silver lake

On Saturday, Adam and his friend Mark took a 200 mile motorcycle ride to visit an old Utah ghost town. So Mark's wife Tisha and I took our kids on a little adventure to Silver Lake in Big Cottonwood canyon. It was beautiful! I'm so glad we went. The weather was perfect, it wasn't too crowded and the kids had lots of fun climbing and discovering (if only we'd found a salamander to hold!)
And Tisha was lots of fun to hang out with too! We haven't really gotten together very much- but I've followed her blog for a long time- so it almost feels like we're old friends. Look- you really can be friends with your blogging buddies in real life! :)

Linc is very determined to get down to the water and the ducks- maybe if I stick my foot through here and my head through here...



There were lots of little trails and places to climb just off the boardwalk path.

Tisha and McKinley

Me and the boys.

One worn out Linc.

P.S. This hike was just one mile total- around the lake- so perfect for families. I think I might go on a Sunday drive up the canyon (also beautiful) and go on this little walk again sometime. If you want to go: drive 14 miles up big cottonwood, end at Brighton ski resort. On your right is a parking lot with signs for the Silver Lake trail head. You can hook on to some other trails that take you out further to some other lakes too.

battlecreek falls

We hiked Battlecreek Falls last night. (Thanks L and B for the idea!) I read that it's about a 1.2 mile hike to the falls and back- so nice and short- although it's a lot of uphill on the way there. The boys loved exploring along the way. And Elliott was just excited to wear the water pack! We stopped at Bailey's sandwich shop in Orem before and had our picnic at the falls. (Bailey's special is sooo yummy!) It was such a hot evening-- we started about 6:30 and I think it was around 94 degrees-- that the mist from the falls felt so good!

The falls! There were some people repelling down right in the water-you can see their rope.


Adam propped Ollie on this ledge and he sat for the longest time, not wanting to get down. Just enjoying the waterfall.



I'm amazed that this is so close to us and we've never been. We will go back for sure! You could go even further up but this was perfect for little kids. We definitely need to hike more, so if you know any "family friendly" hikes- please tell me about them!

Cave exploring on the hike out.

Another little pool along the way. Ollie hasn't wanted to wear shorts all summer and even when I tell him it's so hot out he always says, "How come Daddy never wears shorts then?" Good question Oliver. Good question.

The view of Pleasant Grove and Utah Lake. Plus right in front of us there was a huge dead snake that the boys were poking with sticks. (We didn't see any live snakes along the way though.)

*If you want to go to Battlecreek Falls- just go to 200 South in Pleasant Grove and head East all the way until it dead ends into a parking lot and the trail head. :)