It's lightweight, affordable, and makes our best water purifiers list. Caught nothing and barely saw any fish jumping when a huge hatch was going on. From Mirror Lake Highway take Forest Road 110. . For recommendations on our favorite lightweight backpacking equipment, check out the CleverHiker Backpacking Gear Guideand our Top Backpacking Gear Pickspage. thick sleeping pad has an R-value that will keep you warm to right around freezing, a valve design that makes for easy inflation/deflation, and a rectangular shape providing more room for sprawling out. With relatively low traffic year-round, The Fish Lake via Spirit Lake Trail is a great place to go to enjoy panoramic views of the Utah Wilderness all to yourself. The booklets provide hiking directions and describe fishing opportunities, along with details about camping, spring water and horse feed. New videos, trip reports, gear reviews, inspiring stories and more. Enjoy a rest on the shores of Fish Lake and go for an invigorating swim before retracing your steps back to the Spirit Lake Campground where you began. This pack is essentially waterproof, incredibly durable for the weight, and has convenient pockets galore. Read More The 12 Best Hikes in New HampshireContinue, Full trip report and comprehensive guide for hiking up South Sister in Oregon, Read More Hiking South Sister: Oregons Third Tallest MountainContinue, Summiting Wheeler Peak, the highest Point in Great Basin National Park, Read More Wheeler Peak, Nevada, Great Basin National ParkContinue. Uintas Have you ever looked at the fish stocking report, and noticed those abbreviations next to lakes in the Uintas? The Uintas are unique because of their east-west orientation. Highway 150 and some other roads are open to snowmobile travel. Read More A Comprehensive Guide to Hiking Mount Timpanogos in UtahContinue, 2023 Trekking Higher - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Hiking South Sister: Oregons Third Tallest Mountain, Wheeler Peak, Nevada, Great Basin National Park, Red Castle Lakes Backpacking Best of the High Uintas Wilderness, Backpacking The Thorofare in Yellowstone The Most Remote Place in the US Lower 48, A Comprehensive Guide to Hiking Mount Timpanogos in Utah. . It was relatively flat except for a brief uphill moment but the entire trail was easy. We learned about the closure pretty early on, and decided we would just do half of the trail in spring and then come back in fall to finish the rest. Once you come to the fork take your first right on to FR 711. . A third of a mile past Sand Lake is Fish Lake. The highway makes a sharp right turn to the west. We rate most backpacking trips in this area as moderate due to rocky, sometimes muddy trails and the high elevation. Summer afternoon thunderstorms may occur with little warning. In the early spring and summer, this trail can be wet due to snowmelt runoff, but by mid-summer, it dries out and is a fantastic hike. Heather's husband spending some quality time with their dog on the Exped Megamat in Tygh Valley. SLEEPING PAD:We used the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite and NEMO Tensor Insulated sleeping pads on this trip. Dead Horse Lake isnt popular, but you should expect to see one or two other parties there. We parked at the stock parking and walked 1/5 mile to the trailhead. The only downside? incredible views, pristine lakes, and the occasional mountain goat make Timp a must do hike. It includes 460,000 acres and is the largest wilderness area in Utah. This was a beautiful trail! Rangers can and will ticket offenders. Snow was wet and heavy so if you want to keep your feet dry wear very good waterproof boots. Walking around the lake, you can find several great spots for fast fishing. Best Hiking Trails In Utah's Uinta Mountains | Visit Utah Pack in using horses or llamas. This trail begins at the Spirit Lake Campground at the south end of Spirit Lake Road in the eastern Uintas. There are well over 1,000 natural lakes in the Uintas and more than 500 of them support populations of game fish. . . From here you will need to try and establish a land mark for leg 4. Lightweight backpacking video guides and reviews of the best ultralight tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, stoves, and more. After reaching the Elkhorn Junction, the first option is to stay on the Henrys Fork Trail, continue past Dollar Lake, and then make a right onto the Henrys Fork Basin Trail. Jammed packed with alpine lakes, meadows, peaks and only four miles in length its easy to see why. This website uses cookies, belonging to us or third parties, to improve your experience, optimize performance and our services, understand your usage through analytics, and personalize advertising tailored to your interests on our site and third party sites. Overnight parking at the trailhead is $3.00 per vehicle, per day and is self-issued. Other day hikes include Kings Peak and Onweep Pass. The list is in order of shortest hike to longest hike: Kings Peak, the highest point in Utah, is a common objective of many who visit the Uinta mountains. Kamas and Scout Lake are known to have good trout fishing. After Round Lake, you will pass through a couple of meadows on your way to Sand Lake which is about another .7 miles past Sand Lake. The Uintas are broken up into several drainage's. Since there are over 1000 lakes in the Uintas you can have a lot of repeating lake names. Bring strong repellent - it really helps. Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. On top of all that, it packs down pretty small so you have more room in the car for fun stuff on your camping trips! In addition, a few trails are open to ATVs. Check out some of our favorite photos from our recent adventures and stay tuned for more updates. Nice easy hike with awesome scenery all around. A List of All The Fishable Lakes in the Uintas - Junesucker.com The hike begins at the West Fork Blacks Fork Trailhead. The Highway 150 map that you get at the fee station describes some possibilities. Leg 3 17 flights of stairsForest Road 711 is 0.4 miles long, 175 feet in elevation gain from 9,907 to 10,082 feet. SHOES OR BOOTS:We wore Saucony Peregrine 8trail runners (men'sand women's) on this trail and they were excellent. Afternoon thunderstorms are fairly typical and lightening is always a serious threat above treeline. Utah Travel Industry Website, Printable Road Trip Activity Book For Kids, Monument Valley | Highway 163 Scenic Drive, Places to Stay Near Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Top 5 Overnight Backpacking Trails in Utah. Much of the area is above the tree line, which creates a stunning backdrop in every direction. Actually 7.4 miles. On this part of the trail, you pass through meadows with Bald and Reid Peaks in the background, which is gorgeous. We were coming down from Haystack Mountain and we saw that Cliff Lake was only .40 of a mile from the trail so we took a turn and came to check it out. Wear boots that fit and are well broken-in. Mount Timpanogos is a beautiful hike regardless of the route that you take. My track via Gaia GPS the best tracking app! Awesome hike. Great fishing at Clyde Lake. . If youre looking for beautiful scenery, alpine peaks, and a lake to fish, this trail is the ticket. All Rights Reserved. Early on though, I decided we needed an approach to scoring lakes before trying to reach them. There are also over 400 miles of streams. For a full list of wilderness regulations in this area, visit this website. If you feel a "hot spot" developing then stop and adjust your boots and socks. From the shade down low to the sweeping views up high you cant go wrong with an outing on this trail. Where to Hike In Utah's Uinta Mountains | Outdoor Project Get all the details in our full review linked in our bio. Full backpacking report on a trek to the Thorofare in Yellowstone. The hiking trails in this area are generally shaded and open up to the occasional meadow. In contrast to the surrounding desert, the Uintas receive about 40 inches of precipitation annually, mostly as snow. Day hikes are also possible from other access roads. You can take a high clearance vehicle 3/4 of the way in, then you will need to hike the rest of the way. We highly recommend bringing along a picnic lunch to enjoy lakeside or your camping gear so you can spend a few days fishing and exploring the lakeshore. As a teenager, I became addicted to fishing the mountain lakes closest to the Mirror Lake Byway with my cousin, who is now considered an expert, as he has visited so many lakes over the decades. This protected area is home to at least 56 named peaks, including the state high point, Kings Peak. Read more on our About page. Always call the ranger station to ask about fire restrictions. A short, easy hike to a beautiful alpine lake in the high Uintas. . Mosquitoes are public enemy number one in the Uintas. Trailhead parking lot is closed so it was longer but not terribly so. Continue another 0.8 mile to a trail junction and Big Elk Lake. Back to the saddle you will continue north along the east shore of Lofty Lake. Mosquitoes are present along this route and can be pretty vicious, especially early in the season and near bogs and water sources. Round Lake is the first lake you will come to (about 3.3 miles) and is gorgeous with green grass all around. You'll be turned on to new videos, trip reports, gear reviews, inspiring outdoor stories and much more. The Southwest is incredibly lightweight, durable, nearly waterproof,and is a top pick on our best lightweight backpacks list. This popular Lake Michigan state park has trails for wheels Get your app, Dog Friendly Restaurant Patios in Salt Lake City, Hike to the Paper Airplane at Powder Mountain. We're Dave & Annie, the outdoor adventurers behind CleverHiker. Brook trout grow fat here. It is one of the most beautiful high mountain drives available anywhere. Most are gravel, and are maintained for summer use. Hazards in the Uintas. Best Backpacking Hikes in The Uintas | Utah.com Cutthroat trout live through the winter freeze and become huge. Check out our full review in the link in our bio for more info! Youll want to arrive early to beat the crowds. Introduction to Climbing and Hiking The Uinta Mountains are very rugged in the northeast section of the High Uintas Wilderness Area. BACKPACK:We used Hyperlite Mountain Gear's Southwest 2400backpacks on this trek. HEADLAMP:A small headlamp like the Petzl Actikis an affordable, bright, and lightweight option. You can explore Red Castle Lake from your campsite, which is as magnificent as it is massive. Dave and Annie sporting Saucony Peregrines on the Everest Three Passes Loop in Nepal. Vernal, UT 84078 There are 400+ miles of streams, waterfalls, and more than 2,000 lakes! In the early spring and summer, this trail can be wet due to snowmelt runoff, but by mid-summer, it dries out and . Before arriving at Amethyst Lake, the trail mellows out, winding past a few small lakes and into breathtaking meadows. There is the sound of bulldozer work going on at Alpental, that accompanied . There are a bunch of campsites around the lake. But three roads (Murdock Basin, Broad- head Meadows and East Portal) link more than 20 miles of ATV trails. Best time ever, This is a great classic Uintas hike taking you to Cliff Lake though the map and milage on this description is off. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Located just north of Bald Mountain Pass this hike is an awesome adventure in the heart of the western Uinta Mountains. At Big Elk Lake, fishing is generally good for stocked brook and cutthroat trout. Take the left fork which is FR 636 to begin leg 2. Once you arrive at Priord Lake, note the towering mountains surrounding you. About 11 of them. If you are coming from the south like Provo, use this map. Casey wearing REI's Midweight Base Layer Half Zip Shirt, Mountain Hardwear Dynama Pants, and Altra Lone Peak shoes to play on some rocks at Smith Rock. Check out our Best Lightweight Backpacking Food Guideand our Best Freeze Dried Backpacking Mealsfor some of our go-to grub recommendations. Great short hike. Ruth Lake is a fun little hike high in the Uinta Mountains that is the perfect place for people who are new to backpacking. Hiking to Ruth Lake, Uintas - Girl on a Hike If you get wet and cold then do whatever it takes to get dry and warm. Leg 1 - 24 flights of stairs From Mirror Lake Highway FR 110 starts out around 9,524 feet and forks around 9767 feet, about 243 feet in elevation gain. Largely due to his many nature-oriented hobbies, he is a longtime volunteer nature activist and officer of the 100-year-old Salt Lake Fish and Game Foundation. The Mirror Lake Highway is the only major road that receives heavy traffic in the winter. 2023 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. Utahs Uinta Mountains has 600-plus fishable lakes. Read our full review at our link in bio! Uinta Mountains | Utah.com The backdrop offered by Red Castle peak against Lower Red Castle Lake is a view that hikers will remember for the rest of their lives. A good lake for kids. Social media is great, but our bi-weekly newsletter is a much better way to stay in the know. A little snow on the trail in late June. If you have an annual National Park Pass or annual American Fork Canyon Pass you can use either to park free. Cool Spot, glad we took the detour. Bourbon Lake, Fish Lake, Sand Lake, Round Lake, Cuberant Lake, Teal Lake, Cutthroat Lake, Hayden Lake, Ruth Lake, and Whitney Reservoir. Grandaddy Lake is the largest lake in the High Uintas, and an excellent spot to camp, swim, and fish. Lofty Lake Loop Hiking Trail [Guide & Info] | Visit Utah The Trail/The Climbs Once on the trail, keep an eye out to your left and soon you'll see the cliffs where people go to climb. Daytime highs are typically in the high 70s, while night temperatures during summer range between 30-40 degrees. Developed campgrounds are located wherever roads extend into the forest. Henrys Fork Lake can be crowded, so arrive early to secure the best campsite. This trail is moderately challenging, with some steep and rocky sections.
