Dark Hollow has always had that mysterious sound to it and at one time was "high" on our lists of hikes we wanted to do. However, when the 2017 Brian Head fire occurred, and devastated the area, we lost the desire to visit this once heavily laden aspen forest.
Fast forward six years, and a call from Tom, asking if we would be interested in a loop hike that would include Dark Hollow and
Hendrickson Lake (a favorite past hike of ours). He said it would give us a reprieve from the valley heat and provide us and the dogs with some exercise. After looking at Google Earth and seeing there were pockets of aspens that had escaped the fire, along with a nice stream, we decided to jump on board for another fun adventure!
 |
| The Columbines were in full bloom near the unmarked Dark Hollow trailhead |
 |
Heading up the Dark Hollow Trail . . .
Our first spring-fed stream crossing |
 |
We were surprised to see such beautiful mature aspen groves,
especially considering we are surrounded by the burn scar from the Brian Head fire |
 |
| Fungus growing on a decaying tree stump |
 |
The second stream crossing . . .
We were pleasantly surprised to see so much water after such a dry winter! |
 |
We walked through this meadow and found the beginning of a small spring
(You can see Sidney Peaks (11,030 ft) in the background . . . another fun hike in the Brian Head area!) |
 |
This trail is in great condition due to the fact that it is a well used mountain bike trail . . .
We started early and had it all to ourselves . . . apparently the riders were still in bed! |
 |
| These galls are caused by Corky-Bark disease . . . a fungus |
 |
| This young aspen appears to be growing out of the base of a dead tree |
 |
| We always appreciate signs in addition to our GPS |
 |
| Hendrickson Lake is surrounded by the fire's burn scar . . . still a beautiful little gem! |
 |
| A sign that things are thriving . . . a butterfly! |
 |
We had fun watching & listening to a couple of mallards . . .
There must have been a nest nearby, as they were quite vocal . . . quack, quack! |
 |
| There were thousands of Common Blue Damselflies near the lake |
 |
| Dead aspens made for a neat reflection on the surface of the lake |
 |
While all the deadfall and brush make it a tough place to fish, there are still some
nice "brookies" lurking in this pond! |
 |
| Lola and Ezy "chillin" while Kent tried a few casts from the shore |
 |
| We had a nice view of Yankee Meadow Reservoir as were heading back down |
 |
| Sego Lily and Rocky Mountain Penstemon were in bloom |
 |
| Clusters of Fireweed were abundant near the end of the trail |
 |
Before the fire these red rock formations were a lot harder to see . . .
It's good to see the forest making a slow recovery in Second Left Hand Canyon |
If you're interested in making this most enjoyable loop trip, it is just a little under five and a half miles (r/t), with about 1,100 feet of elevation gain. While it can be done in reverse order by hiking to Hendrickson Lake first, it is also a lot more steep (900 ft in the first mile). For a topo map of the area, along with our GPS tracks, you can click
here and you will be directed to Tom's Peakbagger.com post. We hope you get out there and enjoy this wonderful little hike!
