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The Uinta Mountains are considered one of the most scenic mountain ranges in the United States. This mountain range is home to 1,000 natural lakes, over 400 miles of streams, and well over 500 miles of hiking trails. One of the best and most popular ways to experience the beauty of the Uinta Mountains, is to take a drive along the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. This scenic drive will take you past many beautiful overlooks, waterfalls, and man-made lakes. The most popular destination along the highway is of course Mirror Lake.
Mirror Lake, Utah
This natural lake sits at 10,050 feet in elevation. Activities in and around the lake include kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, camping, and hiking. One way to experience the beauty of this high-elevation lake is to walk around the entire lake via the Mirror Lake shoreline trail.
Mirror Lake Shoreline Trail:
This trail, according to the sign, is a 2.1-mile loop around the entire lake. The shoreline trail begins just past the restrooms and you can hike in either direction around the lake. While hiking, you will experience beautiful views of the lake, and the mountain peaks in the distance. The trail is relatively flat, with several board walks crossing the marshy areas. Not only does this trail provide spectacular views of this natural lake, it’s also a great way to access different fishing locations around the lake.
Fishing Mirror Lake:
If you like to fish, don’t forget your fishing pole or fly road. Mirror Lake is an excellent place for people of all ages to fish. Popular fishing baits include night crawlers, and power baits. I personally like fishing with lures. Some spinners or lures you should have on hand are Panther Martin Lures, Jakes Spin-A-Lure, Rooster Tail Spinners and casting spoons. On this trip, I was able to get several bits and hook a few off of a Brook Trout Colored Panther Martin. The smaller the lure or spinner the better in my opinion.
The Crowds:
As stated above, Mirror Lake is a very popular destination. It doesn’t matter which day of the week you visit you will always have people enjoying this beautiful location. If you plan to visit on the weekend, be sure to arrive early and prepare for the parking lot to be full. Campground reservations in the peak season may have to made weeks or even months in advance. If you are searching for solitude, Mirror Lake is probably not the best location of choice.
Uinta Mountain Weather:
As with any outdoor activity, be sure you are prepared for the environment and changing weather conditions. The average temperatures during the day can be in the 70’s with night time temperatures dropping into the 30’s. At this elevation the weather can change very quickly. Thunder and lightning storms are a very common occurrence and can pop up daily. The lightning at any elevation can be deadly. Here are a few tips you can practice if you're caught off guard in a lightning storm. One more thing to remember, just because it’s summer time, doesn’t mean it will not snow in the Uinta Mountains.
Trail Stats:
2.1 miles around the lake.
Flat family friendly trail with little elevation gain.
Dogs allowed, but must be on a leash.
Other Articles of Interest:
Provo River Falls - Mirror Lake Highway
Hike to Long Lake - Utah's Uinta Mountains
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