Bald Mountain Trail (Uintas)

The Trail
This moderate trail is about 1.5 miles long with about a 1140 ft. elevation change. In fact, this is probably one of the easiest mountains to summit in Utah, and it definitely offers some rewarding views at the top.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

Almost immediately after the trailhead, there is a split with a trail heading west. This is the Notch Mountain trail, which circles Notch Mountain as it passes a number of lakes, and then it connects with the Wall Lake Trail. To go up Bald Mountain, continue straight. The trail soon starts to climb up fairly steadily.

Trailhead

Things level off around 0.6 mile up as the trail transverses a flatter rock-strewn meadow area of the mountain. From there the path resumes its steeper climb to the top before leveling off again.

As the trail approaches the top, it becomes increasingly rocky, but some flowers continued to push their way up and bloom while we were there. Near the top there are large rifts in the rock that create cavernous spaces down on either side of the path. Right after this section there are some stone steps leading to the top.

Approaching the top of Bald Mountain

Stone Steps

The mountain top is broad and rocky with fantastic views of the surrounding lakes and mountains.

Panoramic from the top

Reids Peak (11,708 ft) just northwest of Bald Mountain

 

After soaking in the view, hike back down the way you came.

Dogs are permitted on this trail, and vault toilets are available at the trailhead. It is best to do this trail during the middle of the summer to the fall. Due to its high elevation the consequential snowfall, it is not accessible year round.

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 29 miles until you arrive at the marked trailhead, which will be on your left. GPS Coordinates: N40° 41.350' W110° 54.243'

Three Divide Lakes Loop/Clyde Lake Loop

The Trail
This moderate loop trail is about 5.7 miles long round trip with a 440 foot elevation change. However, keep in mind that there are up and down sections within the trail that make the overall amount of climbing greater than 440 feet. This beautiful well maintained trail takes hikers past ten named mountain lakes plus some smaller unnamed lakes. Additionally, this trail connects with other paths giving possible access to other nearby lakes. We did this trail in a clockwise direction, so that is how the elevation information is presented graph below.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth (orange trail to overflow parking)

Please note that the parking lot for this area usually fills up very quickly. If you don't get there soon enough to claim a convenient spot near the trailhead and if you aren't already staying at the nearby campground, you will need to park in the overflow parking area down a ways along the side of the road. There is a trail that goes past Washington Lake and up to the Crystal Lake parking area that is 0.7 a mile long (one-way). This is more scenic than walking back up along the road. Just look for the labeled turn-off for the trail on your left just past the creek and before the road heading up to the parking area.

Extended Topographical Map (red = loop trail; blue = overflow parking trail)

If you do start from the overflow parking, the first lake you will see is Washington Lake.

Washington Lake

You will also pass the Washington Lake Campground before reaching the parking area. The trail starts on the north side of the lot. To go clockwise as we did, start on the trail labeled Lakes Country Trail 216 heading for Clyde Lake and Long Lake. (If you wish to go counter-clockwise, head up the trail on west side of the parking area toward Wall Lake.)

Trailhead

After going 0.3 a mile, the trail will split. Head right along the trail with the corroded label for Cliff Lake. Keeping straight will take you to Long Lake.

Turn off for the loop trail toward Cliff Lake

After continuing another 0.4 a mile, you will be at the south end of Cliff Lake.

Cliff Lake from south side

This trail has sections of boardwalk that keep your feet dry

Cliff Lake from north side

About one mile up the trail hikers will arrive at Petite Lake. Next will be the very small Linear Lake, and then will come Watson Lake. Watson Lake is aptly named for the fact it is nestled right below Mount Watson.

Petite Lake

Watson Lake with Mount Watson behind it

After Watson Lake, the next large lake is Clyde Lake. This section of the trail includes the largest ascent of the loop, but it is still relatively quite mild.

However, before reaching Clyde Lake, 1.8 miles up from the trailhead there is an unmarked and unofficial trail to the right leading out to an unnamed lake. Heading this direction is well worth the short side trip; the view from here is phenomenal. This was probably my favorite spot along the entire trail. A small lake lies just below a shallow cliff.  A small alcove hides under the cliff to the north, and to the south the view expands to include Wall Lake below with Notch Mountain, Reid Peak, Bald Mountain, and Murdock Mountain resting in the background.

Small unnamed lake off the main trail

View from the unnamed lake. Mountains in background left to right: Notch
Mountain, Reid Peak, Bald Mountain, Murdock Mountain, Mount Cardwell

The much larger Clyde Lake is roughly two miles up from the trailhead. We ended up timing our hike right to see a beautiful array of wildflowers at this clear mountain lake.

Clyde Lake with wildflowers

Clyde Lake from the north side

At the northwest corner of the lake, an unmarked trail heads in a northeast direction up the slope. If you wish to visit this trail's common name sake, you can head up this way to visit the Three Divide Lakes. These lakes are visible on the topographical maps above, though we did not take the time to go there. The loop trail circles three sides of Clyde Lake before continuing on to the Twin Lakes, which also were surrounded with wildflowers during the time of our visit.

North Twin Lake

North Twin Lake

South Twin Lake

Not long after the Twin Lakes is an intersection with the Notch Mountain Trail. Stay right here to continue to Wall Lake. Going left will take you along the Notch Mountain Trail, which eventually ends at the base of the Bald Mountain Trail. The next lake along the trail is Hope Lake. Unlike most of the other lakes, the path to this lake does not go right up to its edge.

The next major lake is Wall Lake, which is the largest along this loop.

Wall Lake

After leaving Wall Lake, hikers will be headed back toward the trailhead. Shortly before reaching it you will pass Ponds Lake just to the west and Lily Lake just to the east of the trail, though these lakes are less visible from the trail through the foliage than many of the other lakes along the way.

There are vault toilets available at the trailhead. This trail is open to dogs and livestock. In fact, we saw a number of people with animals along the trail, including horses and goats.

Horses at Petite Lake

Goats at the Twin Lakes

This trail is also a popular choice for backpackers, with many suitable camping sites nearby many of the lakes. Just be aware that these camping sites can fill quickly, particularly on the weekends. It is best to do this trail during the middle of the summer to the fall. Due to its high elevation the consequential snowfall, it is not accessible year round.

Directions
This trail is located near Kamas, Utah. It is found in Duchesne County in the high Uinta mountains in the Crystal Lake area. 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 just over 25 miles until you reach the turn off to the left for the Trial Lake Campground (this road is also called Spring Canyon Road). Pass the Trial Lake Campground and then take the next right up to the Crystal Lake Trailhead and Washington Lake Campground. The parking is at the end of this road. If it is full, you will have to follow the signs back down and along the road before this turn to use the overflow parking along the road.  GPS Coordinates: N40° 40.911' W110° 57.798'

Grandeur Peak via Church Fork Trail

The Trail
This moderate trail is about 2.9 miles (one-way) with a 2,390 ft elevation change. However, due to the fact that parking  for hikers at the trailhead is very limited, most people end up starting from the road, which adds an extra 0.3 mile (one-way) to the trail, and makes the round trip hike about 6.5 miles long. Due to the fact that most people end up starting from the road, the maps and graph below reflect this starting point.

This is one of the easiest peaks to summit in the area, and it offers some rewarding view both along the trail and at the top.

Topographical Map

Graph of Elevation

Trail in Google Earth

Church Fork is a picnic area, and there are vault toilets available all along this road up to the trailhead. (We found many of them to be closed due to COVID at the time we tracked this hike as shown above, but normally this is not the case. One we found open is labeled on the map.) There is also a nice waterfall along the road as you head up toward the trailhead.

Waterfall along the road

About 0.3 mile up the road is the small parking area and trailhead. A short distance after the trailhead there is a little bridge and another charming waterfall.

Bridge at beginning of trail

Waterfall just north of the bridge

About 0.2 mile from the trailhead there is an intersection of trails. The Rattlesnake Gulch and Birch Hollow Trails go off to the left and right here. The Grandeur Peak trail stays straight (the sign for it in the picture below is perpendicular to the other labeled trails).

Intersection of trails

The trail continues near the stream and through a pleasant shady forest area for just under a mile up. After that, there are some sunny and shady patches, but overall the trail continues to open up more with less shade. There are occasional side paths, but the main trail is easy to see and follow.

As the trail opens up, some nice views of the mountains
appear. These get better as you continue up.

Approaching Grandeur Peak

Penstemon growing along the trail

Trail curving around to top right before the peak

The views from the top are fantastic. The Salt Lake Valley stretches out below to the west while surrounding peaks jut up nearby to the south and east. Parley's canyon lies north which goes up into Dell Canyon, and up this canyon Mountain Dell and Little Dell Reservoirs appear as blue patches.

Salt Lake Valley

Mount Olympus and part of the Salt Lake Valley

Mountains looking East

Mountains looking South

Mountain Dell and Little Dell Reservoirs

After soaking in the view, hikers can return the way they came.

This trail is located up Mill Creek Canyon, which does require a $5 fee upon leaving the canyon to access it. Dogs are permitted off leash on odd days, but must be leashed on even days. There are vault toilets along the road in the picnic area at near the trailhead as previously explained.

Directions
This trail is located up Mill Creek Canyon near Salt Lake City, Utah. To get there from the north, take 1-15 to Exit 304 and head east toward Cheyenne on I-80. Take Exit 128 for the Belt Route/I-215 and head south. Next, take Exit 4 and turn left on 3900 South, then turn left onto Wasatch Blvd. Take the first right onto 3800 South/Mill Creek Canyon Rd. Head up this way for about 3 miles to get to Church Fork Picnic Area. You can try to drive up this road to the end where the trail starts, but there is very limited parking up this way for hikers, and it nearly always full. Most likely you will have to park along the road near the turn-off and walk up to the trailhead.

To get there from the south, take 1-15 to Exit 298 for the Belt Route/I-215 and head east. Next, take Exit 4 toward 3900 South, then turn left onto Wasatch Blvd. Turn right onto 3800 South/Mill Creek Canyon Rd. and continue up the canyon as explained above.
GPS Coordinates for the trailhead: N40° 42.041' W111° 44.545'
GPS Coordinates for the turn off to Church Fork Picnic Area: N40° 41.858' W111° 44.548'