***2025 Peak wildflowers should be the last week of July and first week of August***
Cecret Lake is a beautiful alpine lake at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Albion Basin with tiger salamanders and amazing wildflowers in late July and August.
There are two trails. This post is on the shortest, easiest trail (1.8 easy/moderate miles). For the longer one (4.5 moderate miles) from Alta, click here.
The peak season depends on the snow pack, but it’s typically July – September. There is snow there most of the year, but mid summer through early fall it is a wonderful family hike.
Directions
At the very top of Little Cottonwood Canyon is the town and ski resort of Alta. The Albion Basin Road above Alta doesn’t open until July 1 and often there is still snow then.
For the shortest trail, you will need to pay ($12 as of 2024) at the toll booth at Alta Ski Resort. Be careful about going during peak times during wildflower season. They meter the number of cars that can go into the Albion Basin, so you have to wait for a car to leave to let another up. Saturdays and Sundays are especially crowded, but if you get up there before 8:00 am your wait shouldn’t be too long. If you can go mid-week, that’s even better.
Albion Basin Road an improved dirt road that will be fine with any car, but slow down for the dips. *If it’s too crowded, Albion Meadows from Alta Base (2-3 moderate miles), Lisa Falls (0.3 easy miles) or Gloria Falls (2.4 moderate miles) are good nearby alternatives.
You might see wildlife and gorgeous flowers along the way Albion Basin Road. On your way you will pass Catherine’s Pass, which is the trailhead to Lake Catherine, Sunset Peak, Mount Tuscarora and Mount Wolverine. It is also immediately next to the Albion Meadows if you don’t want to have to hike to them. You will want to park in one of the two parking lots at the end of the road, next to the campground.
Trail
If you park in the closer lot, you will head directly to the trail. If you park in the further lot, head back to the restrooms and then head up to intersect the main trail.
Right away you’ll cross a small bridge.
This trail is mostly a very gentle incline, but the end is moderate.
The views are so gorgeous along the way!
There are a handful of informative signs that remind you to leave no trace and leave it nice for others. Please don’t pick wildflowers, get in the water or touch the salamanders.
The signs were all replaced in 2023 and still look brand new. Below shows the old signage.
There are a couple places where you’ll probably need to cross water, but there are logs and rocks to step across.
Cecret Lake is so popular due to the prettiness and relative ease of the hike. The Albion Basin wildflowers are incredible!
They can also be seen on the nearby Albion Meadows Trail and you pass through many on the longer hike to Cecret Lake from the Albion Base.
This hike to Cecret Lake is easy until the very end, but then there is one steeper hill of switchbacks before the lake. These photos below are from the bottom looking up and then the top looking down.
Depending on the snow pack, you might be able to look to the far left of the switchbacks and see the waterfall below where the water comes out of Cecret Lake. You can’t access it while staying on the designated trail, but you can see it from a distance.
If you pay attention its easy to see the two switchbacks to reach the top.
When you arrive at the top of the hill, you see stunning Cecret Lake!
One of the coolest things about this lake are the salamanders! It is a watershed, so be sure not to wade in or try to catch them. You can usually see them from the shoreline.
Cecret Lake is filled with Tiger Salamanders!
Tiger Salamanders hatch from their eggs in early summer and stay in this larvae stage for the next 3-5 months.
Eventually they lose their gills, their tails change and they become adult tiger salamanders. These are trickier to find, but they are there.
It’s hard to believe these are the same species a few months apart.
There was an avalanche in the winter of 2021/2022 that left a lot of debris in Cecret Lake, so the water this summer of 2022 the water is cloudier and the salamanders were nearly impossible to see.
I love the patterns of the mountain reflected perfectly most years in the water! This top one is 2025.
Like all bodies of water, it looks different from different angles and depending on the sky.
If you want to extend your hike, next time begin at Alta. You can also extend by summiting Sugarloaf Peak that is next to Cecret Lake, as shown below. The second and third image is looking down on Cecret Lake from the summit.
If you go early or late you are likely to see lots of wildlife, including moose, deer, ground squirrels, marmots and more!
This is a great family hike, as long as you avoid peak times.
Stats: Distance – 1.8 miles round trip (4.5 from Alta)
Approximate hiking time – 1-3 hours
Elevation gain – 459 feet (1,213 from Alta)
Difficulty – Easy (Moderate from Alta)
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks
Bathrooms – At trailhead
Seasons to hike – July – September
Permits needed – $12 to park in Albion Basin (free from Alta)
Pets allowed – No
Other family-friendly hikes nearby are Albion Meadows, Gloria Falls and Lisa Falls.
