Hiking to Lake Catherine – Stormy Skies, Wildflowers, and a Flash of Light

The Lake Catherine Trail in Little Cottonwood Canyon started out with sunshine and a light breeze — perfect hiking weather. But not long into the climb, big dark clouds rolled in, and I started second-guessing my decision to leave the hoodie at home.

As I made my way up the trail, I passed a few hikers and caught sight of a lone chipmunk sitting calmly, chewing away at something only it cared about.

About a quarter of the way up, the sky followed through on its threat — a quick sprinkle came and went. I paused for a snack and watched a pair of ravens fly by before continuing through the forest. Eventually, the trees opened up to reveal a lively meadow. Bees buzzed between wildflowers, and a few ruby-throated hummingbirds — zipped around, too fast for the eye to follow for long and squirrels everywhere busied themselves with watching hikers and eating dandelions.

Aside from the occasional hiker, the area was quiet, but wildflowers were everywhere. Indian paintbrush stood out with vibrant reds and pinks, deep purple lupines reached toward the sky, and mountain bluebells added splashes of color. Others I couldn’t name, but all added to the painterly scene. Near the summit, I spotted a dusky grouse blending in with the paintbrush. She stood still, believing she was invisible. I took a few photos and quietly moved on.

At the top, the peaks and reddish rock were softly lit by an overcast sky — not the most dramatic light, but I took a few shots anyway. You never know when you’ll be back.

From there, the trail dropped steeply into the bowl. I took my time descending the rocky path, not wanting to slip and end the day early. At the lake, I wandered the shoreline looking for a good frame. Just then, the sun returned, briefly lighting up the pines and a distant field of yellow flowers across the water. I snapped a few more frames before the clouds moved in again.

Before heading back, I shared some mixed nuts with a ground squirrel who was just cautious enough to be polite. The final climb back out was quiet, but as I reached the top, the sun broke through once more, flooding the bowl with a last golden glow.