Name: The Calling
Start: 2026-10-16
End: 2026-10-18

All photos by Outdoor Project Contributor, Brant Hansen

| **Pros:** Huge vistas. Shady. Cool in summer. Fast. **Cons:** Busy. **Congestion:** Moderate **Preferable Season(s):** Summer, Fall **Day-Use/Parking Pass Required:** General Day Use Fee ($3.00) **Dogs allowed?:** No | **Total Distance:** 6.00 mi (9.66 km) **Terrain Difficulty:** GREEN **Trailhead Elev.:** 8,239 ft (2,511 m) **Net Elev. Gain:** 1,271 ft (387 m) **Trail Uses:** Hiking, Biking **Trail type:** There-and-back |
| --- | --- |

This trail gives you a pleasant and incredibly scenic climb through 3.5 miles of aspen groves, sprawling meadows, and thick pine forests. All this eventually leads you to Desolation Lake itself, a picturesque high-altitude lake. It’s the perfect, tranquil resting spot. From there, it’s a short climb up to the Wasatch Crest Trail that joins in just below the Spine. If you choose to ride to Desolation Lake as an out-and-back, you’re in for a fast and flowy descent. The trail twists and dives, throwing you through the same forests you just climbed through.

Desolation Lake Mountain Bike Ride

Located up Big Cottonwood canyon, this trail is a great opportunity to get out on your snowshoes. If you're not looking to go too far, you can also bring a tube or sled and enjoy the hills at the trailhead.

Lake Desolation Mill D North Trail

This moderate out-and-back hike is popular, and for good reason. Takes you up a well-shaded trail to a beautiful small lake from the Millcreek Canyon side of the mountain.

This is an excellent medium difficulty hike that will appeal to most levels of hikers. Beautiful views, trees that shade most of the trail, and a small but picnic-worthy lake at the top all contribute to one of the most pleasant hikes in Millcreek Canyon. While the 1,300+ feet in elevation gain is not insignificant, the trail is never overly steep. The lake can also be accessed via the Big Cottonwood Canyon side of the mountain, but the Millcreek side is the only one of the two trails that allows dogs. Dog Lake itself is in the middle of a forested part of the mountain.

**Local's recommendation:** An excellent spring, summer, or fall hike. Dogs are allowed; they must be kept on-leash on even days, and can be off-leash on odd days.

**Difficulty:** Moderate - based on overall elevation gain

**Highest point:** 8793 ft

**Lowest point:** 7474 ft

**Best time of year:** Spring, Summer, Fall

**Safety information:** Mountain bikes are also allowed on this trail on even days, so if hiking, watch for bikes on the trail. As with any trail in the foothills, watch for rattlesnakes, especially in summer months. Wear closed-toed shoes when hiking, be aware of your surroundings, and always look carefully before placing hands or feet. Be sure to stay hydrated - even with the shade cover on the trail, it can get very warm.

**Roadbook**

From the parking lot at the top of Millcreek Canyon, take the Little Big Water Trailhead up the mountain, and follow the signs for Dog Lake.

- Start point - Lower Big Water Trailhead, Mill Creek Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84109 - 0 mi
- Lowest point, 7474 ft - 0 mi
- Highest point, 8793 ft - 3.8 mi
- Dog Lake - Destination - 6.9 mi

**How to Get There**

**Public transport:** Bus routes do not travel up to this trailhead - best access is by car.

**Parking:** There is a small parking lot at the trailhead, and parking on the road. If parking on the road is required, there is a trail that parallels the road on the south side that joins up with the trailhead.

Dog Lake via Big Water Trail

Get away from it all with Snowbird Mountain Guides Snowcat skiing and riding. Get the most out of your time in the mountains and experience the old-growth forest, rocky spires rising above you, and stillness so quiet you can hear your skis swooshing through the cold dry powder. You will gear up and join your expert guides for breakfast before heading out onto the slopes. Catskiing with us is a great way to get some quality time with your family or co-workers, make your ski date extra special or take a break from waiting in lift lines.

Snowbird SnowCat Skiing

The Cliff Lodge offers easy ski-out/ski-in access, a world-class spa and diverse shopping opportunities. Snowbird's flagship accommodation showcases restaurants and lounges, outdoor swimming pools and hot tubs and extensive meeting space. Guests enjoy mountain and slopeside views from this modern, alpine hotel. Complimentary guest ski lockers, resort-wide wireless internet service, room service, concierge and a state-licensed daycare facility make your vacation a success. The Cliff Lodge comes with a selection of dining and shopping options. The Aerie Restaurant and Lounge, The Atrium and El Chanate Restaurant and Cantina are open year-round and offer diverse menus for every palate. A ski rental and repair shop complements the resort’s numerous retail shops. A heated guest pool and three hot tubs are located outdoors on Level 3 and are open year-round. Located on the 9th and 10th floors, The Cliff Spa features over 30 treatment and salon services, yoga studio, fitness center, rooftop pool, and hot tub. Providing 360-degree views of the Wasatch mountains, The Cliff Lodge's window-lined meeting spaces create the perfect backdrop for any conference or event. The Cliff Ballroom, designed with 16-foot ceilings and an advanced rear-screen projection system, accommodates up to 900 attendees.

The Cliff Lodge

Located atop The Cliff Lodge, The Cliff Spa offers over 30 massage treatments and salon services, yoga and fitness classes, a fitness center, locker rooms, dry saunas, a eucalyptus steam room, solarium, rooftop pool and hot tub and gift shop. Open daily, year-round.

The Cliff Spa

Victus Advisors was founded in 2012 with a clear mission: to provide independent, data-driven venue consulting that helps communities, teams, and developers make informed decisions. What started as a vision in the mountain town of Park City, Utah, has evolved into a nationally respected firm specializing in sports, recreation, entertainment, and performing arts venues. Our journey began when Brian Connolly — an expert in market research, financial advisory, and strategic planning — recognized a gap in the industry. Too many projects were built on unrealistic expectations, with financial risks and operational challenges often overlooked. Victus Advisors was created to change that. Fast forward to today, and our firm has led feasibility studies, economic impact analyses, and strategic planning efforts for some of the most recognizable venues in the country.

Victus Advisors

The Aerie has been remodeled and is open to serve you. The modern restaurant and lounge, atop The Cliff Lodge on the tenth floor, features a revamped menu offering Modern American Gastropub cuisine. The Aerie has the capacity to welcome 200 guests in the Restaurant, 75 in the Lounge and 100 in private dining rooms.

The Aerie Restaurant & Lounge

**Wasatch Adaptive Sports empowers people with disabilities to improve their physical, mental, and social well-being through outdoor recreation.**

Wasatch Adaptive Sports (WAS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1977 with a mission to provide affordable recreational opportunities, including skiing, biking, and more, for children and adults with disabilities. At WAS, we believe in inclusivity and ensure that no one is turned away. WAS offers full and partial scholarships, requires no upfront fees, and strives to make participation in their programs possible for everyone, regardless of financial circumstances.

Wasatch Adaptive Sports

29 miles from SLC Airport, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort is North America's most accessible year-round resort and conference center. Celebrating the longest ski season in Utah, Snowbird also offers a variety of summer activities. Snowbird’s only ski-out, ski-in accessibility, The Cliff Lodge, is the flagship of the lodging properties at Snowbird.

Snowbird Resort and Conference Center provides mountainside meeting facilities, lodging, recreation and dining only 40 minutes from the Salt Lake City International Airport. 50,000 square feet of meeting facilities and over 800 luxurious rooms accommodate groups of 12 to 1,200.

#### Included in the Salt Lake Connect Attractions Pass

Connect Pass Attraction - Includes one Scenic Foot Passenger Tram Ride.



#### Included in the Salt Lake Ski Super Pass

[Learn more about the Super Pass](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/skiing-snowboarding/super-pass/)

Snowbird

Visit Salt Lake

Salt Lake is the place where the Wasatch mountain peaks frame city streets. Sure, Salt Lake's famed for our winter powder ([four legendary ski resorts](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/skiing-snowboarding/) just 30 minutes from downtown), but that's just one season's story. Summer brings families [hiking through wildflower meadows](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/) before cooling off at a Jazz game or the Gateway fountains. Autumn paints our mountain canyons in gold, perfect for morning strolls that end at local coffee shops. Spring? That's when you might spot baby bison on Antelope Island before heading to the Eccles Theater for a Broadway show. Our soaring Wasatch Mountains rise dramatically from downtown Salt Lake, creating a place where every day offers both natural wonders and urban energy. And while we sit perfectly between the [national parks](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/state-national-parks/) with Yellowstone's geysers and Utah's red rock country, the real magic happens right here, where everyone can [discover the history](https://www.visitsaltlake.com/plan-your-visit/about-salt-lake/) of the city as they find their own rhythm between mountain adventure and city life.

Sports Salt Lake

Formed in 1999, The Calling quickly ascended the ranks of radio rock with their distinctive blend of catchy melodies and heartfelt lyrics. Best known for their 2001 single "Wherever You Will Go", which topped the US Billboard Adult Top 40 for 23 weeks. Driven by the powerful, distinct vocals of Alex Band, the masterful instrumentation of guitarist Daniel Damico, and Grammy nominated bassist Dom Liberati.

The Calling

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