Hiking Clyde and Surrounding Lakes
Western Uintas
Overview
Sun 27 | 20 |
Mon 15 | 6 |
Tue 21 | 4 |
Wed 31 | 11 |
Thu 32 | 16 |
View Full Weather Details |
Sun 27 | 20 |
Mon 15 | 6 |
Tue 21 | 4 |
Wed 31 | 11 |
Thu 32 | 16 |
View Full Weather Details |
There is not a much better place in the Uinta Mountains for family friendly hiking. From the trailhead, a string of lakes are encountered, allowing for families to choose a destination based on the motivation of the family for the day. All lakes offer good scenery, and most have at least a few campsites, making this a good short overnighter for families as well.
More motivated? Making it to Clyde and returning via Wall Lake is an excellent 5.5-mile loop hike seeing the best scenery in the area and highly recommended. There is a lot to see for the distance; bring a lunch and plan on 3/4 of a day even though the mileage is relatively short.
Getting There
The trailhead is the Crystal Lake Trailhead off the Mirror Lake highway. This is at milepost 25.5, which is 25.5 from Kamas Utah on highway 150 or about 52 miles south of Evanston Wyoming on Highway 150. The Mirror Lake highway is closed from late fall to about Memorial Day. The trail would likely be very snowy until late June in most years.
At milepost 25.5, turn left onto the paved road signed from Trial Lake and Crystal Lake Trailhead. Stay left a short distance from the highway, but take the second right 0.7 miles from the highway. Follow this 0.5 miles to its end at the Crystal Lake Trailhead.
The trailhead has a pit toilet and a large parking. There are also several campground in the area.
Route
To Cliff Lake (0.65 miles / 10 minutes)
From the trailhead follow the main trail northwest. This is wide and used to be an old road. 5 minutes from the trailhead is a signed junction. Go right here, toward Cliff Lake. The trail narrows and climbs a short distance to the picturesque Cliff Lake. There are several good campsites around the lake. This is an excellent short family friendly destination.
To Clyde Lake from Cliff Lake (1.5 miles / 30-45 minutes from Cliff Lake)
The trail continues past Cliff Lake, passing a string of lakes before reaching Clyde Lake.
A short distance from Cliff Lake the first of this string of lakes is reached, Petit Lake. This is a small lake with a few good campsites around it. The trail then climbs a short distance again before passing the very small Linear Lake.
A short climb past Linear Lake is the much more impressive Watson Lake with Watson Peak looming to the west of it. The views begin opening up here. There are several good campsites around Watson Lake.
From Watson Lake, the trail climbs above treeline to Clyde Lake with big views in all directions. Clyde is big, with several good campsites. Continuing north from Clyde a few minutes offers excellent campsites near the Three Divide Lakes.
You can return the same way, or return via the optional loop.
Optional Loop:
To Twin Lakes (0.6 miles / 15 minutes)
Follow the north shore of Clyde Lake on a well-used trail. It stays on the shelf below John Lake and contours to Twin Lakes in about 0.6 miles. There are several good campsites at Twin Lakes. The views of Notch Peak along the way and Watson Peak behind are stunning.
To Wall Lake (1.7 miles / 1 hour)
From Twin Lakes, stay on the most used trail as it leaves the lake, heads west, then reaches the Notch Mountain trail. At this junction, go right.
The trail descends, passing Hope Lake and several small ponds before reaching Wall Lake, one of the most scenic lakes in the area in my opinion. There is good camping around Wall Lake, though it is a very popular destination, so often busy.
To The Trailhead (1.1 miles / 30 minutes)
At the south end of Wall Lake is a dam. There is a trail junction here that return to Trial Lake. Be sure to NOT take that junction! Cross the dam instead, and stay on that trail. It meanders along at a mostly level path to Lily Lakes and reached the north side of the parking area about 1.1 miles from Wall Lake.
Trailhead |
12T 503097mE 4503433mN N40° 40' 54" W110° 57' 48" |
Jct. - Right |
12T 502706mE 4503598mN N40° 40' 60" W110° 58' 05" |
Cliff Lake |
12T 502780mE 4504018mN N40° 41' 13" W110° 58' 02" |
Clyde Lake |
12T 502302mE 4505530mN N40° 42' 02" W110° 58' 22" |
Divide Lakes |
12T 502183mE 4505849mN N40° 42' 13" W110° 58' 27" |
Twin Lakes |
12T 503285mE 4506049mN N40° 42' 19" W110° 57' 40" |
Twin Lake Jct. |
12T 503603mE 4505990mN N40° 42' 17" W110° 57' 26" |
Wall Lake Jct. |
12T 503381mE 4504851mN N40° 41' 40" W110° 57' 36" |
Lily Lakes |
12T 503104mE 4503639mN N40° 41' 01" W110° 57' 48" |