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After the first 1-1/2 miles, the Big Water trail separates from the Upper Mill Creek Canyon (Great Western) trail. (The GW trail takes you another 1600 feet vertical to the Wasatch Crest.) The Dog Lake trail becomes a bit steeper and rougher, but still not too tough. Dog Lake is a total of 3.1 miles from the trailhead, with a total vertical rise of around 900 feet. Lake GPS is N 40° 40.064' W 111° 38.331'. At Dog Lake, kick back and have lunch, then enjoy a high-speed cruise back down. It's over all too soon. Little Water and Upper Big Water trails are optional routes back from Dog Lake, but are steeper than the Big Water trail. Dogs on leash are allowed on Mill Creek Canyon trails, but don't take Fido over the ridge into Big Cottonwood Canyon! About 150 feet past Dog Lake, dogs are absolutely outlawed. If you're caught with a dog in Big Cottonwood, you WILL be busted, you WILL go to court, and the fine is NOT trivial! The trail continues past Dog Lake over the ridge into Big Cottonwood Canyon, to join the Mill D North Fork trail, from which you can head up to Desolation Lake, or drop down to the Big Cottonwood road near Reynolds Flat. Information provided by utahmountainbiking.com.
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Very popular Big Water Trail to Dog Lake is a great introduction to mountain biking in the Wasatch. It is a relatively easy single track path through nice forest to a pretty alpine lake. (Note: To prevent excessive use, biking is allowed only on even-numbered days.)
