Cecret Lake -- 4 Heels

Cecret Lake is one of those secrets you just have to share. Tucked away above Alta Ski Resort, this hidden lake is a treat for young and old alike. All of my prior research indicated that the hike was a "stroll". If your idea of a stroll is walking down 5th Avenue in the Easter Parade, you are going to be in for a shock. The path is on a continual incline that is mostly smooth, but I did see 3 grown men stumble. To get to the lake, there is quite a bit of a climb. The path isn't terribly difficult but be prepared for an elevation gain of 280 ft with most of it over 0.09 miles.

The length of the hike seems to be widely debated. Every post I've read ranges from 3/4 of a mile to 1 mile to 1.25 miles. The sign just across the walk from this one posted the hike at 0.4 miles, so there is even disparity at the site itself.

So here are the minutes. It took me 26 minutes to get up to the lake, which left 27 minutes to enjoy the views, and 37 minutes to descend [there were far more people coming up the path at that point].

I wore my canvas wedges [donut falls] again as they are reinforced with ridged rubber bottoms, which make climbing the somewhat slick rocks easy. The hike has been toted as family friendly, and I'd have to agree. Halfway up the hike I became blended with a family that had everyone from newborn to grandpa and they were all doing just fine.

It is a bit chilly. There was about a 40 degree difference in temperature from the valley to the trailhead. Fortunately I had my green trenchcoat in the car which worked out well. The trail is very wide so there were no branches, etc. to do damage to clothing.

The drive up is quite impressive. At one point on the road my heart dropped and I had a sudden fear of heights, but that quickly passed and I got to take in some great views. The elevation gain from the bottom of the trail to the lake may only be 280 ft, but the lake does sit high at an elevation of 9750 feet, so expect some thin air.

I have to say it was a bit surreal seeing the ski lift chairs and signs for runs with no snow on the mountains. There is a hearty bed of wildflowers covering the mountainside, which serve as a great hearthstone to views of Devil's Castle.

I've realized, and possibly more so on this hike than others, we keep trying to take pictures to show how impressive the views are, but keep coming up short and only seem to really end up with pictures of piles of rocks that seem to blend together. With landscape this vast and impressive, it really has to be experienced. The camera lens does little to convey the experience of feeling so small and yet so on top of the world all at the same time. This is one of those trips, from the incredible height of the pine trees, to the incredible panoramic views of the surrounding mountains that just needs to be soaked in.

Apparel: Skinny jeans, black Yoko Ono t-shirt, lime green trench coat
Shoes: 4" canvas wedges

Directions: Follow Little Cottonwood Canyon until you can't go anymore. Just past Alta Ski Resort, the road turns into a rather rough gravel road. While it lacks major craters, the plethora of small divots makes it treacherous, take your time. You'll make a few hairpin turns and then keep ascending. You'll crest at the trailhead for Lake Catherine, if you need to visit a restroom, this is the closest one. Continue on the gravel road just a small way further and you'll come to the parking lot for the trailhead at the Albion Basin campsite. Signage was plentiful, but there have been reports of missing markers.