Lake Catherine

Lake Catherine is a small, alpine lake, high above Brighton, Utah. The hike to get there is a pretty steady climb, but it rewards you with some really breathtaking views and two more alpine lakes on the way. You start at the Brighton Ski Resort, where there’s a ton of parking. There are no open restrooms though, so if you need to make a pit stop, you can stop at the Silver Lake Nordic Center just down the street. The trail takes you up a meandering trail that goes up a ski slope. It’s only one mile to Lake Mary, which is a great spot to stop for lunch or for a snack. Lake Martha is right next to Lake Mary and is pretty small. There’s one short section of trail just after Lake Mary where the trail gets narrow and there’s a steep drop-off. Kids will need help in that spot, but the rest of the trail is wide enough for kids. The trail is totally doable for kids, but since it’s uphill most of the way and a little on the long side, expect it to be slow-going. All of Big Cottonwood Canyon is a watershed area, so no swimming or wading in the creeks or lakes and no dogs.