Difficulty: More Difficult ◼︎◼︎
Length: 7 miles round trip
Elevation Gain: 2,200 feet
Dog Friendly: Yes
Trailhead coordinates (copy + paste): 40.5069, -111.6564
Directions: The coordinates will lead you to Silver Lake Flat in American Fork Canyon, about 90 minutes from Park City. A $6 day use fee is required at the toll booth near the bottom of the canyon. From the toll booth, follow the road for 5 miles before turning left onto North American Fork Canyon Road. Another 2.5 miles will bring you to Tibble Fork Reservoir. From here, take the hairpin turn to stay on the same road, and after 1 more mile, take the obvious road on the right just before Granite Flat Campground. This last 3 miles travels on a rough dirt road which has some nerve-wracking drop-offs, and is only recommended for high clearance vehicles. This road is seasonal and can only be accessed from mid/late May through early/mid November. Check UDOT's traffic website for current status.
With stunning views of American Fork Canyon and Mount Timpanogos, the moderate climb to Silver Glance Lake is one that you'll find yourself coming back to over and over again. The hike begins from a dirt parking lot at Silver Lake Flat, a popular reservoir with an impressive view of its own. The reservoir is busy during summer but tends to nearly dry up by fall, opening up many more parking spots as paddleboarders and kayakers hang up their watercraft for the season.
The trail starts out at a slow incline and is well-shaded as it travels through a forest of aspens and along a steady creek. Around the 1.0 mile mark, the trail takes a right turn and crosses over the creek, before leading to a large switchback from which you can catch glimpses of Timpanogos through the trees. The path becomes steeper at this point as it continues to climb towards the lake above, following a few smaller switchbacks across the slope. The sound of the waterfall grows as you near the boldly striped cliffs looming ahead, and wildflowers line the trail as you make the final ascent to Silver Lake. Easier to reach than Silver Glance, this larger lake sees more traffic and is a perfect place to rest and cool off with a swim. To continue on to Silver Glance, return to where the trail opens up at the lake, and take the steep path heading uphill to the right. With just about a mile to go, this part is quite a bit steeper and more difficult than the first part of the hike, but the views along the way make the work more than worth it. Silver Glance itself is more of a pond than a lake, however the shelf it sits on offers lots of opportunities to explore. This area enjoys panoramic views over neighboring canyons and peaks, and sees far fewer visitors than the other section of the trail. If you're up for the challenge, the Excalibur Sword awaits just a short scramble away, atop the sharp, pointy peak to the Southeast (last photo below).
