Aahhhtumn Hiking

Aahhhtumn has come to Utah. After a long summer of high heat and unusually low rainfall, many of us let out a collective sigh when low clouds wrap Park City in a cool, wet embrace. As a bonus, the deciduous trees and bushes are putting on their annual show - particularly the Gambel Oak, which bring in the season with shades of crimson, fading out after a couple weeks about the time that the Quaking Aspens weigh in. Right now, the aspens highlight huge swaths of the mountainside with bright yellows, contrasting nicely with the deep greens of pine, spruce and fir.

I consider fall to be the best time to hike. The cool weather, the layers of leaves cushioning your steps, the beautiful colors, the quality of lighting, and the knowledge that soon this will all be covered with snow … these things all conspire to make hiking in the mountains during this time of year something special.

The Wasatch Mountains contain an amazing quantity and variety of hiking trails. For folks visiting from the lowlands or those perhaps a bit out of shape, you might consider taking the resort chairlifts up to the mountain tops. From there, you have a wide selection of downhill trails to choose from. There are long difficult hikes like the Wasatch Crest Trail, which runs for a several miles along the ridge separating the Salt Lake and Park City sides of the range. Though somewhat challenging and potentially dangerous, the views along this hike are beyond spectacular.

Then there are the peak hikes. Take Pfiefferhorn and Mount Olympus on the Salt Lake side of the range, for instance. With 3,700 and 4,000-foot elevation gains respectively, these are grueling all-day commitments for those with broken in boots and a fair amount of muscle and endurance. Once again, when you reach the top, the views are simply incredible.

One of my favorites hikes this time of year is up Lambs Canyon. This trail is relatively cool, un-crowded and evokes an almost zen-like peacefulness. It follows a stream uphill through a mixed forest of mature evergreen and aspen. Spring run-off clears the streambed of trees, but the aspens along either side of the channel lean towards each other, stretching limbs high overhead to form a golden leafy ceiling. This babbling brook is surrounded by downed timber, moss-covered rocks, abundant shrubs and wildflowers, and the trail is also a good place to spot birdlife, squirrels and moose. The grade is steady but not particularly steep and thus great for strolling, fast hiking, or even trail running. About a mile up, the hike changes as you enter into open meadows and then a series of switchbacks. After 1.5 miles and 1,500 feet in elevation gain, the trail ends at the ridgeline separating Lambs and Millcreek Canyons … a perfect place to rest, eat a snack and enjoy the view.

To find the Lambs Canyon Trail from Park City, take Hwy 224 north to I-80 and head west (left) towards Salt Lake City. Lambs Canyon exit is about six miles distant, and the trailhead is about a mile up the canyon. You're there when you see a concrete public outhouse on the left with an area to park. Across the road is a bridge across the stream, which is where your journey begins.

For locals and visitors alike, a great resource for information (and a great organization to support) is the Mountain Trails Foundation. They produce an excellent map and their website has updated information on trail closures, races and events. They can be reached at 435.731.0975 or mountaintrails.org. There are also several private guide services available that can plan a most excellent outing for you (see the "Things To Do" page on this Web site for listings).

Park City Magazine's web manager and sales rep Greg Tanner will use any excuse to get out of the office and into some recreation. He figures that researching a blog for the website could be creatively interpreted as somehow relating to work, so if you call and he doesn't pick up, well, just leave a message.

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