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While many people enjoy American Fork Canyon’s Tibble Fork reservoir for fishing, swimming, and kayaking, there is an even more pristine reservoir a mere 15 minutes away that is well worth the drive. Silver Lake Flat provides scenic views, incredible fishing, occasional moose-watching, and a more secluded experience than other reservoirs in the area. It’s also a starting point to hike to the smaller Silver Lake and its even smaller sister, Silver Glance. This area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and requires a small day-use fee to access.
Silver Lake Flat was built in 1971. In 2015, it was drained and expanded for seismic dam upgrades. The project strengthened the dam to withstand a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. It also enlarged the reservoir and created new recreation opportunities.
Fishing:
Silver Lake Flat is stocked with brook trout, rainbow trout, and recent additions arctic grayling and cutthroat trout. The limit is four per person. Fishing from the steep dam embankments and shallow inlets are sure to get you strikes, but canoeing or kayaking in the middle of the reservoir can also be extremely fruitful.
Winterkill affects the reservoir every year, but it is restocked for spring and summer fishing. Follow the Division of Wildlife's Fish Stocking Schedule to best plan your trip.
Hiking
The Silver Lake Flat Trail is a 3.6-mile, moderate-rated trail. Hikers enjoy the shade that the many aspen trees provide. There are a lot of side trails, so be sure to give yourself time to explore the area. You may even encounter some relics from the area’s mining history.
Planning Your Visit
This area up American Fork Canyon is very popular. According to Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, over a million people visit the canyon annually.
If you plan to visit the Silver Lake Flat Reservoir on the weekend, we highly recommend arriving early in the morning to secure your spot. This is a high elevation reservoir and you should come prepared for any weather condition. Even in the middle of summer the temperatures at the reservoir can be 20 degrees cooler than the valley.
Directions
Silver Lake Flat Reservoir is in Utah County. Once you reach the base of American Fork Canyon, you’ll follow UT-92 about 5 miles up the canyon. When the road splits, you’ll turn left onto N American Fork Canyon Road. Just follow the road about 2.5 miles until you reach the beautiful Tibble Fork Reservoir. The paved road ends at this point and becomes a maintained dirt road. You’ll take the first left turn onto FR-010, then after 0.7 miles you’ll turn right onto FR-008 Silver Lake Road. Follow this winding road about 2.5 miles until you reach Silver Lake Flat. Trust us, it’s worth the drive!
Other Related Articles:
Silver Lake American Fork Canyon
American Fork Canyon Hiking Trails
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