Pets allowed
Allowed
Elevation Gain
1,000.00 ft (304.80 m)
Trail type
There-and-back
Distance
8.20 mi (13.20 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The Crystal Lake Trailhead gives you access to a very large number of hikes right in the heart of the western Uintas. Heading west from the parking area takes you along several major lakes towards Island Lake. This lake also can be accessed from Weber Canyon by way of Smith and Morehouse Reservoir through a long eastward trek. Thanks to the many nearby forks and trails, you won't usually see too many people here on weekdays. Backcountry camping opportunities abound, and you can bring the dogs off-leash. This area has many ponds, lakes, and creeks that are very beautiful, but they do give the mosquitos a lot of places to breed. Swarms of bugs can get pretty bad in early summer, but that is also peak wildflower season in these parts, so cover up and bring some spray.

The rolling terrain never gets too steep, so bring the family along for a long but relatively easy hike. There is a fee to recreate in the Uintas, but you can leave your America the Beautiful Pass on your dashboard to enjoy the place for free. Keep an eye out for the plentiful moose in the area.

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Summer
Fall

Congestion

Low

Parking Pass

National or state forest pass

Open Year-round

No

Open from

May 15 to November 15

Pros

Beautiful scenery. Dogs allowed. Backcountry camping. Wildflowers.

Cons

Lots of bugs in early summer.

Trailhead Elevation

10,024.00 ft (3,055.32 m)

Highest point

10,305.00 ft (3,140.96 m)

Features

Flushing toilets
Near lake or river
Backcountry camping
Wildlife
Fishing
Big vistas
Bird watching
Wildflowers

Typically multi-day

No

Suitable for

Horseback
Biking

Permit required

No

Location

Nearby Lodging + Camping

Comments

Have updates, photos, alerts, or just want to leave a comment?
Sign In and share them.