Postcard of "When It's Moonlight In The Rockies", Brighton, Big Cottonwood Canyon, 1940-1945

Blanche Lake, Big Cottonwood Canyon

Big Cottonwood Canyon

“This 15-mile scenic byway takes about one hour roundtrip. From the main road, this canyon narrows almost immediately into dramatic alpine scenery. This 15-mile drive provides access to excellent hiking, fishing, picnicking, rock climbing, and camping. During the mid-1800s, Old West miners sought their fortune in gold and silver ore here. Remnants of old mines can be spotted from trails winding up the slopes. Located in the Uintah-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Big Cottonwood Canyon is home to Solitude and Brighton ski resorts. Both have full-service, year-round facilities. From Brighton, there are several easy trails leading to various lakes, including Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake Martha, and Dog Lake. The canyon is a protected watershed area and no dogs are permitted. Wilderness areas are located to the north and south.” *

Big Cottonwood provides drinking water to most of the Wasatch Front. This watershed is highly protected, impacting the use of pets in the canyon and the startup of some projects. One such project that was halted planned to connect Solitude Ski Resort to the Canyons Resort, worry of the watershed and terrain impact brought furthering the proposal to a halt.