Hiking at Brighton Resort: summer trails, alpine lakes and peaks

Summer trails

Brighton Resort is first a ski area. In summer, its website lists ten hiking trails, from a short lakeside loop to ridge circuits that take most of a day. The resort gives distances in miles (mi) and elevation gain in feet (ft), sometimes as a range; the figures below are the resort’s own.

• Silver Lake Loop: easy, 0.9 mi (1.4 km), 55 ft of gain, about 20 min. The resort presents it as a gentle lakeside stroll for families and visitors of all ages.
• Dog Lake: moderate, about 2.2 mi, 600–640 ft, 1–1.5 hr. A trail through forest and wildflower meadows to a lake tucked among the trees.
• Twin Lakes: moderate, 2.3–2.5 mi, about 720 ft, about 1.5 hr. The climb passes through pines and open slopes to a dammed alpine lake beneath rocky ridgelines.
• Lake Mary: moderate, about 2.3–2.6 mi, about 800 ft, 1.5–2 hr. The resort calls it one of Brighton’s most iconic destinations, reached in under two hours.
• Lake Martha: moderate, about 3.5–3.8 mi, about 1,200 ft, 2–2.5 hr. Past Lake Mary, it leads to a calmer alpine basin that sees fewer visitors, according to the resort.
• Lake Catherine: moderate, about 4.4–4.6 mi, 1,200–1,300 ft, 2.5–3 hr. A step beyond Lake Martha: a high-elevation basin surrounded by rocky peaks.
• Sunset Peak: moderate to hard, about 5.8–6.2 mi, 1,300–1,975 ft, 3.5–4 hr. A ridge trail that passes Lake Mary and Lake Catherine and ends at a rocky summit with 360-degree views, according to the resort. Exposed sections and loose gravel: poles help.
• Mount Wolverine: hard, about 5–6.9 mi, 1,450–2,112 ft, 3–4 hr. A tougher climb past lakes and along exposed ridges, ending nearly at 10,700 ft. The resort expects some scrambling and likely snow patches.
• Lakes Loop: moderate, about 7 mi (11.3 km), about 1,800 ft (549 m), 4–4.5 hr. The loop links all six lakes: Silver, Twin, Mary, Martha, Catherine and Dog.
• Peaks Loop: hard, about 7.5–7.8 mi, 2,300–2,700 ft, 4–6 hr. A full-day ridge circuit that tags six major peaks. The resort warns of steep climbs, rocky terrain, exposed ridgelines and changing terrain underfoot.

Choosing a hike

For a twenty-minute outing, Silver Lake Loop is the only trail the resort rates easy. To reach an alpine lake in under two hours, Lake Mary is the one the resort puts forward. Seven trails are rated moderate or moderate to hard, taking from 1 hr to 4.5 hr; Mount Wolverine and Peaks Loop are the two rated hard.

Season and conditions

The resort says its trails are open July through September, conditions permitting. It adds that trailheads can be reached on foot or by scenic lift ride; the scenic lift is typically open from mid-June through September, conditions permitting. For hours, see the Hours page on the resort’s website. The opening and closing dates for the next season (summer 2027) are not yet set: the resort lists them as “TBD”. On Dog Lake, the resort warns that seasonal transitions bring mud, lingering snow or buzzing bugs.

Dogs

Dogs are not allowed. According to the resort, Brighton is in the Salt Lake watershed.

Parking and access

The resort is at 8302 South Brighton Loop Road, Brighton, Utah. In summer, parking is open and first come, first served throughout most of the season. The Brighton Store lot is a paid U.S. Forest Service parking area during the summer season. On Sundays, parking demand may be higher because of the BCC Flea Market.

In winter

In winter, Brighton Resort is a ski area. On November 14, 2026, the resort's winter operations page listed the 2026/27 opening day, opening night, closing night and closing day as “TBD”. The resort warns that conditions can vary considerably in the shoulder seasons, from November through mid-to-late December and again from late March to mid-to-late April: early on, snow coverage may be sparse, which could limit the number of lifts in operation, and later, icy or slushy conditions might set in. It lists night riding from mid-December through early April, 4 to 9 p.m., Wednesday to Monday, conditions permitting, with Tuesday nights closed for routine maintenance and no night riding on December 24, December 25 or December 31. It asks visitors to be prepared for traction laws in the canyon and possible lift holds. For the 2026/27 season, parking reservations are required from December 4, 2026 to April 18, 2027 for all vehicles before noon on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and during listed holiday periods (daily, December 18 to January 3, excluding December 25; January 16 to 19; February 13 to 16). The lot is closed daily from midnight to 7 a.m. The resort also points to the UTA Ski Bus, which it says runs all day, with 30-minute frequency during peak hours.