Willow Heights — Attraction in Utah

The Willow Heights Trail near Brighton Resort is a beautiful and peaceful hike, but it’s important to note that it’s best experienced in the spring and summer. During these seasons, the trail is lush and vibrant, surrounded by wildflowers and the greenery of aspens and pines. The highlight of the trail is reaching Willow Lake, a serene spot that reflects the surrounding mountains, making for stunning photo opportunities.

However, the trail isn’t the most accessible in the winter. While the drive to the trailhead is beautiful, especially with the snow-covered trees and mountains of Big Cottonwood Canyon, the hike itself becomes much more challenging. The steep sections of the trail can get icy, making it difficult and potentially dangerous for hiking. That being said, if you’re into snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, the area is still a great winter destination, offering a different kind of beauty and experience.

But, I have to say, the drive to the Willow Heights Trailhead in the winter is amazing. Big Cottonwood Canyon, blanketed in snow, is a winter wonderland. The road winds through snow-covered pines and rugged mountain peaks, offering views that make the drive itself a memorable part of the trip. If you’re visiting Brighton Resort for skiing, it’s definitely worth taking a short detour to enjoy the scenic beauty of the area.

Overall, the Willow Heights Trail is perfect for a spring or summer hike, with its accessible terrain and stunning lake views. But for a winter visit, I’d recommend just enjoying the beautiful drive to the trailhead, as the snow-covered landscape is truly breathtaking. Highly recommended for spring and summer, but winter is better enjoyed...

Went out at sunrise this morning hoping to see a moose. I walked the trail counter clockwise and as I was coming out of the wooded area, right before approaching the lake, I heard a significant rustling in the thicket. I stopped and didn’t move and out came a young cow.

I stayed perfectly still as she ate and eventually went back into the thicket. I waited a few minutes to be safe and then finally walked towards the lake. I heard a deep grunt from within the thicket from the opposite direction, so I’m assuming there was at least one other.

I waited by the lake to see if they’d emerge from the thicket and have a safe distance from them. They never came out. After a while two different groups came through and were talking the entire time.

In addition to the thrill of seeing such a majestic creature, I enjoyed the silence of the trail at sunrise, the colors of the sky, and the trees stretching by towards the heavens.

Practically speaking, the path is clear and evident where to go. It isn’t rocky at all and would be appropriate for children or elderly, though there is an incline to get up to the path around the lake, but it is not incredibly difficult for someone who is active. There is no parking lot but plenty of parking along the shoulder...

Beautiful hike with a few inclines but easily managed. Lots of small trails and they aren't well marked so it is hard to know if you're on the right track, but if you know the general direction you're headed you'll be fine. Around the lake the reeds are overgrown and I ahd a feeling there were other creatures lurking nearby but I didn't see them if they were there. I went close to dusk and as I turned the corner towards the lake there were three moose drinking at it's edge! They were beautiful but also kind of terrifying in their proximity. We mutually eyed each other as I passed by and once I felt comfortable with the distance between us I took a few pictures. By the time I headed back from the trail a fourth had joined them. Navigating the trails back was tricky (poorly marked) and I ended up coming out a quarter of a mile south of where I parked so I had to trek back up the road to my car. Overall it was a fun adventure though were I to so it again around dusk I would bring a flashlight...