A Hike to Bloods Lake: Utah’s Golden Aspens

For years, I’d seen photographs of Utah’s golden aspens in autumn and wanted to experience them in person. This fall, hiking the Bloods Lake Trail near Park City, I finally had that opportunity. The lake was our destination, but seeing those golden aspens up close was every bit as important to me.

The First Glimpse of Autumn

The Bloods Lake Trail climbed out of the lower canyon, winding through a forest where white-barked aspens stood alongside dark evergreens. We arrived near peak season, although the fall color was expected to be somewhat below average in this area. Looking out across the canyon, the golden color was scattered among the evergreens, appearing here and there across the mountainside. It was pretty, but not quite the sweeping display I’d imagined.

Lost in the Golden Grove

Almost immediately, though, the trail led us into a dense grove of aspens. The experience was entirely different from looking at the mountainside from a distance. Inside the grove, the trees stood close together, their white trunks rising into a canopy of yellow leaves. Afternoon sunlight filtered through the branches, illuminating the leaves and casting a warm glow across the forest floor. Here and there, fallen leaves caught the light, looking like scattered gold coins.

Standing among the aspens, the photographic possibilities began running through my mind. Their tall white trunks and brilliant yellow canopy were perfectly suited to intentional camera movement, using a slow shutter speed and a vertical swipe to create more impressionistic interpretations of the forest. I wasn’t really on a “photography” hike, but I wanted to at least capture some scenes with a sense of creativity.

The trail is a popular one, so we encountered other hikers making their way up and down. But at times, it was just Demi and me, walking beneath the golden canopy, accompanied by the sound of our footsteps and our almost constant expressions of amazement. The color may not have been at its peak, but standing among those trees, it was more than enough. After finally seeing the scene I’d imagined for so many years, I found myself unexpectedly moved by it.

Beyond the Aspens

Beyond the grove, the aspens became less frequent as evergreens took over. The Bloods Lake Trail continued through a noticeably darker and cooler forest, and with a series of switchbacks that carrying us higher up the mountain. The climb demanded more effort, and although we were still looking forward to reaching the lake, we were beginning to focus more on our footing and catching our breath than on the scenery around us. We took several breaks along the way before continuing upward.

Reaching Bloods Lake

We made one final push up a rocky incline before the trees opened up to reveal Bloods Lake. Its dark water lay beneath the surrounding gray rock, a very different scene from the golden aspen grove we’d passed through earlier. We stopped for a moment to take it in, glad to have finally reached the lake.

There were only a handful of other hikers around the lake. Every so often, we could hear voices and footsteps coming up the trail, but the shoreline remained relatively quiet.

The Chipmunks Had Other Plans

A few chipmunks were moving through the brush near the water. They quickly caught our attention as they scurried around our feet and investigated our backpacks. One even climbed onto mine, poking around the outside and along the seams. Apparently, our backpacks were just as interesting to them as they were to us.

After watching the chipmunks for a while, we found a wooden bench near the water and settled in. We were both ready for a rest after the climb. Sitting there, looking out across the lake, we had little reason to do anything but enjoy the moment. The occasional sounds of hikers on the trail were a reminder that we weren’t entirely alone, but otherwise it was a peaceful place to spend some time.

We lingered at the lake a bit longer before gathering our things. A few hikers were beginning to head back down, and the chipmunks had disappeared into the brush. My thoughts kept returning to the aspen grove and how different it looked from the scattered patches of yellow we’d seen across the canyon. Walking among those tall white trunks, surrounded by golden leaves, was something I’d looked forward to for years. Eventually, we started back down the trail toward the parking area.

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