Devil's Castle: A Tale of Two Trails in Alta, Utah

Devil's Castle Trails and Cecret Lake Hidden Wildflowers

Immersive DevilsCastle & Cecret Lake Wildflowers for VR Headsets

My adventures in Alta's Albion Basin led me to a fascinating discovery: there are two very different hikes called "Devil's Castle." One is the trail on the official Alta maps—a beautiful loop that winds through some of the most spectacular wildflower fields I have ever seen. The other is the one you'll find on apps like AllTrails—an epic, difficult climb up a steep, exposed ridgeline to the very top. This is the story of both of those adventures: a challenging journey that tested my skills and my nerve, and a serene walk that filled my soul with the beauty of a mountain in full bloom.

The Golden Nugget 🌟

Don't Miss This: The "other" Devil's Castle trail! If your goal is to see breathtaking wildflowers, take the Devil's Castle Loop Trail that stays in front of the mountain (the one on the Alta maps). It is an absolutely stunning walk through fields of red, white, and blue flowers and is far more scenic than the steep summit trail.

TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO ALTA'S PEAKS

Need to relax and loosen that tight chest? Grab a VR headset and join me to see Devil's Castle, the beautiful Cecret Lake, a surprise rainbow, and even some Tiger Salamanders! This journey is filled with elements to soothe away stress and calm a troubled heart. Enjoy some "Me Time" and get a positive boost from nature right now!

Cecret Lake Wildflowers

"Is this too much for me? I decided that I was prepared and I had my hiking sticks... It challenged 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."

Adventure at a Glance

🏞️ Location: Albion Basin, Alta, Utah (Little Cottonwood Canyon)
🚶‍♀️ Activity: Strenuous Summit Hike & Easy Wildflower Loop
⭐ Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds)
☀️ Best For: Epic summit views, world-class wildflowers, a challenging adventure.
⏳ Best Time: Late July through August for the best trail conditions and flowers.
🧭 Can't-Miss Sights: The view from the summit, the wildflower fields on the loop, Cecret Lake.

My Devil's Castle Story: A Tale of Two Trails

Both of these trails start from the beautiful Cecret Lake. The trail up to the Devil's Castle summit begins on the southeast corner of the lake and immediately starts climbing.

The Challenging Summit Hike

I knew this hike was marked as "hard," but that can mean so many things. This wasn't long, or unclear, but it was very steep dirt with no nice boulders to use as steps or trees that might break your fall if you started falling down the mountain. As I started the final mile, I had to stop and ask myself, "Is this too much for me?" I decided I was prepared. With my hiking sticks for a 4-point system on the way down and the willingness to scoot on my butt if needed, I pushed on. Reaching the top was an incredible feeling of accomplishment. The views from the ridgeline, looking down into both Salt Lake County and Utah County, are absolutely epic. It's a difficult but rewarding hike for those who can handle the steep, exposed descent.

The Beautiful Wildflower Loop

On another visit, I took the trail less traveled by the AllTrails crowd: the Devil's Castle Loop that Alta Ski Area has on its maps. I absolutely LOVED this trail. Instead of heading straight up, it winds gracefully through the basin in front of Devil's Castle, taking you through the most gorgeous fields of Indian Paintbrush and Lupine. It offers incredible views of the castle from below and is a much more serene and colorful experience than the grueling summit climb.

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

Wildflowers along the DevilsCastle Loop Trail

Your Trail Guide: Helpful Hints

♦️ Choose Your Adventure: Decide what you're looking for. For a huge challenge and epic 360-degree views, take the summit trail to Devil's Castle. For a world-class wildflower experience, take the lower loop trail.
♦️ Hiking Poles are a MUST: If you attempt the summit hike, trekking poles are not optional. They are essential for safely navigating the steep dirt descent.
♦️ GPS is Your Friend: The trails can get a bit confusing. I was very grateful for my Gaia GPS app, especially when I came down a different way than I went up. Peace of mind is priceless.
♦️ Start at Cecret Lake: Both trails are accessed from the area around Cecret Lake. A quick loop around the lake itself is always a delightful addition to either hike.
TRAILHEAD 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 Devil's Castle Trail 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

I reached the top.

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 THE MOUNTAIN

CHECK OUT THE COOL FORT!
I think this is one of the coolest forts I have seen!

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!!!

Conclusion

Devil's Castle offers two incredible but vastly different experiences. One is a test of will that rewards you with the view from the top of the world, and the other is a gentle dance through a masterpiece of natural color. Both are beautiful. It’s a perfect reminder that there are many ways to experience a mountain, and the "best" path is simply the one that brings you the most joy. I hope this guide helps you find your perfect adventure in this stunning corner of the Wasatch.

Sending Love and Positive Vibes,

Shauna from VRGetaways