Albion Basin - Dispersed

Parked at Cecret Trail parking lot. I arrived at 10:30 PM so parking was not an issue. Was towing a small trailer, which had some difficulty handling terrain en route to parking lot. Area is not illuminated, as is expected, so I prepared a headlamp and a backup lantern for the hike. I packed some potables in a bear can because I was unfamiliar with the area’s ecology, but this is not necessary as bears do not have a presence in this area.

I embarked on Cecret Lake Trail and after a mile or so of mild hiking, arrived at the lake. I encountered a few innocuous nocturnal animals along the trail.

After assessing the topography at the lake, I continued towards the left most side of lake around the concrete bridge, and hiked upwards along trail for about 500 feet, until I found a clearing away from the trail, nestled between boulders.

I set up a two person tent on flat soft ground, padded by pine needles. Visibility was excellent and at some points I turned off my headlamp, to operate by moon and star light.

The night was quiet and peaceful, the silence periodically broken by a gentle breeze. If weather permits, leaving off the rain fly provides an exquisite view of the milky way as you drift off to sleep.

10/10 Sick af

Another beautiful dispersed campground site that sits in a beautiful meadow at the top of one of the busiest canyons in the country! This site along with many others in the Grizzly Gulch area of the terminus of Little Cottonwood Canyon can be reached from either the Cecret Lake Trailhead or the Lake Mary via Catherine Pass trailhead. The place we like to set up is in a cozy secluded meadow that sits directly below Mt Wolverine and Tuscarora. The hike to this site is around a mile but you can camp anywhere in the area as long as it is a half mile from any road.

In addition to having breathtaking views of Devils Castle to the south there are numerous recreational activities all within close hiking distance. Hiking up to Catherine Pass gives you access to 3 lakes with fishing in the terminus of Big Cottonwood Canyon. From the pass you can also hike the ridge to the south to reach Sunset Peak and reach Mt Wolverine and Tuscarora on the ridge to the North. Going back to the trailhead for Cecret Lake you can reach the namesake lake within a half mile which is loaded with hundreds of cute little salamanders! For the more adventurous there is climbing abound from 5 single pitch crags that surround Cecret Lake and adventurous (read: chossy) mixed multi-pitch routes that will take you to the top of Devils Castle. Would recommend you being confident at at least 11a. for even the easiest 10b route as these routes are not heavily trafficked and you WILL tear some pieces off.