Immersive DevilsCastle & Cecret Lake Wildflowers Albion Basion VR 360 Nature Vacation Experience

Immersive DevilsCastle & Cecret Lake Wildflowers for VR Headsets

 Immersive D Castle 

& Cecret Lake  

Alta, Utah in 360 Degrees

My adventures this week took me to DevilsCastle.  I knew it would be a hard hike, but when you hear it is hard, it is really nice to know why.  Some hikes that are marked hard are not hard at all.  Some are hard because it is steep, but I have had steep where there were not loose rocks, but just boulders that were large, but not too large that was not that hard.  I have had hikes that are loose sharp rocks and steep and those are crazy and I turn around for it would be just crazy hard coming down. This was steep, but no nice boulders to make steps, and no loose sharp rocks.  This is just dirt for the most part that is steep.  So as I started climbing the last mile, I had to evaluate.  Is this too much for me?  I decided that I was prepared and I had my hiking sticks and I can do the four point system really well to help me down.  I also thought it would not be bad to sit on my butt and scoot down if I was too nervous (Never got to that point), so the point is, yes this is steep.  It challenge me and helped me develop skills so I was happy about it, but you can bet your bottom dollar I said a prayer before heading down.  So hopefully that will give you a baring of if this hike is or is not meant for you.
So I would say this is a Difficult hike, but an Epic hike. If you can handle not freaking out on the the steep descent then this hike will amaze you.

  The cool thing I discovered the first Time hiking this trail, is that in my mind there are 2 different hikes called DevilsCastle.  The one that is listed in AllTrails heads to the top that is a little scary because of the steepness of the trail.  They other is on the maps at Alta.  It is a beautiful loop in front of DevilsCastle and heads through the most beautiful fields of Wildflowers.  I absolutely LOVED this trail.  

Need to relax and loosen up that tight chest?  Well I have a great option for you.  Grab a VR Headset, open a bottle of Cypress Oil, get a nice breeze blowing on you, and curl up in a comfy chair, then join me to see DevilsCastle, Cecret Lake, wildflowers, a rainbow, and some Tiger Salamanders.  This beautiful journey is filled with elements to sooth away the stress and calm a troubled heart.  Nature is amazing that way that it can heal, and it is wonderful that when you can't get outside to somewhere awe inspiring, you can throw on a VR Headset and get a similar positive boost from Nature Therapy Virtually.  So what are you waiting for?  Enjoy some "Me Time" to help you feel happier by enjoying an awe moment in nature right now! Sending love and positive vibes your way.  - Shauna

If you haven't tried using my Oculus Portfolio link to access my VR Nature Vacations, you should try it out.  It makes finding my videos so easy. Just click on the link, click on the VR Getaway you would like to transport to, and it will appear on your main screen of your Oculus for the next 10 minutes.  So easy, so fun!  

My Oculus Portfolio Link

VR Headset Immersive Nature Experience

Here is a 360 Video of the Wildflowers along the DevilsCastle LOOP trail.

Make sure you rotate it around to See Everything.  This has motion, so if you get nauseous easily, don't use this in a VR Headset. Use the one above.

The hike is located in Alta, and you head to Cecret Lake, and the trail starts on the East side just about 20 feet back from the lake.  I like to take the D.vils Castle Loop Trail that is a small trail that heads off to the left at the beginning of the Cecret Lake Trail.   It is also easy to locate on the South East corner of the lake back about 20 feet from the lake.  The trail then starts south up the mountain towards Dev_l's castle, or has the left side of the trail that joins up with the De_ils Castle Loop Trail to stay in the front of the mountain instead of heading to the top.  

Awesome Fields of Red, White, and Blue flowers abound in front of D.vil's Castle on the Dev_ls Caste Loop Trail. 

Wildflowers along the DevilsCastle Loop Trail

2D Version of above if you want me to help you find the best parts of the video.

If you do either D.vils Castle Loop, or to the Top of De.ils Castle you will see Cecret Lake, and with either trail, a quick loop around the lake is always delightful.  Hiking to the top of Dev.l's Castle is fun, for you have views of Cecret Lake almost the whole way up, and you just keep watching it get smaller and smaller. Here is a link to my blog post on Cecret Lake

 Link to Cecret Lake Hike

Cecret Lake

***THINGS I WAS MOST GRATEFUL I HAD ON THIS HIKE.***

1.  I was super grateful I had my nice hiking sticks.  Todd has some that are just pointy on the bottom, and they are not great at staying the same height.  I really LOVE my sticks.  They grab the rocks I am climbing over, they stay strong and in place and I would not have made it down this mountain without scraps without these.  They give you a 4 point system that gave me confidence going down steep sections. These poles are very good ones and for only around $20 they are a must.  They also let you have a whole body workout when hiking and give your legs a break to help you be stronger throughout the hike.

2.  The second thing I was SUPER grateful I had was my external GPS, with the app GAIA gps and the map downloaded.  I ended up coming down on a different trail than I went up on.  I caught it pretty early, but I knew it was going in the right direction and I could tell it was going to give me amazing views of Dev.l's Castle from the front.  After while my trail went from a definite trail to a questionable trail.  This is why I have this cool system I have.  I opened up my app GAIA, and made sure my GPS was on, and it showed me my location, and the location of all the trails around me.  I could tell very fast that their was a trail 20-30 feet North of me heading just where I wanted to go!  It is called peace of mind. I have that and a backup charger, and backup app just in case, and of course a paper map on me.  The first one only works on Android.  The other 2 are suppose to work on both.

2D Trailer for Immersive VR Headset Experience. 

TRAILHEAD TO DEVILSCASTLE AT SOUTHEAST CORNER OF CECRET LAKE

This is an easy spot on the South East corner where the trail around Cecret Lake and the Trail up to DevilsCastle are right next to each other making an easy spot to get on the trail.  

Lupine and Indian Paint brush in front of DevilsCastle

I am heading towards Sugarloaf Mountain here.  Some people walk up to the top of Sugarloaf and then across.  It might be an easier trail, but it was not what my Gala GPS or All TRails was telling me was the trail. I was also surprised to find out that they DevilsCastle trail on the Alta map is not the same as the one on my All trails.

Here I am closer to Sugar loaf, and then I will be turning around and heading towards DevilsCastle
.  It has not gotten real steep yet, and I am feeling pretty good about the trail so far.

WALK WITH ME IN 360 DEGREES TO DEVILSCASTLE

Starting to get steep here.

VIDEO Almost to the top.

Video overlooking to Pittsburgh Lake - Just Click for it to come up. 

I reached the top.  The first video is looking out over Salt Lake/ Alta side.....

....The I walk over to that edge and do a video looking out over Utah Valley side.  

The lake below me is no longer Cecret Lake, but Pittsburg lake that is up American Fork Canyon.  I officially have made it to the ridge line to look down to Utah Valley on one side of me, and Salt Lake County on the other!  That is cool to say you did!

If you are afraid of heights....this one is not the hike for you.  Steep cliffs from here on out!

Look at this AMAZING FORT built up here.  It is so well built I wonder if a skier came up in the summer to get it ready for a shelter in the winter.  

COOL FORT UP AT TOP OF MOUNTAIN ALMOST TO DEVILSCASTLE

CHECK OUT THE COOL FORT!

I think this is one of the coolest forts I have seen! 

Video of Cool Fort on summit right before DevilsCastle - Just click for it to come up.

Video of DevilsCastle - Just click on it for it to come up.

Ridgeline of DevilsCastle.  This is as far as I am interested in going, but you can get closer.  

Check out how the arch there looks like you are walking up to an entrance door, and then you will have to descend into the depth of the castle to see the master......THE D!

THE TOP, or at least the end of the line for me!

Heading down I ended up on the DevilsCastle trail that goes in front of DevilsCastle.  It was the most gorgeous walk in the middle of July, for there was SO MANY AMAZING FLOWERS!!!

The Indian Paintbrush was such a beautiful vibrant Red, and it always had blue Lupins, and White flowers around them.  

So if you think this mountain sound cool, but are more interested in avoiding heights and seeing wildflowers, still go, but do this DevilsCastle loop on the Alta Trail map.  If you are in for a cool adventure that is hard, but not dangerous hard, then go for the D.vil's Castle trail I followed.  It was an awesome memory that I am glad I did (JUST MAKE SURE YOU TAKE HIKING STICKS!)

If you liked this hike and want to see more of this area, Click on the DevilsCastle Google Earth Link Below
 Google Earth Link

Then click on the little dude in the bottom corner, then any blue line or dot where you want to see more.

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If you liked this post, then you will also LOVE

CECRET LAKE

Link to Cecret Lake

and

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BALD MOUNTAIN

Link to Bald Mountain

and

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San Rafael CANYON

Link to San Rafael Canyon

and

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RED LEDGES

Link to Red Ledges

and

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RED REEF

Link to Red Reef - Hurricane

Below are some of my favorite Hiking Essentials.  Check them out!

Below is my External GPS I use.  I use it with All Trails app on my phone and a Downloaded Offline Google Map of the area, and it helps me a lot while hiking.  Of course you always want a paper map, but this is awesome and SO helpful.  The Global Sat is the one I have but it only works with Android.  The black and red one is great for an iOS device.  You can actually take one of your old iPads and link with this guy, mount him in your car and you have an amazing navigation device.

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