Basics
- Location:
- In Little Cottonwood Canyon southeast of downtown Salt Lake City
- Length:
- 7.5 mile roundtrip
- Difficulty:
- Intermediate
- Time:
- 4 hours
- Elevation Change:
- 2050 feet
- Season:
- June to October
Description
The trail to Maybird Lakes leaves the Red Pine Trail about 2.5 miles from the highway, or about one mile down from Red Pine Lake. The Maybird Trail branches to the west, crossing Red Pine Fork on a narrow wooden bridge just after Red Pine Trail first meets the creek. It then follows a fairly level route for about 0.5 mile in a westerly direction before turning south again for the assent through Maybird Gulch to the three tiny Maybird Lakes.
The first lake is about 1.3 miles from the Red Pine trail junction at an elevation of 9,660 feet, and the second and third lakes are situated a quarter of a mile further up the gulch. The lakes are all small, only 100 to 150 feet across, and the trees surrounding them are stunted. The gulch is filled with the breakdown of the nearby cliffs, and there is not enough soil to support a more luxuriant forest.
Details
Location:
In Little Cottonwood Canyon southeast of downtown Salt Lake City
Length:
7.5 mile roundtrip
Difficulty:
Intermediate
Time:
4 hours
Elevation Change:
2050
Season:
June to October
Map + Directions
Basic Directions
From Downtown Salt Lake City, head south on I-15 about 8 miles to the I-215 Belt Route. Take I-215 East about 5 miles to 6200 South (Exit 6). Bear to the right off the exit ramp onto 6200 South and head east. (It'll turn south after a bit and merge with Wasatch Boulevard, but just stay on the main road.) After about 2 miles is a light at Big Cottonwood Canyon Road. (On the southwest corner of the intersection is a 7-Eleven gas station and mini-mart.) Continue straight through this intersection heading south for another 2-3 miles. The road will bear to the left and take you up into Little Cottonwood Canyon. The trailhead is 5.5 miles past the canyon entrance and is identified as the White Pine Trailhead. (Note: Along the trip from downtown you'll see large signs to the Alta and Snowbird ski resorts. These resorts are at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon, so if you follow those signs, you'll get to Little Cottonwood Canyon just fine.)
