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High Creek Lake, 11 July, 2021

Brent, Ophelia, Ralph, Catherine, Keith, Jane and Dave W/ departed from the High Creek trailhead at approximately 9:00 on the Mt. Naomi Peak NRT (National Recreation Trail).  The unpaved road beyond the campground was rough and rocky, although a Prius and Camry (a rental) had made it.

After one mile, Dave & Jane peeled off the High Creek Lake trail to go to the waterfall.  The remaining five soldiered on to the lake. 

The lake was low and at least half covered in algae.  Some of the air-exposed algae was thick, brown, and crispy-looking.  The beaver ponds were low but with no visible algae.  The high waterfall past the beaver ponds was not flowing.  The waterfall at approximately mile 4.2 was low but there was a tiny amount of existing snow above it.

Overall, the day was very hazy due to distant fires.  No cloud cover.  Temperature high was probably close to 90 by the end of the day.  Hikers were bothered by biting flies.  The falls hikers returned to the parking lot about 1:00 while the lake hikers returned at approximately 4:00. 

The following flowers and weeds were observed:

Bee balm
Fireweed
Salsify
Lupine
Groundsel
Scarlet gilia
Larkspur
Paintbrush
Horsemint
Western monkshood
Hound’s tongue 
Mountain bluebell
Dogbane
Showy daisy/fleabane
Collomia linearis
Penstemon
Service berry
Sedum
Stickseed/false forget-me-not
Lewis flax
Service berry
Wood rose
Common cow parsnip
Nootka rose
Colorado columbine
Western Clematis
Leafy Jacob’s ladder
Solomon seal
Richardson geranium
Western coneflower
Engelmann aster
Whorled buckwheat
Common yarrow
Parrot’s beak
Showy goldeneye
Yellow columbine
Mules-ear Wythia
Twin berry
Western wallflower
Orange mountain dandelion
Yellow monkeyflower
Heartleaf Arnica
Sticky geranium
Wild hollyhock




Trip Summary:
  • Brent, Ophelia, Ralph, Catherine (leader), Keith, Jane and Dave W.
  • Drove 21 miles to the High Creek Trailhead east of Cove, UT.
  • Started hiking about 9:00, lunch at High Creek Lake 12:45 - 1:15, back at the trailhead about 4:00 (the waterfall hikers returned about 1:00).
  • Clear but hazy skies, calm winds and afternoon temperature near 90 ºF. 
  • 10 miles with 2800 feet of ascent and descent for the High Creek Lake hikers, 4.3 miles and 1100 feet for the waterfall hikers.

Thanks to Catherine for the narrative and photos, Jane for photos, and Brent, Ralph, and Dave for photos and GPS data.


Trailhead
At the High Creek Trailhead
Crossing High
                      Creek
Crossing High Creek on a well-constructed foot bridge
Waterfall sign
Falls
Dave and Jane took the Waterfall trail
It's more of a mossy cascade than a waterfall
Falls
Falls
The waterfall is a rewarding destination after a moderate hike
Spring
Crossing
This spring is the source of the waterfall's flow
Crossing the Little Left Hand Fork of High Creek (this is the stream that comes from the waterfall)
Crossing Pond
Another High Creek crossing
There are beaver ponds at about mile 3.5
Hiking
Lunch
Hiking through the meadow below High Creek Lake
Enjoying lunch near High Creek Lake
Lake
Lake
In recent years High Creek Lake has been afflicted with floating mats of algae
Columbine
Yellow
                        monkeyflower
Yellow columbine
Yellow monkeyflower
Paintbrush
Geranium
Paintbrush
Richardson's geranium
Twinberry
Lupine
Twinberry
Lupine
Larkspur
Beetle
Larkspur (and a bee)
Long-horned beetle
Map
Our GPS track shows about 10 miles and 2800 feet of ascent and descent (4.3 miles and 1100 ft for the waterfall).
You can look at our route using Google Earth or download our GPS file (or Earth and GPS files for the waterfall).