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High Creek Lake, 4 August, 2024
Five hikers participated in the High Creek effort: Jack, Teresa, Deanna, Kamren and Dan, the leader. We picked up Jack in Smithfield and drove in two cars to High Creek trailhead and started hiking about 9:15am. It was still fairly cool as we made our way through the forest, crossing the creek five times. A few drops of rain fell on us.
The lower trail follows an old road bed and Jack pointed out the site of an historic sawmill. Eventually we reached the beaver ponds and rested with views to Cherry Peak. The upper section of trail was abundant with wildflowers. We stopped at the waterfall for a short break and continued climbing with a longer break in the shade of a few trees further up, finally reaching the lake for lunch at about 1:30pm. Salamanders were swimming among the clods of algae. The cool breeze was welcome and small patches of snow clung to the rocks.
We descended with warming temperatures and rested in the shade of a camping spot near the beaver ponds. At one of the stream crossings some of us waded in the stream cooling our now tired feet. We were back at the cars at 6pm having traveled over 10 miles and climbing almost 3000 feet.
Trip Summary:
- Five Cache Hikers: Deanna, Teresa, Jack, Kamren and Dan (leader)
- Drove 21 miles to the High Creek Trailhead
- Started hiking 9:15, lunch 1:30, back at the trailhead 6:00
- Clear skies, warm temperatures and a welcome breeze
- Hiked about
10.6 miles with over 2800 feet of ascent & descent
Thanks
to Dan for the description, photos and GPS data and
Teresa for photos
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| Beaver ponds,
about 3.5 miles from the trailhead |
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| Looking south
toward Cherry Peak |
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| On the trail | |||
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| Ascending
steeper terrain below High Creek Lake |
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| Enjoying
nature! |
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| High Creek
Lake |
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| Resting on the shore | |||
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| Lunch near the lake |
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| Neotenic tiger salamanders (aka
paedomorphs),
https://wildaboututah.org/tiger-salamander/ |
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| Looking west from High
Creek Lake |
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| The north
face of Cherry Peak |
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| Looking north
toward the trailhead, down South Fork High Creek |
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Our GPS track shows about 10.6 miles
with
over 2800 feet
of ascent and descent.
You can look at our route using Google
Earth or download our GPS file.
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