Some secrets are best kept that way. So while I won’t be revealing the lake we camped at in the Uinta National Forest in this post, you can find it easy enough in other places (like my instagram). Winter and I needed an escape from the city, and the growing heat. When I heard the Mirror Lake corridor had opened almost a month early this year I loaded up all our camping gear and made the two hour drive to higher elevation, no cell phone service, and our serine escape.
Provo River Falls
The first stop was off the main road at Provo Falls. We stopped on our way to find a dispersed camp spot and it did not disappoint. For the time of year – June – the flow at the waterfall was very low. But given the low snow fall from the winter season, it was not surprising. There are a few little trails to explore along the river, but otherwise its just a viewpoint.
Setting up Camp
Finding a dispersed camping spot for the weekend in the Uinta National Forest proved to be an adventure. My friend and I had planned to camp at a small mountain lake called Echo Lake. However, the forest service road to the lake proved to be just a little too much for my comfort when driving out. I got within a mile of the lake and couldn’t continue due to the clearance on my Kia Sportage. And unfortunately, I had packed for a car camping trip and couldn’t hike in the last bit to the original camping spot.
So I was off to find a new spot, which I found next to a small lake down the road from Washington Lake. I had to drive back down to Kamas to let my friend know about the change of plans. The first night I had the entire lake to myself, and the second night my friend and her two pups, Lucy and Bella, joined us. Along with another groups who set up a camp spot nearby.
Wall Lake to Trial Lake Loop
On my first full day in the Uintas, Winter and I explored near Crystal Lake Trailhead. First we took the short walk over to Crystal Lake and Washington Lake. This super short and super easy “hike” is perfect for families with kids. There were plenty of people out early in the morning fishing. As Winter and I were heading out for a longer hike a few families were even bringing kayaks up the short trail to Crystal Lake.
After walking around Crystal Lake we committed to a longer hike up to Wall Lake. I had planned to complete the 2.5 mile out and back hike All Trails lists. Instead, I decided to make it a Loop, adding Trial Lake to the hike making the total a little closer to 3 miles. While the Crystal Lake trail head was busy, I only saw one other family on this hike. It was very peaceful, and Wall Lake was gorgeous.
After getting to Wall Lake, Winter and I headed down the trail to Trial Lake. This trail didn’t look like it had been fully groomed for the season. But that just added to the adventure. The trail followed the Provo River from Wall Lake into Trial Lake. It then followed the Trial Lake shoreline back to the Trial Lake trail head. The trail head had two historic cabins. As a Utah transplant it was really cool to learn the history of the lakes in the Uintas and the importance they hold.
Trial Lake 
On the maps the two trail heads appear to be really close. However, to get from Trial Lake back to the Crystal Lake Trail Head Winter and I ended up having to walk about 0.75 miles on the road. I guess I didn’t pay close enough attention to the maps… so word of warning the trail heads are not as close as they appear. They are expanding and improving the Crystal Lake trail head as well as adding some connector trails this season. I am hopeful this includes a trail to connect the Trial Lake trail head to the Crystal Lake trail head.
Clyde Lake
On the second day in the Uintas Winter, Lucy, Lucy’s mom and I hiked to Clyde Lake from the Crystal Lake trail head. When we initially planned this trip we talked about backpacking to Clyde Lake. Long story short, we are glad we didn’t because there were not many good camp spots once we got to Clyde Lake. There are a ton of lakes along the way, which the dogs loved because they got to swim and chase sticks in each one. When we got to Cliff Lake there were several groups of rock climbers across the lake. The dogs also got their first taste of swimming for the day.
The next three lakes on the way to Clyde Lake are Petite Lake, Linear Lake, and Watson Lake. Watson Lake had plenty of people camping on the far side of the lake away from the main trail.
We came around the bend and got a great view from the top of Wall Lake along with a small amount of leftover snow. Another 300-ish feet and we came up on the east side of Clyde Lake. The slope is smooth and rocky heading down to the lake so we found a nice dry patch and sat down to enjoy the view and some snacks. Then we headed back down the trail, and back to camp for a much deserved nap.
The elevation gain listed definitely felt off for this hike… All Trails lists the hike to Clyde Lake at 4.0 miles with 530 feet of elevation gain. We tracked it closer to 1,000 feet of elevation gain.
Clyde Lake 
Clyde Lake
Before you go
The national forest service holds all the information for Uinta National Forest, including maps for dispersed camping and closures. All the NFS maps are downloadable for use offline. This is super helpful given the lack of cell phone reception in the Uintas. Phone service goes out the window after you leave Kamas and doesn’t return until you leave the Uinta National Forest. A great way to have maps and GPS available is to download offline maps through google maps – I discuss how to do this in my Red Canyon post.
In addition to taking all the normal supplies I have for camping, I also considered that I was camping in black bear country. I was extra careful about cooking food. And I made sure it was all put away at the end of the night. Wildlife sightings out in the Uintas are much more common – I saw two moose off the main road on my first day.
Also, be sure to bring cash to pay the forest service day use fees. There are self pay stations up and down the entire mirror lake scenic corridor.
Enjoying all of Winter and my adventures? Check out more hiking and trips we have taken on our archives page! And more hikes across Utah are also featured here!
very cool!!!
Hey there, Sarah! I stumbled upon your blog post about Uinta National Forest camping and hiking, and I couldn’t resist leaving a comment. I have always been fond of outdoor activities, and your article just made me want to pack my bags and hit the road!
First off, your post was incredibly detailed and informative. Your descriptions of the trails and campsites were so vivid that I felt like I was already there! I appreciate that you included the different difficulty levels of each hike, as it allows hikers to choose the best route based on their experience and physical ability. Also, your tips for camping in the area were spot on, especially for someone like me who has never camped in the Uinta National Forest before. It is evident that you have a wealth of experience and knowledge about the area.
Secondly, I loved how you highlighted the environmental factors surrounding the forest, such as the history of the land and its unique ecosystems. It is important to be mindful of the impact we have on nature and to appreciate its beauty and significance. I appreciate how you emphasized Leave No Trace principles and the importance of respecting the wildlife and vegetation in the area. Your blog post not only provides practical information for camping and hiking in the Uinta National Forest, but it also encourages readers to become stewards of the land.