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Uinta Mountains Trailhead

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 8:59 am
by tmtn93
So the other day while at Mirror Lake, I saw a sign pointing to a trail head, I unfortunately, forgot the name of the trailhead. Can anyone tell me what it was called as well as a list of the trailheads in the Uinta Mountains (I know there aren't as many as in the Wasatch)

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 5:28 pm
by 46and2
There are four "major" THs within 2-3 miles of Mirror Lake. In order of south to north:

Crystal Lake - technically farther away, but it is a majot TH for the Wall Lake area.
Bald Mountain - at the top of Bald Mountain Pass. The trail to the summit starts here as well as access to Notch Lake and the smaller peaks to the W and NW.
Mirror Lake - you probably saw this one.
Highline TH - at Hayden Pass. This is the typical start (or end) of major hikes.

Some other ones that are shorter hikes that are in the same area:

Pass Lake - to Cuberant Lakes in the Weber Drainage (not as scenic)
Ruth Lake - just north of Hayden Pass... very scenic but crowded
Butterfly Lake - more or a day use TH, leads to Castle Lake.

Pick up High Uintas Backcountry by the Probst brothers (Jeffery and Brad) - it is an essential companion.

PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 11:07 pm
by byates
Perhaps you should break the bank and buy a map!

PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2010 4:29 am
by Ammon Hatch
There are definitely more trailheads in the Uintas than the Wasatch. The best thing to do is study maps, and do other personal study (books, summitpost, etc.)

Here is a good source for online topo maps: http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/

Zoom in close and click the mytopo layer. Zoom in on the mirror lake highway and you'll see there are a lot of trailheads.

PostPosted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:46 am
by tmtn93
Thanks guys!! I will try out the Topo maps too and do some research, also, buying some books might also be a good idea, so I'll check that book out at a bookstore and might buy it!! Also, any other great book for the Uinta's?? The Hiking in the Wasatch book helped us a lot!!

PostPosted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 2:10 pm
by Joseph Bullough
tmtn93 wrote:Thanks guys!! I will try out the Topo maps too and do some research, also, buying some books might also be a good idea, so I'll check that book out at a bookstore and might buy it!! Also, any other great book for the Uinta's?? The Hiking in the Wasatch book helped us a lot!!


I've found that most of my Uinta books are geared more towards the major trails and lakes. For mountaineering in the Uintas I've probably used the Utah Mountaineering Guide by Michael Kelsey more than anything. Its descriptions are kind of rudimentary, but its got the information you need to get up the big stuff.

PostPosted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:00 pm
by Buz Groshong
Ammon Hatch wrote:There are definitely more trailheads in the Uintas than the Wasatch. The best thing to do is study maps, and do other personal study (books, summitpost, etc.)

Here is a good source for online topo maps: http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/
Zoom in close and click the mytopo layer. Zoom in on the mirror lake highway and you'll see there are a lot of trailheads.


Took a look at digital-topo-maps.com. Their coverage in Shenandoah Park is mostly based on out of date USGS topo maps. Probably need to be a bit cautious about trails that might not exist anymore. OTOH it could be a good resource for trying to locate some of the old abandoned trails.

PostPosted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:16 am
by tmtn93
the Topo maps for the Unitas seem pretty accurate, I looked some trails up and they exist. Also, that book seems like a good suggestion, but I would rather go with the one about lakes and major trails (i have never been back-packing before, and Kings Peak might be our first attempt in August this year, or hopefully next year!)

PostPosted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 6:38 pm
by 46and2
Another great book is one called Utah 13'ers or something like that. I am on vacation in Utah actually but forgot the book! It is written by a guy (named David...) from Tooele I think and consists of climbing all of Utah's 13,000 foot peaks. Great commentary and photos. Sorry I can't remember the book or author name but it is a valuable tool.

PostPosted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 8:43 pm
by Joseph Bullough
46and2 wrote:Another great book is one called Utah 13'ers or something like that. I am on vacation in Utah actually but forgot the book! It is written by a guy (named David...) from Tooele I think and consists of climbing all of Utah's 13,000 foot peaks. Great commentary and photos. Sorry I can't remember the book or author name but it is a valuable tool.


The book is called "Utah Thirteeners" by David M. Rose. I've never looked at the book so can't comment on it.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 9:11 pm
by Travis Atwood
Joseph Bullough wrote:
46and2 wrote:Another great book is one called Utah 13'ers or something like that. I am on vacation in Utah actually but forgot the book! It is written by a guy (named David...) from Tooele I think and consists of climbing all of Utah's 13,000 foot peaks. Great commentary and photos. Sorry I can't remember the book or author name but it is a valuable tool.


The book is called "Utah Thirteeners" by David M. Rose. I've never looked at the book so can't comment on it.


+1, I'm a big fan of this book. It's very thorough.