6 Adventures in the Uintas to Beat the Heat

Longer days, school breaks and warm weather make summertime the perfect time to enjoy Utah’s unrivaled outdoors. But sometimes, it gets a little too warm, and the motivation to go outside quickly gets overpowered by the desire to remain near air conditioning.

There is, however, a way to enjoy cooler temps outside this time of the year without leaving state boundaries. The Uinta Mountains, often colloquially shortened to the “Uintas,” sit at more than 8,000 feet in elevation, and offer significantly lower temperatures than the Wasatch Front. 

Located just east of Kamas — and therefore a short-ish drive from anywhere in the valley — the Uintas offers the usual gamut of Utah outdoor recreation (hiking, backpacking, boating, etc.) with spectacular views to boot. 

Before You Go

Need to fill up before your trip? Hit up the Chevron in Kamas, also known as the Mirror Lake Station. Inside the convenience store you’ll find arguably the best donuts in Utah — if you get there early enough.

It Starts With the Mirror Lake Highway

There is no wrong way to enjoy Mother Nature. And sometimes that enjoyment is from the comfort of your own vehicle. The 55-mile long Utah State Route 150, also known as the Mirror Lake Highway, is one of the most scenic routes in the state. It is often the starting point to a Uinta adventure, but is more than worthwhile when enjoyed on its own.

Climbing up to a staggering 10,687 feet at Bald Mountain Pass, Mirror Lake Highway is the highest paved road in the state. It takes you through stunning alpine scenery that contains viewpoints, lakes, trails, picnic areas and campgrounds.

And yes, you are still beating the heat — your car’s AC won’t be working nearly as hard at that elevation.

Mirror Lake Is for Everybody

The scenic road’s namesake is one of the most beloved destinations in the Uintas, and for good reason. Located right off the highway, the Mirror Lake area offers something for all ages and all adventurers.

Hikers can enjoy an easy 1.5-mile flat loop around the lake, or the slightly longer 4-mile Mirror Lake Trail (which falls in the “easy” category since it’s mostly flat).

If you want to be on the lake instead, any non-motorized watercraft goes (and you’re allowed to fish from it too). Don’t own any? Rent a couple of kayaks from Uinta Adventure on your way there.

And if you like the lake so much you want to spend an extra day or two there, there’s a campground right next to it — how convenient!

Land of Lakes

The Uintas are home to over 1,000(!) lakes, and more than half of those support populations of game fish — making them an angler’s paradise.

A multitude of those lakes are easily accessible from the highway, such as the aforementioned Mirror Lake, Butterfly Lake, Lose Lake, Trial Lake and Washington Lake. At those lakes you’ll find some combination of albino trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger trout and grayling.

Scenic and Serene Camping

Lakes aren’t the only abundant thing in the Uintas; picturesque campgrounds can also be found at virtually every corner. Mirror Lake Campground has been mentioned already, but a few other top options include:

Washington Lake 

Located right next to one of the larger lakes in the Uintas, Washington Lake Campground is one of the most scenic campgrounds in the Uintas, which is saying something. It’s also on the smaller side — with 39 sites available.

Stillwater

Even smaller and more intimate than Washington Lake Campground, Stillwater Campground is just 30 miles from the Wyoming border, but don’t hold that against it. The Bear River cuts through the campground, and the confluence of the Stillwater Fork and Hayden Fork is just outside of it — creating great fishing opportunities. 

Smith and Morehouse

Accessible from Weber Canyon Road near Oakley, the large Smith and Morehouse Reservoir is a renowned fishing and canoeing spot — and its associated campground is the perfect place to stay. 

Climb Your Way to Royalty

The Uintas are home to the highest peak in all of Utah: Kings Peak. Standing at 13,528 feet above sea level, Kings Peak is no easy feat. But the spectacular views and sense of accomplishment are well worth the effort.

Technically, you could complete the hike in a day, but most make a backpacking trip out of it to extend their fun and reduce their calf cramps. The most popular places to camp are Alligator Lake and Dollar Lake.

For a less intimidating but equally rewarding backpacking trip, head to the China Meadows campground and hike to the Red Castles Lakes. 

Whatever backpacking adventure you choose, make sure to be prepared, check conditions and leave no trace.

Take to the Rugged Roads 

If you like trails and rugged roads but still want to feel the wind in your hair, there are several places to ride ATVs in and near the Uintas. 

Although the Mirror Lake Highway is paved, it branches off into numerous dirt roads and trails that are open to ATVs. One of those is the Murdock Basin area, a set of scenic and moderately technical trails which takes riders past several stunning — you guessed it — lakes.

Another popular place to ride ATVs is the Soapstone Basin area, which lies somewhere between the beginner and intermediate range in terms of technical difficulty. 

Interested in riding but missing the ride? Check out Uinta Adventure, a top outfitter in northern Utah for ATV rentals. They’ve also got boat rentals and snowmobile rentals for your non-Uintas/winter adventure needs.