Chimney Rock Loop

The Trail

This moderately difficult trail is 3.7 miles long round trip with about a 570 ft elevation change. There is some up and down though, so there is more climbing and descending than that within the hike. Also, while the elevation change isn't huge for the distance, there is a steep 500 ft climb in about a half mile distance in this hike. If you are looking for a shorter hike, just hiking up to the Chimney Rock Overlook is only about a mile in, but this would include still ascending/descending the steepest sections of the hike.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

This trail starts at a well marked trailhead with bathrooms available there. It heads up near a wash area gradually at first and passes by Chimney Rock before climbing steeply up short switchbacks north of this point. There is a split at this point that connects either side of the loop. We headed right to go around counterclockwise, and all information here reflects that choice of direction. After the split, the trail loops a bit and head more south to Chimney Rock Overlook. Climbing to this point is still nearly a 500 ft. climb, but the view is impressive.

Trailhead

Looking down at the switchbacks going up

View from Chimney Rock Overlook

From here, the path continues along the south edge of Mummy Cliff offering expansive panoramic views along the way.

 

After hiking about 2.3 miles, the path turns west and starts heading back. Right after this turn there is a split with a label for the trail heading to Spring Canyon. Hikers turning this way would head up Chimney Rock canyon fro about 1.5 miles before reaching Spring Canyon at the divide point between Upper and Lower Spring Canyon. To finish the loop though, continue west to return to the point where the loop splits and then return down the switchbacks along the same trail that was ascended to reach the loop. It was getting dark by the time we reached this section, but we were stunned just how quiet it was while we were there. If we were walking, we could hear our feet on ground, but when we stopped we couldn't hear anything at all. There was simply NO noise...not from bugs, birds, other animals, wind, or anything else. 

Note that this trail is located in Capitol Reef National Park, and is thus subject to fees for use of the trail and area. Pets are not permitted on this trail. There are bathrooms available at the trailhead.

 

Directions

This trail is located in Capitol Reef National Park in Wayne County, Utah near Torrey. To get there, take UT-24 to Capitol Reef. Get off at the trailhead for Chimney Rock, which is just off to the north along the highway, between 7 and 8 miles from the middle of Torrey. GPS Coordinates: N38° 18.950' W111° 18.238'

Naturalist Basin Loop (Jordan Lake, Shaler Lake, Faxon Lake, LeConte Lake, Walcott Lake, Blue Lake, Morat Lakes)

The Trail

This difficult trail is about 16.5 miles when done all at once. However, when done as a backpacking trip as we did with Jordan Lake as a base camp, you can expect to hike about 18.1 miles round trip with about an 1100 ft. elevation change. Keep in mind that there is a good amount of up and down on this trail, so your total climb will end up being more than this. Also, note that the loop around the basin does not follow a trail. While many people do it and there are even campsites along the way, it is more of a loose route that you must navigate on your own (which adds some to the difficulty of the trail).

Topographical Map

Topographical Map - Basin Only

Graph of Elevation

 

Trail in Google Earth

 

This trail starts from the Highline Trailhead and starts with a steady descent toward Scudder Lake. After 0.8 mile in, there is a trail split. To head to Naturalist Basin, stay left here; going right will lead to Mirror Lake.

 

Turn-off for Mirror Lake

 

The trail continues to descend almost all the way to Scudder Lake, which is about 2 miles in from the trailhead. The area at Scudder Lake about to the Packard Lake turn-off is burned from a fire in 2018. (This area is marked on the map with the fire symbols.)

 

Scudder Lake with Murdock Mountain in the background

Looking out toward the direction of Hayden Peak from the trail

 

Turn-off for Packard Lake

 

About 4.3 miles into the hike, you will reach another split. Heading right here will take you to the Four Lakes Basin. Go left to reach the Naturalist Basin.

 

The trail grows increasingly rocky as it nears Naturalist Basin. There are plenty of muddy and wet areas along the way too. One area does have old boardwalks along the trail. There are also a number of places that downed trees have blocked the original trail, and makeshift paths have been formed around these obstructions. These spots become more common the further out from the trailhead you get.

 

 

In about another 1.1 miles from the Four Lakes Basin split, you will reach the split to head either toward Blue Lake or Jordan Lake. We had decided to camp at Jordan Lake, so we went right here, which went across the creek. The path on the other side may be dry at certain times, but the rock lined path was flooded when we did this hike.

 

 

Crossing the creek

There are a couple other smaller lakes on the way to Jordan Lake, and we did find a couple people camped at Evermann Lake. However, there a lot more place to camp around Jordan Lake. There is a path that crosses the creek and heads to the west side of Jordan Lake with campsites along it, and there are also campsites along the south side.

Jordan Lake with Mount Agassiz in the background

The next morning we continued to circle Naturalist Basin, heading in a counterclockwise loop toward Shaler Lake. This loop by itself was about 5.2 miles long. The trail continues clearly along the shores of Jordan Lake and up to the rocky ledge that surrounds much of the lake. However, at that point the trail disappeared entirely and we were left to navigate our own route. As long as you are good with a map, compass, and/or GPS, finding a suitable route around the basin isn't too difficult. Following the more obvious paths that appeared less rocky, less steep, and more open lead us around quite smoothly.

The trail disappears after rounding this rocky ledge

By continuing northeast across the meadow, you will reach Shaler Lake. There are some campsites here, but the area is much more exposed that Jordan Lake.

 

 

From Shaler Lake we ended up heading north since we saw rock cairns that direction. We realized after awhile though that we were headed the wrong direction, so we turned around. Perhaps the cairns were placed by those headed to Spread Eagle Peak, for which some people may head up this direction. We should have cut to the west, as shown in blue in the topographical map. Going this direction, the way to Faxon Lake is pretty short and smooth crossing meadows.

Heading to the north end of Faxon Lake along the boulders there gives a nice view of the lake. This is also another route often followed to reach Spread Eagle Peak, heading around the rocky outcrop and then up the steep slope to the ridgeline.

Faxon Lake

Head along the boulders lining the lake shore and around the
rocky ledge to head to Spread Eagle Peak

Faxon Lake is a long lake; we headed down its east side and then veered more south to go around the higher hill to the west that also seemed rockier. We came along another campsite among the trees this way shortly after Faxon Lake.

Faxon Lake from south side

After heading downhill for a ways we turned west and soon started to see small unnamed lakes amid fields of wildflowers capped with distant mountain ridges.

 

The next large lake is LeConte Lake.

LeConte Lake

As we came to these last few lakes, a pretty heavy thunderstorm hit us and pelleted us with rain, and then with chunks of hail. Luckily we were able to find some decent cover in the trees, but we were also feeling anxious to finish the hike and get back without further interference from storms. It continued to rain more lightly as we continued around to the rest of the lakes, but we didn't feel like hiking any closer than we did to the next lake, Walcott Lake.

Walcott Lake

As we approached the west side of Walcott Lake, we hit a dense field of large boulders (marked by the green dot on the topographical map). We aimed to avoid these as much as possible by turning more to the south.

Boulder field by Walcott Lake

We did avoid the large rocks this way, and we also found a relatively easy path through the dense brush that followed the boulders. After getting through this, we arrived at Blue Lake.

Approaching Blue Lake with Mount Agassiz behind it

Blue Lake

We thought the trail would pick up at Blue Lake, but we couldn't find any real sign of a trail. We headed down between the two smaller lakes to the south and found the trail at the end of those. From here, the trail descended sharply along the side of the waterfall to the Morat Lakes.

West Morat Lake (rain drops kept getting on my camera lens)

East Morat Lake

Waterfall along the trail

The trail passes between East and West Morat Lakes and continues on. There are a number of campsites along the shores of these lakes.

West Morat Lake

The trail continues to descend at a good rate through more wet and marshy areas to the split for Jordan/Blue Lakes. Because our base camp was at Jordan Lake, we continued around the loop back to our camp there. Going back to Jordan Lake and then returning to this junction again the next day added a couple miles to our overall trip. We then hiked back to the Highline Trailhead the following day.

This trail is open to livestock and dogs. Dogs are supposed to be leashed, and you must clean up and pack out after your dog. There are vault toilets at the trailhead.

Directions

This trail is located near Kamas, Utah. It is found in Duchesne County in the high Uinta mountains between the Mirror Lake and Crystal Lake areas. To get there from the Salt Lake area, take I-80 to Exit 146 for Heber. From there head south on UT-189 and take Exit 4 toward Kamas traveling east on UT-248. Once in Kamas, turn left onto Main Street, then take a right onto Center St./UT-150. Continue on this road for 34 miles until you arrive at the Highline Trail parking area, which will be on your right. GPS Coordinates: N40° 43.327' W110° 51.850'

Malan's Peak and Malan's Basin

The Trail

This difficult trail is 2.4 miles long (one way) with a 2100 foot elevation change to reach the peak. The basin is actually at lower elevation, so if those wishing to continue that far will hike down an extra 0.8 mile after reaching the peak. The trail starts at the end of 27th Street in Ogden. Head up the trails eastward toward the canyon. Although there are multiple trails in this area breaking off in different directions, they seem to connect and lead to the canyon.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

Looking up at the fall colors near the mouth of the canyon

For the first part of this trail, just follow the signs that direct you to the Taylor Canyon Trail. 

This one both says Taylor, but the smaller print
makes it clear to head along the north trail
toward Malan's Basin

Continue up the Taylor Canyon Trail about 0.9 miles from the trail head. At that point, there is a well marked turn off for Malan's Peak to the right heading over a bridge and up the slope. After taking this turn off, the trail will go up a few long switchbacks until you reach the peak.

The trail gradually gets slightly steeper as you go up, but overall the climb is pretty steady. This trail is also pretty well shaded most of the way. Just over one mile up, hikers will hit a nice view point overlooking the valley at the end of the first switchback up the slope. This also makes a nice stopping point for anyone looking for a shorter trail.

 

The slopes and valley from the view point just over 1 mile up the trail.

There are too many trees along most of the switchback to get many good views of the surrounding peaks, but things do open up a bit here and there.

The view from the peak is fantastic. Whether looking toward the valley:

Or looking toward the peaks and slopes:

Looking up toward Mount Ogden

Looking southward from Malan's Peak

Malan's Peak isn't really a true peak, but it's a great point to hike to in a relatively short distance. If you want to go even further, you can continue to Malan's Basin as shown in the maps above. The trail drops down and continues roughly 0.8 miles to this point, where a plaque marks the site of the Malan Heights Resort. This area is a popular place for camping by backpackers as well.

Hikers who continue past the plaque and turn right may find the overgrown trail that took us to the old hotel broiler. This hotel was burned down in a forest fire started by hunters in 1910, and the broiler is all that is left of it.

Those up for an even longer hike could continue up to the top of Ogden Peak from here, but it is a very difficult trail with lots of bushwhacking.

This trail is opened to leashed dogs. There are no bathrooms at the trailhead.

Directions

This trail is located in Weber County. To get there, from I-15 take Exit 341 for 31st Street in Ogden. Head east on 31st Street until you reach Washington Blvd. Turn left on Washington, and then take the next right onto 30th Street. Continue to Harrison Blvd. and turn left. Then continue to 27th Street and turn right. Continue until the street dead-ends. This is where the trail starts. There is no parking lot, so you will have to park along the street. Please be respectful to the residents and their properties near the trail head.