Haystack Lake

Haystack Lake is one of our favorite hikes.  There is not a lot of elevation gain, so it is a nice second hike for the weekend.  The lakes are gorgeous.  The trail starts out at the Washington Lake Group Campground and winds its way along Washington Lake, Tail Lake, Shadow Lake, and finally, to Haystack Lake.  Most books say this hike is 4 miles, but it is more like 5 miles.

Trailhead Elevation:  9,920 feet
Highest Elevation:  10,092 feet
Total Elevation Gain:  558
Total Distance:  5.23 miles
Total Time:  2.5 hours 

Clyde Lake Loop

We spent another gorgeous day in the Uintas.  There are two trails that start from the Crystal Lakes Trailhead.  Last week we did the Lakes Country Trail to Long Lake.  Today, we took the Notch Mountain Trail.  We did a loop out past Wall Lake, then to the Notch Mountain cutoff, over to Twin Lakes, around Clyde Lake, to Cliff Lake, and back to the Crystal Lakes Trailhead.

Trailhead Elevation:  9,429 feet
Highest Elevation:  10,429 feet
Total Elevation Gain:  700 feet
Total Distance:  6 miles
Total Time:  3.5 hours

Long Lake

 

We finally made it to the upper Upper Uintas.  The hike to Long Lake starts at the Crystal Lake Trailhead.  We got a late start and the trailhead parking lot was already full, so we had to park at the overflow parking lot a mile down the road.  The hike was great.  There were still patches of snow on the trail, but not enough to worry about.  The upper rocky area by Long Lake is gorgeous.  You can also continue on the trail for another couple miles to Island Lake.  We didn't have time this weekend to make it to Island Lake, but it was great to be out in the pine trees for a few hours.

Trailhead Elevation:  10,030 feet
Highest Elevation:  10,100 feet
Total Elevation Gain:  350 feet
Total Distance:  4 miles (plus 2 miles to parking)
Total Time:  2.5 hours (3 hours to parking)

North Fork

We managed to get out for a mid-week hike in the Uintas this week.  We did the North Fork trail which is our favorite go-to hike in the lowlands.  We didn't see anyone else on the trail and the temp was in the mid-70s.  We are looking to get to the upper elevation trails this weekend.

Trailhead Elevation:  7,560 feet
Highest Elevation:  7,710 feet
Total Elevation Gain:  320 feet
Total Miles:  4 miles
Total Time:  2 hours



Yellow Pine Creek

We decided to do the  Yellow Pine Creek Trail again.  It was such a nice hike last weekend and we wanted to get to the end of the trail.  We made it up 4.5 miles to a great meadow where a number of creeks flow into Yellow Pine Creek.  A faint trail kept going in a northeasterly direction, but we decided to call it good.  Still managed to get caught in a thunder and rain storm on the way down.  Should have started earlier in the day.  But it was still a gorgeous hike.  And a nice time to try out our rain gear.

Trailhead Elevation:  7,070 feet
Highest Elevation:  9,235 feet
Total Elevation Gain:  2,444 feet
Total Distance:  9 miles
Total Time:  5 hours

Yellow Pine Creek

It was a hot day in the valley and still pretty hot in the Uintas.  We had a nice time hiking up the Yellow Pine Creek Trail which follows the creek most of the way.  We made it a little past the fourth bridge which was about 3 miles up.  The trails map indicates the trail goes as far as 4 miles in, but we figured 6 miles roundtrip was enough for this early in the season.  Beautiful day and plenty of water flowing in the creek.  Lots of horses and other hikers, but still a great day on the trail.  The dogs loved it.

Trailhead Elevation:   7,028 feet

Highest Elevation:   8,443 feet

Total Elevation Gain:   1,407 feet

Total Distance:   6 miles

Total Time:  3:15 hours