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One of
the most rugged and wild ranges of the US Rockies,
the
Uinta Mountains,
located along the northeastern part of the state of
Utah, are unique in many ways. The only major
mountain range in the US stretching from east to
west, with several peaks reaching above 13,000ft
(including Utah’s highest point - King’s Peak at
13,528ft,) the Uinta offers a haven for those
seeking a true mountain wilderness experience. With
hundreds of miles of hiking trails, thousands of
lakes, thick aspen, fir, and spruce forests, and an
abundance of wildlife, one can always find solitude
and beauty in this remote, rugged range. The Uintas
are also the headwaters for the Bear River, and
provide most of the drinking water for the state’s
largest population centers.
Stillwater Fork
Close to 460,000 acres of the
most pristine alpine scenery in the range are
protected within the boundaries of the
High Uintas Wilderness,
managed by the US Forest Service. Not many roads
traverse these mountains. Perhaps the most scenic is
State Road 150, also known as the Mirror Lake
Highway, connecting the towns of Kamas, UT and
Evanston WY. This paved road, open only during the
summer months, climbs into the High Uintas, up to
10,700 ft. Bald Mountain Pass, and offers easy
access to numerous scenic lakes as well as popular
trailheads.
Hayden Peak
Most of the high Uinta peaks
are massive formations of layered quartzite and
shale, characterized by broad flat tops, towering
high above the tree line, and often easily climbed
without need for special gear. Among the peaks,
large basins offer great camping and backpacking
destinations, often encompassing one or more alpine
lakes, and large grassy meadows, rich with
wildflowers in the summer months.
Provo River Canyon
Moose, elk, and deer are
commonly sighted around these mountains, as well as
black bears, and a variety of other birds and
mammals typical to the Rocky Mountains. Sandhill
cranes are sometimes seen in the lower elevations,
beaver lodges and ponds are common along the major
waterways; marmots often perch on large rocks
surveying the scenery, and small herds of mountain
goats and bighorn sheep are sometimes seen on the
steep slopes.
Red Castle Peak
Day hikers will find an
abundance of short trails leading to alpine lakes
along the Mirror Lake Highway. Those planning to
spend multiple nights can make their way into some
of the larger basins (such as Naturalist Basin,
Granddaddy Basin, or Red Castle) and the truly
ambitious can spend a week or more traversing the
70-mile Highline Trail. |
