Bell Canyon to Lower Falls

The Trail
This moderate trail is 2.4 miles long (one way) with a 1454 foot elevation change. It has a fairly steep climb at the beginning, a fairly level portion, and a progressively steeper portion as you approach the waterfall. For a shorter trail, you can hike just to Bell Canyon Reservoir, which is only 0.5 mile up the trail.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The beginning of this trail starts out at a pretty good climb up to the reservoir. The trail here often involves large steps up the graded trail. The reservoir is scenic on its own and provides a nice stop on the way up, or an nice destination point for a short hike. The trail maps and graph here reflect a stop by the reservoir on the way up, but that is just a short jog off the trail that continues around the north side of the reservoir.

Trailhead

Creek by the first bridge on the way to the reservoir

Bell Canyon Reservoir

After rounding the north side of the reservoir, the trail really levels off for a bit. 

Section where trail levels off

View of the reservoir from the trail on the north side

 The trail soon heads into a pleasantly shady forested section and crosses the creek again. It then turns and follows the creek east up to the falls.

Creek at bridge

The trail's incline gradually increases until reaching the falls. There are a number of paths along this section that break off close to the creek or elsewhere, but the main trail is generally well marked, and a sign makes the turn off to the waterfall clear. We found the distances given to the falls listed on these signs to be inaccurate though according to our GPS data.

Lower Bell Canyon Falls

The fall itself proved to be a beautiful and refreshing sight after a hot hike. The mist from the falls was so heavy that it was difficult to get a picture of it from a more direct angle, so we just ended up with pictures more from the side as the one shown above.

More ambitious hikers with extra time can continue past the lower falls to the upper falls and/or Upper Bell Canyon Reservoir. The trail beyond the lower falls though is considered strenuous.

Dogs are not permitted on this trail. There are no restrooms at the trailhead.

Directions
This trail is located in Salt Lake County in Sandy, Utah. To get there, from I-15 take Exit 295 onto 9000 South and head east. This road curves around and becomes 9400 S. Turn left onto Wasatch Blvd. You will have to make a U-turn sometime at or after the turn off for Grayboulder Ct./Bedrock Ln. since the parking for the trail is on the other side of road, and the road is a one-way road at that point. Continue to the Bell Canyon Trail parking area. If it is full, there is some overflow parking a short ways up from this lot.

Lily Mountain Trail

The Trail
This moderate trail is 2.1 miles long (one way) with a 1017 foot elevation change. Not that about 850 feet of the climb happens during the latter mile of the trail, and that there is a little bit of up and down during the first mile of the trail.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

The Trail

Mule Deer right by the trail

There are some nice views of the valley area to the northeast as you go up the trail.

Right before the final assent to the peak, the trail becomes more difficult to see. It heads northwest very briefly and then turns more south up some large rocks. There were rock cairns here to help mark the correct path up.

Last section of trail to the top

The views from the top are impressive. Longs Peak is visible to the south, though it was partially concealed by the clouds while we were there.

Longs Peak from the top of Lily Mountain

The drop to the west of Lily Mountain is pretty sheer.

There are not any bathrooms available at the trailhead. However, there are vault toilets just a little bit down the road at Lily Lake.

Directions
This trail is located in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is next to Estes Park in Larimer County, Colorado. To get there, take St. Vrain Ave./CO-7 from Estes Park around 6.5 miles south to the trailhead. Alternatively, take US-36/Moraine Ave. east from Estes Park and turn left onto Mary's Lake Rd. When you reach St. Vrain Ave./CO-7, turn right and continue to the trailhead. There is parking on either side of the road.

Lily Lake/Lily Ridge Trail

The Trail
This easy loop trail is 1.3 miles long (round trip) with a 192 foot elevation change. The elevation changes occur while hiking up and down the ridge, but the rest of the trail is pretty flat. We started by hiking north and going up the ridge first, so that is the route reflected in the elevation graph below. The trail follows the ridge, then heads back down to the lake. At this point we continued around the Lily Lake Trail to the south side of the lake.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

 

Trail in Google Earth

Alternatively, hikers not wishing to climb up the ridge trail could simply continue along the trail circling the lake instead, which is about a 0.8 mile loop. 

Looking back on the trail ascending the ridge

Looking down at the lake from the ridge

We found lots of interesting plants and animals around the lake.

Boulder Raspberry

Boulder Raspberry fruits forming

  

Yellow Stonecrop

 

Colorado Columbine

Male Red-winged Blackbird

We even saw a couple muskrats swimming toward then diving under the boardwalk.

There were a lot of Tree Swallows and Violet-green Swallows flying about.

Tree Swallow

Tree Swallow

Looking toward the ridge from across the lake

Directions
This trail is located in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is next to Estes Park in Larimer County, Colorado. To get there, take St. Vrain Ave./CO-7 from Estes Park just under 7 miles to Lily Lake. Alternatively, take US-36/Moraine Ave. east from Estes Park and turn left onto Mary's Lake Rd. When you reach St. Vrain Ave./CO-7, turn right and continue to Lily Lake.

Sprague Lake Trail

The Trail
This easy loop trail is about 0.9 mile long (round trip) with just a 50 foot elevation change. The trail simply circles Sprague Lake offering nice views of the lake and mountains along the way. We did this trail by heading around the lake counterclockwise, so the elevation graph reflects this route.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

Boardwalks and bridges allow hikers to explore while keeping their feet dry.

As we circled the lake, we spotted a female Red-Naped Sapsucker pecking away as some fallen trees.

Blanket Flower along the trail

There is a picnic area at the same parking lot as the trailhead. Flush toilets are available here during popular seasons in the park. Dogs are not permitted on any trails within Rocky Mountain National Park.

Directions
This trail is located in Rocky Mountain National Park, which is next to Estes Park in Larimer County, Colorado. To get there, take US-36/Moraine Ave. east from Estes Park into Rocky Mountain National Park. Note that there is a fee to enter the park. Turn left onto Bear Lake Road and continue to the turn off to the left for Sprague Lake and Glacier Creek Stables. Turn right at the split to head over to the picnic area and trailhead.