Mill D North

Mill D North Overview

The Mill D North Trailhead is located about half way up Big Cottonwood Canyon in the "Reynolds Flat". This trailhead serves as a popular hiking, biking, skiing, and snowshoeing starting point to destinations such as Reynolds Peak, Little Water Peak, Desolation Lake, Dog Lake and Millcreek Canyon. Whether it is fall, winter, spring or summer, the Mill D North trail is one of the more beautiful trails that Big Cottonwood Canyon has to offer. During the summer and fall months it is a good idea to keep a sharp eye behind you during your decent. Mountain bikers going speeds in excess of 25mph frequently barrell down the trail, even on weekdays.

The Mill D North Trail

If one is starting at the Reynolds Flat there are several destinations in Mill D North worth climbing to. The trail starts out with some steps as well as some traversing. About 15 minutes in the trail will make a sharp bend and some cabins will come into view. This is Mill D North Fork. Continue following the trail up the fork and about a mile in the trail will merge with the Spruces Trail.


After about another mile there is a split in the trails. The trail that go's to the left heads up to Dog Lake, Reynolds Peak, and Little Water Peak. The trail that heads to the right go's to Desolation lake and the Park City Ridgeline. Which ever trail you choose to follow the climb and views are sure to please.

The trail that heads LEFT.....

The trail that heads to the LEFT-(Dog lake, Reynolds Peak, Little Water Peak)

1. Dog Lake-About half a mile or so up from the division is Dog Lake. From the lake you can go left(south) and head up to Reynolds Peak. If you head right(north) you'll hit the Mill Creek/Big Cottonwood ridgeline. If you head east on the ridge you will, after a mile or so, hit Little Water Peak.




2. Reynolds Peak- Reynolds Peak is one of the more senic peaks in Big Cottonwood because of it's centralized location in the Wasatch. In the summer the trail can be somewhat bushy and miss leading. From Dog Lake head south and you should hit a huge open meadow. From the meadow head west along a well defined trail. Keep an eye out to your left and just before a smaller meadow the north ridge trail will faintly appear. Hit the North rigde and continue south untill your at the summit.

3. Little Water Peak- Easier to find in the winter, this not so popular peak can offer some solitude when the destination shots are crowded. From Dog Lake you should make a sharp right (north) and continue uphill until you reach the Millcreek Canyon/Big Cottonwood Canyon ridgeline. From here make another right (east) and keep heading up until you reach the summit.

The Trail that heads RIGHT

The Trail that heads RIGHT.(Desolation Lake, The Great Western Trail)

Desolation Lake- This beautiful mountain lake is bigger and involves more hiking than Dog Lake. None the less a visit here in winter, fall, spring and/or summer is sure to please. The upper mountain setting, combined with a beautiful single track trail make this hike more than plesant for the average hiker.



The Park City Ridgeline- If you choose to continue past Desolation Lake you will eventually reach the Park City Ridgeline. Once the ridge is reached the trail merges with a section of The Great Western Trail. This section of the Great Western Trail that runs from Guardsmands Pass to Millcreek Canyon is known as The Wasatch Crest Trail. This trail can be quite crowded with runners and bikers in the summer, fall and spring months. With outstanding veiws of the Cottonwood Canyons and the Park City ridgeline, it is no suprize why this trail has become so popular these days.

Avalanches

Avalanches are a common threat in Mill D North Fork. The mid elevation release zones (between 9,000-10,000 feet) are known for horrible layering (depth hoar) in the winter months. Around spring time the avalanche condtions tend to settle out. Still Mill D North demands respect. Avalanches here (especially the desolation ridge) are known to be so large that they climb up the next hill! Whether you are snowshoer or a backcountry skier be sure to carry a beacon, probe, shovel, avalung, and common sense along with you during your winter travels.

Red Tape....

Absolutly no dogs in Big Cottonwood Canyon.

Dogs are allowed up Millcreek Canyon to Dog Lake, however they must be leashed every other day.

No machines of any sorts (including paragliders) are allowed in the Mount Olympus Wilderness area.

Images

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