This was a little hike I took in Big Cottonwood Canyon on the Mill D trail in October, 2024. I like to hike the Mill D trail to Dog Lake or Desolation Lake early. When starting at or even before sunrise the trail is pretty quiet an I am more likely to see wildlife, including moose. Click for a map to the Mill D North Fork Trailhead.
On this hike I went up to Dog Lake, then cut over to the trail to Desolation, but didn’t go up to that lake. Instead I turned and headed back down to the trailhead. Regardless, it was a brilliant morning and the fall colors were nothing short of amazing. By the way, if you want a really easy and short hike that offers amazing fall colors, check out fall colors at Silver Lake.
Check out the video I put together below. I took the video on a day a little later in the fall, but along the same trail.
Seeing a cow moose with her calf was just one more treat. When I was the moose, I stopped to watch as stared at me very closely. The cow and calf were heading toward the trail up ahead of me and the last thing I wanted was to anger the cow.
I just watched them a while, realized they were hanging out at the creek that ran along the trail eating and drinking. After waiting a while I decided my best path was bushwhacking up a hill and around the two moose.
Hiking the Mill D trail to Dog Lake and beyond made for a fantastic morning for this Old Hiking Dude!
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