Willow Lake Trail

SALT LAKE CITY, UT

Today, I finally made it out for my first hike in the Salt Lake City area.

I ventured out south and east of town to the Lake Mary Trailhead, located near Brighton ski resort. I guess the fact that it was next to a ski resort should have been my first clue I might have some issues. I arrived and trekked up the hill to the trail head, but all I could see was a ski lift hanging in the air over FEET of snow.

That can't be it!

I wandered up the road a little further. Still no trail, still a lot of snow. I turned back to confirm my location on my AllTrails app. Yes, this is definitely where the trail starts.

Well, shoot! I guess THIS is why you have to carefully read the trail comments and dates before you go on a hike.

I started driving back toward town and found a little spot on the side of the road where cars were parked. Sure enough, there was a trailhead there. I decided to check it out.

It was a quick easy hike at 2.91 miles, 504' elevation gain, up to 8,545 ft. The birch trees, nope scratch that, the ASPEN trees (thank you, Charlie!) on the way up were beautiful, with their white bark contrasting with the blue sky.

The end of the trail looped around a little pond with a gorgeous view of snow-capped mountains.

After my hike, I went back to the house and decided to test my legs and lungs at running. I've decided that when I get back to Virginia, the best way to replicate my lifestyle out west is to run three times a week and do a big hike on the weekends. So I might as well start training now where the air is thin that it will (hopefully) seem easy when I get back home.

I decided to kill two birds with one stone and head to Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City, just over a mile straight west of my Airbnb. I ran past the headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church and past the Salt Lake Temple. I saw where the City Creek shopping center was located. Ran past the Beehive house where Brigham Young used to live.

It was a nice way to explore and exercise. My time was 18 minutes a mile, which is TERRIBLE, but I'm going to blame that on stopping to read historic plaques and waiting for lights to change. Oh, and the altitude. :)