High Uinta Wilderness
Deadhorse Lake
The High Uintas Wilderness encompasses 456,705 acres and stretches nearly 60 miles east to west. It is a spectacular area with hundreds of glacier-formed lakes reflecting blue skies and Utah's highest peaks in clear, cold water. As a Utah local, the Uintas is a favorite! A Wilderness that is right in our backyard! So much room for exploration! Deadhorse is stunning! Mountain views and endless meadows. The lake glows turquoise when the light hit it just right!
Route
Deadhorse Lake
-
21.4 miles out & back (8 hours one way)
-
2 nights/3 days
-
Moderate
-
Dog Friendly
-
Park on the W Fork of Blacksmith Rd
-
Night 1 : Camp in the meadow by W Fork of Blacksmith Rd
-
Night 2 : Camp at Deadhorse Lake
-
When to go : July - September
-
No Backcountry permit required to camp
NOTE
-
Store food properly! Squirrels are savages!
-
Black Bear and Mountain Lion Country (we saw a wild wolf)
-
Always be ready for rain
-
Very buggy and muddy
-
Dispose of waste properly and keep campsite clean!
-
Moose are plentiful
-
Lots of Horse Poop, mud and river crossings
-
Road to get there is VERY rough. High clearance vehicle recommended. Your on farming land so be prepared to come across goats, horses and cows.
AllTrails Link
NIGHT 1 : West Fork of Blacksmith Road
We got to the trailhead a little late so we decided to camp right before the river crossing. The road gradually turns into the trailhead so theres no "official" parking lot. You can drive through the river crossing if you have a high enough clearance vehicle, but when we went in early July, it was too deep. We just parked on the side of the road. The road was very rough with huge holes, dips and turns. Camping by the river was nice, but buggy and a bit wet. The cows moo'd all night.
NIGHT 2 : Deadhorse Lake
We started our morning crossing the river by foot. It was about thigh deep. As you start ascending the trail, you will cross several streams and beautiful green meadows. It was unreal. Couldn't believe I was in Utah! The wildflowers were peaking and the trail stayed nice and cool the whole way up. Because we went in early July, the trail was very muddy and wet, and there was a point where the trail disappeared completely. Thank you GPS. You're along a water source the whole way which was nice but the bugs were relentless. The sunset on the lake was so beautiful.
Day 3 : Hike back out to Blacksmith Rd
The next morning was stunning. The lake glowed opal as we hiked around the rim of the Lake. You Can scramble up Deadhorse Pass for a killer view, but it is kind of sketchy.
