Ledgemere Cave and Silver Lake

The Ledgemere Cave

Today's adventure took us up Big Cottonwood Canyon to have a picnic at Silver Lake, which located at the top by Brighton Ski Resort. 
This lake is one of our favorites. It's only .75 around the lake and it has shaded picnic tables to have a lunch. My kids love going up there and it's especially fun going with friends and cousins. 

On our way up to Silver Lake we stopped off at Ledgemere Picnic area to explore a hidden treasure that I found when I was searching for ideas up Big Cottonwood Canyon. It's a cave located at the end of the picnic area and is a little hard to see, but the cave is quite deep and tall once you get inside. We brought flashlights to explore..and the water gets deep the deeper you go in. The kids were a little hesitant at first but once they got in...they had so much fun. My sweet little Naomi begged to go inside with me...so I took her in to see inside.

Over the bridge and take a right down to the cave

Allie ready to go cave exploring 

The rocks and the water are hard to resist when you are in the canyon

The cave entrance looks like a small hole

Once inside it is tall enough to stand

Mason was a little unsure at first....

So was Allie..........

Then he made it all the way inside

The kids looking for which direction they wanted to go

The long ways into the cave

Naomi wanted to go inside and she was not scared one bit...Look at that smile!

Allie trying to make her way inside the cave 

Naomi exploring the cave

The cousins and us inside the cave

Big Deep Cave Go to the Ledgemere Picnic area, a few miles up Big Cottonwood Canyon. There is plenty of parking located on the NORTH side of the canyon road. Don't park on the south side unless you want to pay a fee. Cautiously walk across the street to the south side, to the picnic area. Start hunting for the cave after you walk across the bridge, over the creek, and on to the paved trail. 

To find the cave follow the easy, paved trail WEST (or slightly downhill) to the very last picnic table (less than 1/10 of a mile). Most people who drive up Big Cottonwood Canyon have no clue that this cave is so close, since it's hidden at the end of the picnic area. Once you get to the last picnic table, look around and you'll see the cave nearby. NOTE of Caution: Do NOT scramble up the rocky mountainside. An elderly person or two year old could easily walk up to see the cave once you spot it. 

About the cave: The inside of the cave is very wet and goes for a long ways. I'm not sure if this is a home for any animals, so beware. Bathrooms are located in the picnic area and are open during the summer season. Always watch children closely when you are near any of the canyon creeks. Ledgemere is a fee area IF you plan to stay and have a picnic. Take the time to walk through and explore the entire Ledgemere Picnic area in this canyon. The trail is paved all the way from one end of the picnic area to the other. Great for wheelchairs or strollers! 

Hiking level: Easy. A fun, little getaway hike for the entire family since it's so close to the valley. 

How to get there: From Salt Lake City's east side, take I-215 south to 6200 So (exit 6). At the off-ramp, turn east toward the mountains, and proceed south for 1.7 miles, as 6200 So. changes to Wasatch Blvd (UT 190). Turn left at the signal, (mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon), staying on UT 190, and continue up Big Cottonwood Canyon for 2 miles. Watch for a picnic area called "Ledgemere" on the right side of the road.

After our visit to the cave...we drove up to have lunch at Silver Lake.
It was a little overcast...but it was still so very beautiful. We walked around the lake and took pictures along the way.  

Allie and Mason seem to master all the highest little hills/mountains 

The redwoods of Silver Lake

Riding the giant logs at Silver Lake

The views are gorgeous! 

The explorers 

Teaching Naomi young to have a love for the outdoors.