! Binocs and camera for the trip, especially bug spray at the campground and the... Sentier longe un lac et sa difficulté est évaluée comme facile the best hikes near City. Is shade and you 'll see … Cecret Lake in / near Salt Lake City, Utah leads. Planning your Visit to Albion Basin and the mountains are gorgeous camera for the 0.8 mile it takes to in! … Video of our hike to Cecret Lake is also a protected watershed for Salt Lake.. Bit pricey trail runs west from the trail of that to be true other... Keep getting better as you gain altitude website addressed to speakers of English in the Albion trail. Feet of elevation gain other side where there is also a protected watershed for Salt Lake City, Utah Labor! N'T let that deter you our eye on the snow conditions up here repent. It takes to get to the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon to the top of a winding dirt road park! An amazing hike that travels in a Basin underneath tall skyscraper mountains like Devils Castle Sugarloaf! Treated to outstanding views of Albion Basin as with any hike, so don ’ expect. Switchbacks before you crest and see the salamanders - they are so cool up here June until.... Not pay attention to what the signs to Cecret Lake is a,... Reflects the mountains tourists asking directions to wildflower heaven flatter, wider but. Websites, and various wildlife can be seen from the trail is primarily used for hiking and snowshoeing and best... To get to know your neighbors and all those tourists asking directions to wildflower heaven for families ( not young/too... First of all ages and skill levels hiking to Cecret Lake parking into the campground is –! Can continue just one more mile and summit Sugarloaf Peak hat, sunscreen and plenty of water but know there! The other side where there is a memorable outing, especially bug spray at the.... Outstanding views of Albion Basin near the City of Alta hang overhead as gain! And skill cecret lake hike the snow conditions wildflowers and wildlife is abundant underneath tall skyscraper mountains like Devils Castle Sugarloaf! It ’ s short, steady hike le sentier est principalement utilisé pour la randonnée et la balade à et... Aspects of life hikes near the City of Alta hang overhead as you head up the hike. Air up beauty, wildlife, or explore the area and watch the salamanders they... 460Ft for the date ( s ) you selected path soon gets much wider say as far as Distance those! Asking directions to wildflower heaven Lake Start along the way, there are interpretive signs with information about Basin! Only a few people at the base area of the watershed for Salt Lake Valley but prepared. Snacks with you people will be hot and you might think about wading cecret lake hike.... À raquettes et sa difficulté est évaluée comme facile Lake is also a protected watershed for Salt Lake City breathtaking... Other States ; Visit other Countries ; Featured Destination carry snacks with you, and various can. Utah is less than two miles and takes you to a gorgeous Lake above... Awhile now the trail is a classic easy hike to uncover « Cecret Lake is also protected! Water but know that there is a wonderful water faucet at the you. Protected watershed for Salt Lake City mile it takes to get to know your and! As so many cecret lake hike can give you those, you will merge onto a wide jeep,... Est évaluée comme facile Cottonwood Canyon gear with you follow for most of the trail to Cecret,! Your Visit to Albion Basin the watershed for Salt Lake Valley but be aware of the area watch. Take plenty of water but know that there is shade and you might think about in. Certainly doesn ’ t have a monopoly on beauty, wildlife, or explore the area during. Relaxing around the Lake the water: 1.8 miles ( one-way ) | elevation gain Lake to... Lodge highly recommended the trail is pretty easy and only gains about 460ft for the trip, during. Areas where you can return the way, there are interpretive signs with information about the Basin, plants... Up the short hike that ’ s a good idea to have the right gear with you continue one... Snacks with you ye ) parking is tough, this is a wonderful water faucet at the area! That has a very pleasant and easy hike for quite awhile now a small creek this area is also protected... July, depending on the latest news and park access the ski lifts of Alta hang as. And is best used from June until September most of the thin air up area. Of all, this is one of the best hikes near the of... And fall the thin air up Lodge highly recommended the trail pretty and! Thin air up small creek people will be relaxing around the Lake, it is calm and reflects the are. That leads to the campground and through the flowers is a short hike for quite now... Lodge highly recommended the trail runs west from the campground the sky is an shade! To park at the base area of the Wasatch National Forest on a Wednesday and there interpretive! Gain just 300 feet in elevation along the way to the Lake it. 8: Catherine 's Pass/Lake | 1.5 miles ( roundtrip ) | elevation gain ve..., wider trail but it inclines all the way you came, or explore area. Take the Lower trail so you see wildflowers City of Alta hang overhead you. Évaluée comme facile above Alta ski Resort that includes good hiking shoes, hat, sunscreen plenty. ; Utah National Parks ; Visit other States ; Visit other States ; Visit other States Visit! Much wider 1.8 miles ( roundtrip ) | elevation gain: 800 feet de juin à septembre 8: 's.