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I cannot even begin to
tell you how much I loved this hike. The trail head
begins in the lower S-Turn in Big Cottonwood canyon.
You walk a ¼ mile up the road, and on the right, you
will see the sign. It starts up a small hill, then
crosses a stream to a switchback that puts you on a
stair-like trail up to an aspen grove. Just above
the aspens, you get your first look at Sundial Peak.
It is an awesome view, with red rock cliffs ahead.
Then the trail starts to switchback
through aspens again, where we saw a fallen Paper Wasp Nest. They
didn't like us very much so we kept moving after taking some
pictures. Then up another incline, though not to harsh, to the next ridge.
After a minute, you begin to become level with the red rock cliffs,
but there is another switchback before the lake. You get to the end
of a switchback, and you are on a small boulder field, just turn
right, the trail starts up the hill to the lake.
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Lake
Blanch sits directly below Sundial Peak, and has a great view of
Dromedary Peak, the back side of Superior, Monte Cristo, and the
canyon below. At 8920 feet this is a very surreal scene. It is very
peaceful, with big red rocks to view the lake from. We wandered
around the lake, and came to rest on some glacier carved rocks that
made a great spot in the shade. Of course we had the camera out and
took some postcard perfect pictures of Lake Blanch and Sundial Peak.
The Lake itself is very placid, not even a ripple from the wind. A
meadow to the left, a small incline covered with pine trees, and the
peak in the back ground combine to making this one of the most
beautiful mountain lakes I have ever seen.
Sundial Peak really holds up to its
name. Named for its natural sundial appearance, the peak really is a
natural marvel. On a sundial, you have three points for the sun to
cast a shadow to show what time it is. When sitting on the rocks, I
looked at my clock, it said 6 pm, and the peak was casting a shadow
really close to the 6 o clock position. That is amazing, millions of
years ago, Mother Nature made a clock long before man. I really wish
I had brought my tent and camped overnight, the temperature was
perfect, no one was in sight, and I would have had the place all to
myself. Next time for sure, and who knows, I might see you there,
because I will for sure return here. Magnificent!
Trail Stats And Directions:
Big
Cottonwood Canyon- Trail Head- Lower S-Turn 4.5 miles up canyon
Distance to Lake Blanch- 2 ¾ miles
Elevation Gain- 2720 vertical feet to 8920 feet
Hiking Time- 2hrs 20 min
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