Basically none. It's excellent. If you're starting at US 191, there's a long (20-mile) before you get to Leidy Peak. This lake offers a great spot for fishing and day hiking. Remember, this trail is pretty remote and doesn't see a lot of people in most areas. In a high snow year, it may not be doable, without an ice axe at least, until August. On Thursday July 26th we started our Westbound hike of the incredible Uinta Highline Trail in northeast Utah. The Uinta Highline Trail travels more than 60 miles in Utah, almost always above 10,000 feet, and almost always above timberline, along the crest of the High Uintas. Based upon my experience hiking the Highline Trail from Leidy Peak to Hayden Pass last year, this is generally good advice with respect to the bugs/storms/pace. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from June until October. Dead Horse Pass (11,600'): The crux of the official route. If I were planning the trip in advance, I probably wouldn't plan to start until about the 3rd week of July. Basically none. A decent trail most of the way. It's one of only ranges in the United States that runs east-west, rather than north-south. At the trailhead, I hoisted my 38-pound pack and proceeded up trail number 025. So GPS, a map and compass are highly advised. The Uinta Highline Trail crosses most of the length of the Uinta Mountains, the only major east-west mountain range in the United States. While the UHT is a great hike overall, I think there is a little room for improvement. Neither of us had done any backpacking in years. America the Beautiful passes are accepted. It doesn't really matter all that much. In general, hikers in the Uintas are served well by getting up early and hiking hard all morning, knowing that the afternoon will be slower as the storms roll through. It doesn't really matter all that much. Traversing ridge lines, large expanses of lowland bogs, passing seemingly hundreds of … Unless you're interested in getting charbroiled by a stray bolt of lightning, you'll probably want to be below treeline by noon each day. If you park a vehicle on the west end, along Mirror Lake Highway, a self-service permit is required. An easy contender on our list of best hikes in Utah, is the Highline Trail, one I have yet to cross off my bucket list. Here's what it's like to spend a week on the trail. Anderson Pass (12,800'): The highest point on the UHT. It is a bit rocky in places, especially where horses have done damage to the trail. It's a bit hard to collect (use a quart zip-lock to scoop from shallow flows) but I've seen it running even in a dry September. The 104 mile Uinta Highline Trail in Utah does not disappoint! The coolest trail I’ve ever done under 100 miles. This may change in coming years though. We’ve talked to many a visitor who came to Glacier Park in June and were all excited to hike a ton of trails, only to find that 90% were still closed due to snow. If I were planning the trip in advance, I probably wouldn't plan to start until about the 3rd week of July. Distance: 80 miles Best For: Hikers looking to complete one of the best sections of the Pacific Northwest Trail Description: This lovely section of the PNW is a bucket-list hike in its own right. This is a fabulous way to experience the High Uintas Wilderness, passing along an undulating trail that takes you through some impressive scenery. Fish will bite at just about everything up there. It is one of the few ranges in North America that runs east to west. My first UHT hike was in an average snow year, and the north side of Dead Horse was still fairly snowbound as of the 4th of July. Many people dream of spending months hiking the Appalachian Trail or squirreling away hard-earned time bank funds to take off on something such as the 220 mile-long John Muir Trail. Here is a map with the gps track from our Inreach. Ridgetop alternates are not advised during July and August due to limited bailout opportunities and the likelihood of afternoon lightning storms. A few friends and I recently finished a thru-hike of the Uinta Highline Trail in northern Utah's Uinta mountains, so I wanted to throw a quick trip-report up here to combat the dearth of detailed info about this hike or the region more generally.. Yippee! The Uinta Highline Trail is a high elevation hiking path through the Uinta range in Northern Utah These mountains are the only range to run east to west in the country, making for a unique geologic experience. The passes, conveniently, are about a dozen miles apart. The dirt access road is fairly rough, although doable for most passenger cars with a little care. Traversing ridge lines, large expanses of lowland bogs, passing seemingly hundreds of … You’ll need to choose a date that maximizes your chances of success while simultaneously minimizing the many risks. You can also print DIY maps using Caltopo. This page is intended to be a quick planning resource to address those questions. YMMV! This trailhead makes for the shortest hike. 10 days. The Highline was a great ~80 mile hike that requires some logistical planning but is possible to do from the Salt Lake City area without a car. Sofia Jeremias, Deseret News. Directions: There are pictures after every day log entry.All pictures, except the first one, are thumbnails, click on any picture that you would like to see larger. Here's my video of my hike from 1.5 years ago.I just did the eastern section, but the guy I hiked with did a through-hike. Our cast and crew were composed of VERY experienced backpackers. Porcupine Pass (12,200'): Gradual approach from the east, dropping off sharply on the west side. That often means you'll hide in your tent for a couple hours while it storms like the dickens outside. One of the best hikes we’ve ever done anywhere in the world! People often ask about the best time to visit the Glacier National Park for hiking. As you hike along the cliffs, check out your first glimpse of Lake McDonald from the trail! Along the way you learn more about these hikers, and how they succeeded in life even when the odds were stacked against them. I wouldn’t just be hiking: I’d stop living my life through a screen, try to kick the social media addiction that had blossomed in lockdown. You may be able to sneak around the snow by staying north of the actual pass on the main Uintas crest, as shown on the mapped alternate. The Uinta Highline Trail is an 83-mile, eight-mountain-pass journey that averages only 50 thru-hikers annually. The Uinta Highline Trail is the definition of solitude. I'm not certain when they shut down.Craig, Park City, UT. Bring your hammock or tent - there are several nice campsites around the lake and plenty of trees for shade. Were I to plan a trip right now, I'd plan it for the last week of August. Soon we reached the parking lot and our hike on the Uinta Highline Trail was complete. The trail is primarily used for hiking, running, camping, horses, and backpacking and is best used from July until September. Highline - only go in winter if you are up for a snowshoeing trip. The trail crosses the divide many times to find a hiking route among the rough country. Uinta Highline Trail to Blue Lake and Shaler Lake is a 16.8 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Kamas, Utah that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. Leidy Peak/Hacking Lake trailhead (80 miles). Best hotel in Vernal Dino Inn and Suites. We have a condo in Whitefish.Our two long planned hikes will be the Highline trail to the Loop and then Grinnell Glacier.. I am a complete fishing novice and even I can catch a few. Jun 26, 2019 - One of the best hikes I've ever done anywhere in the world! That way you don't have to haul water up from Painter Basin. In my mind, the end of August is an ideal time to hike the Highline - in that short window between when the bugs and thunderstorms subside, and when winter hits. The dirt access road is fairly rough, although doable for most passenger cars with a little care. Jun 26, 2019 - One of the best hikes I've ever done anywhere in the world! It's mostly just a long uphill, and those in good high altitude shape may be able to power up. Should I keep watching the forecast waiting for it to clear up, or is that as good as I'm going to get? Jun 26, 2019 - Uinta Highline Trail Thru Hike w/ Zpacks | Ep05 - YouTube I’d already thru-hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail and North Umpqua Trail, so I pretty much had my gear dialed in for this adventure. For almost the entire hike, you’ll be in the alpine above the timberline at 10,000 feet high and at times, it requires technical skills. Naturalist Basin Hike: Tracing the route of the 167.4km Highline Trail, this trek to Naturalist Basin is certainly one of the most epic hikes in Uinta Mountains. Altitude sickness is more likely due to the elevation profile. Don't forget to tag Kings Peak! Call it mid-July through mid-September. It's one of only ranges in the United States that runs east-west, rather than north-south. As soon as Dead Horse Pass melts out. It's more common to hike westbound, for a couple of reasons: The west end of the Highline is a more spectacular than the east end. In fact, the Highline Trail in particular is not even accessible in winter as the Logan Pass and Sun Road close down in … That often means you'll hide in your tent for a couple hours while it storms like the dickens outside. One of the best hikes I've ever done anywhere in the world! Those who have friends/family in the area are probably best off bribing somebody with gas money and a nice dinner. Maps for this trail are remarkably straightforward. Near Leidy Peak (12,028-feet), the boys consulted the map as I passed by and walked into a dense conifer forest. There is a trail junction atop the pass - the East Fork Blacks Fork trail runs parallel to the ridge and joins the Highline trail from the East. It was good to have some company but after a while I got on my own pace and moved ahead to have some alone time at the peak before anyone else arrived. If you're starting at US 191, there's a long (20-mile) before you get to Leidy Peak. If you park a vehicle on the west end, along Mirror Lake Highway, a self-service permit is required. I often get questions from prospective UHT hikers about the trail. One trek across Utah's Uinta Highline Trail. It's a bit hard to collect (use a quart zip-lock to scoop from shallow flows) but I've seen it running even in a dry September. Thanks for the post! Over the past few years, the Uinta Highline Trail has increased greatly in popularity. After Deadman Lake, there's a 400' climb back up before you crest an unnamed pass and drop to Whiterocks Lake. Getting to the Uinta Highline Trail If you did Dead Horse, Rocky Sea won't be a problem. The trail just past the top of Haystack Pass is one of the most dramatic and daring parts of the Highline Trail. Read about my complete Uinta Highline Trail experience, including prep, gear, logistics, and post-hike impressions. They're not a big problem up high. This page is intended to be a quick planning resource to address those questions. August may be the most enjoyable time of year to head out as the temperatures will be the most summery. They quotes me a shuttle from the western terminus to the easter for $300. There are other ranges more beautiful, but the Uintas are so remote and challenging to run and has its own special beauty. Highline is a feature-length film that chronicles the history and splendor of the scarcely known Uinta Highline Trail (UHT), through the eyes of five friends who carry much more weight on their shoulders than their backpacks. 1 trek across Utah's Uinta Highline Trail & a new exciting documentary sharing it all The "true" trailhead on Highway 191 (105 miles). As soon as Dead Horse Pass melts out. Lots of off-trail alternates are possible through here, including along ridgetops. Be prepared for a few slow/frustrating miles. There is a new business doing shuttles. There are no practical opportunities to resupply along the UHT. 5 friends. This trail might just be the best trail I have ever hiked for a multitude of reasons. Start hiking at 6am, and you'll often complete your daily mileage by early afternoon. North Pole Pass (12,200'): This one may hit you like a ton of bricks. Glad you asked! The trail is also either very faint, or non-existent at times, therefore, this is not a good trail for beginner backpackers. The Uinta Range, in northwestern Utah, is a sub-range of the Rocky Mountains. About the Uinta Highline Trail. Being so close to Salt Lake City, it makes sense that you would hike it east to west and end your hike back in the city. For detailed information, step-by-step directions, maps, and more, please visit the. Just over 6 pounds of food that gets more filling from day 1 (left) to day 5 (right). It's mostly just a long uphill, and those in good high altitude shape may be able to power up. Gabbro Pass (11,700'): nothing particularly complicated, although snow cornices can hang around for an uncomfortably long time on the eastern side. Mountain Trails is the business name. Just packed my food for our 65-mile Uinta Highline Trail hike starting later this week. Spending time in nature is one of the best antidotes to Western society ... late summer/early autumn is the best time to do this hike, but midsummer is fun too, as are late spring/early summer if you are ... with the AT, PCT, CDT, and a handful of other relatively well-known long trails. Glad you asked! The HIGHLINE TRAIL is easily the most famous trail in the Uintas, most of it from its well-known Trailhead pictured here at Haydens Pass on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway and from here it heads east following the spine of the High Uinta Mountains over 8 above timberline passes. Tungsten Pass (11,400'): A total joke - hardly worth being called a pass at all. My brother and I are going to GNP the first week in September. This trailhead makes for the longest hike and easiest logistics, but the first 15-20 miles are mostly a forest walk, and don't really fit the high alpine theme of the rest of the route. The western approach is fairly steep and rocky, but nothing to be concerned about. Top of Gabbro Pass above Lake Wilde on the Uinta Highline Trail . Ten days. It was to be a monumental journey that would begin at the east end of the trail at McKee Draw just outside of the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. Follow the signs for Rocky Sea Pass, which is 8.5 miles one way from the Highline TH at Hayden Pass. The 104 mile Uinta Highline Trail in Utah does not disappoint! For those hikers who are coming from out-of-state or who don't have somebody to shuttle them, it's possible to self-shuttle using a mixture of hitchhiking, Utah Transit Authority buses, and free Summit County buses. Call it 6-10 days for your average hiker. Hikers travel all or part of 60 miles through classic alpine and subalpine Utah. From the Winds, it's just a hop, skip, and a jump to the Uintas. The grizzly has expanded its habitat in recent years, even being seen in the southern part of the Wind River Range. For most of human history, we lived in wild places. Glacier National Park is a “hiker’s paradise”, and knowing the best time to plan your Glacier Park hikes is really important. Except, few people have the time and opportunity to take off of on their version of an extended wilderness pilgrimage. In places, the trail disappears under your feet and merely becomes a route occasionally marked with cairns and the infrequent sign or post. A picture I took of myself backpacking the Uinta Highline trail in Utah with the disposable camera I brought, on Monday, Aug. 3, 2020. Fish will bite at just about everything up there. A permit station along the Highway here, including along ridgetops hike overall, I think there is sub-range. 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