The Willow Heights drainage area was protected in 2000-2001 by Save of Canyons (and other agencies) to protect 155 acres of open space from development. The trail fits in that protected area.
The trail is easily missed since there is only roadside parking. It starts around 7850ft in elevation and climbs around 500ft in less than 1/2 mile. (600 ft total)
I get to the trail around 4:30pm. There are some yellow flowers right next to the road. They look a little like Wallflowers (4 yellow petals) but are much shorter.
And there are small bunches of white flowers. These are all along the trail (until I reach the snow).
It's a steep climb through thick aspen groves.
But very pretty -- lots of Columbine growing (not yet blooming) and various other plants. Because of the elevation I'm a little surprised to see all the vegetation but it is a southern exposure (bright sunlight all day) - the makings of a nice micro-climate.
I see little orange moths flying - I've seen these at other locations this Spring -- but have never seen one landed. Today is no different.
I also see a brownish/black butterfly - a duskywing. Fortunately, it lands and I get a decent underside view of it before it flies away.
A couple of Painted Ladies are nectaring on those little white flowers.
When the trail levels out just a bit, I turn around and can see the empty Solitude Ski Resort's snowy slopes through the aspens.
A little while later, I'm in snow. Lots of snow -- not deep, but everywhere. Parts of the trail are visible (and covered in snowmelt), the rest is buried. I follow footprints the rest of the way over fallen trees, through bushes and on the actual trail.
At 0.7 miles, the trail breaks out into a meadow and there's a small pond. Too small to be the Willow Heights pond. Just a low depression filled with snowmelt.
As I walk into the meadow, two birds (with red undersides of wings) fly off. I have no idea what they were but they were feeding on the ground.
There's a chorus of chirping. I'm looking for the birds but the sounds are actually coming from Ground Squirrels - a lot of Ground Squirrels. They are on their hind legs looking around, running around the ground, playing tag,...
Excellent entertainment. They don't seem afraid of my presence, if fact, some get really close.
The Mallard pair on the pond is also unafraid.
I walk to the other side of the lake and turn around.
Pretty nice view.
The trail continues and I follow - the "lake" must be near. Unfortunately, the trail goes through a thicket of willow and its snow covered (I went through up to my knees twice), so I decide to turn back.
I walk back through the gathering of Ground Squirrels and back to the trailhead.
What a wonderful little trail -- perfect for an after work hike!! I'll be back!
Back at my car, I decide since I'm only a mile or so away from Silver Lake, why not stop by....
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