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Out And Back · Big Cottonwood Canyon

Twin Lakes (Brighton)

A short, moderate climb to a dammed alpine reservoir in a granite cirque at the head of Big Cottonwood Canyon — gateway to the Brighton lakes and the Wasatch Crest.

Also known as: Twin Lakes Reservoir, Brighton Lakes Trail (Twin Lakes), Twin Lakes Trail #164

A short, moderate climb from the Silver Lake / Brighton trailhead at the head of Big Cottonwood Canyon to Twin Lakes Reservoir, a dammed alpine lake set in a glacial cirque at roughly 9,460 feet. The Brighton Lakes Trail (#164) gains about 700 feet over 1.25 miles to the dam, making it a popular family outing that pairs easily with Lake Mary and the rest of the Brighton lakes. Above the reservoir the trail continues to Twin Lakes Pass, a gateway to the Wasatch Crest Trail and the Alta/Catherine Pass network.

Quick stats

Distance
2.5 mi round trip
Elevation gain
700 ft
Time
1.5–2.5 hrs
Difficulty
Moderate · family-friendly
Dogs
Not allowed
Fee
Day-use parking fee
Best months
Jul, Aug, Sep

Getting there & parking

From Salt Lake City, take I-215 to the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon and drive SR-190 to its end at Brighton — about 25 miles and 45 minutes, climbing roughly 5,000 feet up a winding two-lane canyon road. Park at the Silver Lake Recreation Complex across from the Brighton Store and pay the day-use parking fee. A standard passenger car is fine in summer; October 1 through April 30 the canyon requires approved snow tires or traction devices, and the road can close for avalanche control. The lot has restrooms and a visitor center; there is no potable water on the trail.

As of December 2024 the Forest Service charges a day-use parking fee at the Silver Lake / Brighton trailheads: a 3-day pass is $10 per vehicle, purchased via QR code in the visitor-center lot, at the Brighton Store, or online through recreation.gov (administered with the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation). America the Beautiful interagency passes are accepted in lieu of payment. Confirm the current rate and which lots are covered per-trailhead before visiting.

Know before you go

No dogs. Dogs are banned. Twin Lakes sits in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Salt Lake City's protected drinking-water watershed — no dogs anywhere, not even left in your car. No swimming or wading in the reservoir either. Do not confuse this with the dog-friendly Dog Lake in Mill Creek Canyon.

No hiking permit required. A Forest Service day-use parking fee does apply — see Getting there & parking above.

The route

Leave the Silver Lake loop within the first third of a mile and climb the signed Lakes Trail. Steady grade through forest and a ski-area service road to the dam. Reported round-trip distance ranges 2.4–2.6 mi depending on where you start.

  • 0 mi · Silver Lake Trailhead / Visitor Center — Boardwalk and trailhead across from the Brighton Store; pay the parking fee here.
  • 0.3 mi · Brighton Lakes Trail (#164) junction — Leave the Silver Lake loop and climb the signed Lakes Trail; a junction toward Lake Mary branches off.
  • 1.25 mi · Twin Lakes Reservoir dam — Arrive at the dam and spillway (~9,450–9,470 ft); a trail from the dam's south end continues up to Lake Mary.
  • 2 mi · Twin Lakes Pass (optional extension) — Continue above the reservoir to the pass (~9,950 ft) for the Wasatch Crest Trail and the Alta/Brighton connection. Pass elevation is from ride-side descriptions, not a survey.

When to go

Best hiked July through September once the north-facing cirque snow has melted out. North-facing snow and a muddy or icy approach can persist into June, and the lake may stay partly frozen early in the season. Afternoon thunderstorms are common at altitude in summer — start early.

Big Cottonwood Canyon (SR-190) requires approved snow tires or traction devices from October 1 through April 30, and the road can close outright for avalanche control. The trail holds snow well into early summer and the basin overlaps Brighton ski terrain, so off-season travel is a snow-country undertaking, not a summer hike. Check the road status and avalanche forecast before you go.

Check current conditions before you go:

Safety & hazards

Protected culinary watershed: no dogs, no swimming or wading, and restricted camping near water. Violations carry fines. Camping and lingering within 200 feet of the water is restricted.

The trail runs from 8,700 to 9,500+ feet. Thin air and afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer. Start early to be off the high ground before storms build.

Big Cottonwood Canyon (SR-190) requires approved snow tires or traction devices October 1 through April 30 and can close for avalanche control. The trail holds snow well into early summer. Check UDOT canyon status before driving up.

North-facing cirque snow and a muddy or icy approach can persist into June; the lake may stay partly frozen early season.

Wildlife & geology

Subalpine forest of Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir mixed with aspen and pine, opening to wildflower meadows in mid-to-late summer. Pikas and marmots work the talus; moose and mule deer are common in the basin.

Wildlife you might see: moose, mule deer, yellow-bellied marmot, pika.

The reservoir sits in a glacially carved cirque at the head of Big Cottonwood Canyon, ringed by the high Wasatch crest. Durable, light-colored granitic or quartzite bedrock forms the headwall and the talus benches around the lake. The specific lithology (granite vs quartzite) is asserted in the brief but not confirmed in the trail sources consulted.

History

Named for the lake's two-lobed shape. Damming raised and merged the original twin tarns into a single reservoir, though the 'Twin Lakes' name persists.

Twin Lakes was dammed to serve as a culinary water reservoir for the Salt Lake valley; the dam and spillway remain part of the city's watershed infrastructure. The basin overlaps Brighton ski terrain (the Sol Bright run drops nearby) and the historic mining district around Twin Lakes Pass (Michigan City Mine).

Frequently asked questions

Is there a fee to hike Twin Lakes at Brighton?
Yes — as of December 2024 the Forest Service charges a day-use parking fee at the Silver Lake / Brighton trailheads. A 3-day pass is $10 per vehicle, paid via QR code in the visitor-center lot, at the Brighton Store, or on recreation.gov. An America the Beautiful interagency pass is accepted in lieu of payment. Confirm the current rate and covered lots before you go.
Are dogs allowed at Twin Lakes?
No. Twin Lakes is in Big Cottonwood Canyon, a protected Salt Lake City drinking-water watershed, so dogs are banned everywhere — not even left in your car. Don't confuse this with the dog-friendly Dog Lake in Mill Creek Canyon, which is a different lake in a different canyon.
Can you swim or wade in Twin Lakes Reservoir?
No. The reservoir is a culinary water source, so swimming and wading are prohibited, as is camping within 200 feet of the water. Most hikers carry their own water rather than rely on the lake.
How hard is the Twin Lakes hike and is it good for kids?
It's a moderate, family-friendly outing — about 2.5 miles round trip with roughly 700 feet of gain to the dam. The grade is steady but short, with some talus and a dry wash to watch footing on. It works well for school-age kids.
When is the best time to hike Twin Lakes?
July through September, once the north-facing cirque snow has melted out. North-facing snow and a muddy or icy approach can linger into June, and the lake may stay partly frozen early in the season. Expect afternoon thunderstorms in summer.
Can you keep going past the reservoir?
Yes. A trail from the dam's south end climbs to Lake Mary and the other Brighton lakes, and the route continues above the reservoir to Twin Lakes Pass — a gateway to the Wasatch Crest Trail and the Alta/Catherine Pass network.
Do I need snow tires to drive up for this hike?
From October 1 through April 30, Big Cottonwood Canyon (SR-190) requires approved snow tires or traction devices, and the road can close for avalanche control. In summer a standard passenger car is fine. Check the UDOT Cottonwood Canyons road status before driving up.

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