Mill D Canyon -- 2 Heels

One of the hardest things about wearing heels most of the day is walking in flats for an extended period of time. However, after sustaining a large cut and bruise on my leg from a non-hiking related incident [sometimes you have to sacrifice for a great photo op] I felt it best that I make this hike in tennis shoes. With the straight incline, my calves and shins were screaming, but the views made it worth it. Had I worn heels on the way up, my legs would have loved me, but they would have cried on the descent.

Forget a stairmaster, Mill D is uphill ... one way. A constant incline, you definitely feel it in your thighs, but the grade is not so severe to say that it's difficult. There is one dip just past a grove of Aspens where the path meets the creek, but that is your only ascent on the way back. The disparity in travel time: 57 minutes up and a mere 37 minutes back.

At the top of Mill D, the trail splits; stay to the right and you'll end up at Desolate Lake in 1.5 miles. Stay to the left and you'll make it to Dog Lake in 0.6. The sign was severely damaged when I made it, but others have carved directions into the post if you get confused. To much disappointment, it became clear as the clouds took on a pinkish hue that my race against the sun would not allow me to choose either path. It will have to be revisited when I have more daylight.

The aspens mixed in with the pines bring in some of that intoxicating pine fragrance found in the Donut Falls path. The path follows the edge of the mountain with a rushing creek below, which meets the path at about the 40 minute mark. The incredible variety of flora, the deep rust and copper color of the rocks in the bed of the creek, and groves of trees make this hike worth the thigh master burn. I did run into a deer on my way down, but she was kind enough to let me have the right of way.

The path is used substantially by bikers. While hikers do have the right of way, I was more than happy to step aside as they were coming down the path knowing that they were managing more with that kind of descent than I was on foot.

Apparel: Black Gap Lounge Pants, Gray South Brunswick Basketball t-shirt, Black Military Style Zip-Up Jacket.
Shoes: Orange, Black & Gray New Balance cross trainers.

Directions: 9.6 miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. Trailhead is on the north side of the road. There is sufficient parking. The trail is well marked and worn approximately 1.8 miles from the trailhead. The elevation gain is 1520 feet to 8760 feet.