In Tucson, we had Mount Lemmon as a cool reprieve from the heat of summer. When I moved to Park City, at an elevation of 7,000 feet above sea level, I never imagined I would need a place to get away from the heat. But here we are. 80-90 degrees is becoming the norm for Park City summer days, and the only option for staying cool is to head to higher elevations. Luckily, we have the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway to the Uinta Mountains. With tons of lakes, hiking trails, and campgrounds, it’s my favorite day trip from Park City in the summer months. The road closes in the winter, meaning we have a short window of June through October to enjoy Mirror Lake Utah.
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Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest
Mirror Lake Utah Scenic Byway is part of the Uinta-Wasatch Cache National Forest and is managed by the United States Forest Service. The Uintas are a rare mountain range that runs east to west, rather than north to south like most mountain ranges in North America. While this is a popular area for outdoor recreation, it is largely considered the backcountry, so don’t plan on cell service or any services along the way! (See below for more tips on traveling Utah’s Mirror Lake Highway)
Mirror Lake Scenic Byway Directions
Finding the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway is pretty easy. Get yourself to the Heber Valley town of Kamas, and from Main Street, you will turn east on Highway 150, which is the Mirror Lake Highway. It’s really well-labeled, and I always put “Mirror Lake Campground” in my GPS. Works like a charm, as long as you’re pointed towards Mirror Lake Utah, not Mirror Lake, Colorado or Mirror Lake, Wisconsin, or any other Mirror Lake!
I still can’t believe this beautiful spot is just one hour from Deer Valley and my house in Park City!
Once you’re on the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, you can’t really get lost. There are no towns or (paved) turns along the way. The road goes over Bald Mountain Pass (10,700 feet) and drops down to Mirror Lake. If you continue on this road, you’ll end up in Evanston, Wyoming. If you’re taking a long day trip from Salt Lake City, you can do this and then take Interstate 80 back into Utah. Bald Mountain Pass makes this the highest paved road in Utah and one of the best scenic drives near Salt Lake City!
Make sure you’re prepared for the high elevation of Utah!
Mirror Lake Highway Hiking
Some of the best hikes in Utah are found along the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway. Unlike most of the watershed canyons around the Salt Lake City area, all of the Uinta hikes are dog-friendly. From short strolls to multi-day backpacking trips, there are dozens of cool hikes in the Uintas!
Don’t forget these hiking essentials before you set out on the Mirror Lake trails!
Mirror Lake Loop Trail
Probably the easiest of the Mirror Lake Highway hiking trails, the Mirror Lake Loop Trail is a lovely, flat trail around Mirror Lake. Depending on the source you check, it’s between 1.5 and 2.1 miles. Based on my own Fitbit, I think it’s closer to two miles. Much of the trail is a boardwalk, and the rest is a nice crushed gravel surface. There are fabulous lake views in every direction and lots of opportunities to splash around in the lake.
Mirror Lake has a boat ramp, but only non-motorized boats are allowed, making it a great Utah paddleboarding spot!
Ruth Lake
Another short and “easy” hike in the Uintas is the trail to Ruth Lake. At one mile each way, the distance is not challenging; however, there are some ups and downs and rocky areas to navigate. I took my 11-year-old Airedale Terrier, and we got to Ruth Lake in about 45 minutes, with the return trip taking 30 minutes. There is a stream running along most of the trail, so that was an easy way to keep Bailey cool.
The trailhead for Ruth Lake is on your left about five miles past Mirror Lake. You can continue on the trail and reach Lofty Lake and many other lakes in the area. With two cars or a bit of hitchhiking, you can park at Pass Lake and exit at Ruth Lake for a longer hike.
Wall Lake
Wall Lake is an easy hike to a beautiful lake with a huge rock wall against the far side. From the Mirror Lake Highway, take the turnoff to Crystal Lake and look for the trailhead sign for the Wall Lake trail. There are a lot of trailheads in this parking lot. I went on a Wednesday night and the lot was almost full, so I can’t imagine how busy it is on the weekend! The trail to Wall Lake is about one mile each way. There’s not much elevation gain, but the trail is rocky, and you’re over 10,000 feet, which is difficult enough!
Fehr Lake Trail
Not far from Mirror Lake, this trail passes by Fehr Lake and continues on to Shepard Lake, Maba Lake, and Hoover Lake. Out and back it totals 3.6 miles round-trip. A great hike if you are camping nearby at Moosehorn Lake or Mirror Lake. Not a lot of elevation gain, so a good easy to easy-to-moderate hike.
Lofty Lakes Loop
This 4.4-mile loop features several alpine lakes, including Lofty Lake. You’ll also pass by an old Boy Scout camp with cabins scattered throughout the wood. Moderately strenuous, rocky trail.
Upper Provo Falls
This is more of an overlook than a hike, but you can do a bit of hiking around the Upper Provo River Falls. The falls are really beautiful and definitely worth stopping as you pass by. There are a couple of sets of waterfalls and you can rack up about a 1/2 mile of walking before heading back to the car.
Mirror Lake Highway Camping
There are tons of great Mirror Lake Highway campgrounds, as well as plenty of places for dispersed “off the grid” camping if you can’t get or don’t want a reservation. All of the established campgrounds can be reserved online at Recreation.gov. In the hot summer months, this is some of the best camping in Utah!
All of the Mirror Lake, Utah camping sites are nonelectric, with vault toilets and potable water available. There’s usually a camp host and firewood for sale (if we’re not in a burn ban!) If you need electric hookups or showers, you will likely have to stay in Kamas, Samak, or Evanston, Wyoming. Generators are allowed, so I highly recommend unplugging and checking out one of these amazing campsites!
From Kamas, you’ll pass by the Mirror Lake Highway campgrounds in this order:
- Ponderosa Group Campground
- Yellow Pine Campground
- Beaver Creek Campground
- Taylors Fork Campground
- Shingle Creek Campground
- Pine Valley Campgrounds
- Lower Provo River Campground
- Soapstone Campgrounds
- Shady Dell Campground
- Cobblerest Campground
- Washington Lake Campgrounds
- Trial Lake Campground
- Lily Lake Campground
- Lost Creek Campground
- Moosehorn Campground
- Mirror Lake Campground
Make sure you check the latest fire restrictions in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest as summer months are hot, dry, and prone to wildfires. Campfires may be restricted or banned.
Mirror Lake Highway Restaurants
The town of Kamas is a great place to grab a quick bite on your way to or from the Mirror Lake Highway.
- For pre-trip food, the Chevron gas station in Kamas is widely known for its amazing donuts. No, really!
- Hi-Mountain on Main Street is a former pharmacy that now serves up burgers, fries, and shakes. The perfect way to end a day of hiking in the Uintas.
- Woodland Biscuit Company is also fantastic. They have been overwhelmed by popularity, despite only being open for a few hours each weekend. They are currently closed due to staffing, but I have no doubt the loyal fan base will prevail!
- El Toreador was a pretty good Mexican restaurant in Kamas. It’s been replaced by El Tigre Mexican Grill, which has good reviews, so I’ll have to revisit that one.
- If you see the Corndog Company food truck next to the ranger station, grab a corndog for the road. They’re delicious, especially drizzled in honey!
Mirror Lake Scenic Byway Tips
Don’t Forget to buy a National Parks Pass before you go!
- Make sure you have cash (and an ink pen!) to purchase a permit for the Mirror Lake Uinta Mountains recreation pass. As of 2025, it’s now $10 for 3 days, $20 for 7 days, and $60 for an annual pass. You can also stop at the Kamas Ranger District station to buy a day pass, but they aren’t open on the weekends. National Parks Access Pass also works, and is the best option, in my opinion!
- Gas up and get snacks in Kamas. There are no services along the Mirror Lake Highway. The Samak Country Store is a great place to stop for snacks on your way in or out of the Uintas.
- Download maps or bring a paper version. I lose cell service (Google Fi) immediately after leaving Kamas.
- Dress in layers! It can be 70 or 80 in Kamas and easily be in the 50s or 60s at Mirror Lake. My last two July trips ended below 60 degrees, thanks to rain showers.
- Aim for weekday visits if you can. When the valley heats up, this is a popular spot to cool off in the summer, so it can be crowded.
- The Mirror Lake Scenic Byway is closed in winter, so be sure to check road conditions before setting out in the fall or spring. (In winter, you can snowshoe, cross-country ski, or snowmobile in the Uintas)
- The last two weeks of July are typically best for wildflowers, and late September/early October is best for fall colors.
- Visit the Forest Service Website for more details and the current road conditions.
- Drive slowly! Parts of the highway are also open cattle ranges. I typically see lots of cows grazing along the road, so watch your speed and pay attention to signage.
