- High Uinta Backpacking Loop: Lakes and 13ersWooly Mammoth Park-N-Ride, Golden, CO
The Uinta Mountains are Utah's premier mountain range, featuring an impressive elevation range of 8,000 to 13,500 feet, pristine alpine lakes and streams, and interesting peaks that just plain look different than Colorado's. This event is a 5-day, 70+ mile backpacking trip that makes a loop around the varied terrain of the King's Peak region, with plenty of on- and off- trail stretches. If interested, go ahead and put yourself on the waitlist and I'll slowly change RSVP statuses of folks as the month gets closer, as I need to make sure everyone going can handle the rigor of the route.
Day 1 - Thursday. We'll meet at the Wooly Mammoth lot super early, something like 5am. It's a 7+ hour carpool ride to the Swift Creek Campground / trailhead where we'll be setting out from after lunch. The Swift Creek trail rises steadily as is passes Deer Lake and White Miller Lake before meeting the Jackson Park Trail at the large Farmer's Lake. Hang a right and it's another mile and a half to East Timothy Lake where we'll camp for the night.
Day totals are 10.5 miles and 3,300 ft of gain.Day 2 - Friday. Tear down camp and follow the trail around the shelf of the Swift Creek basin and head south. At about 11,200 ft, we'll leave the trail and head due east on a fairly easy off-trail / scramble to the southern terminus of the 12 mile long King's Peak ridge. The northward ascent will get steeper and scramblier, but it should be doable with packs if we take it slow. Once on top, follow the ridge north to 13,448 ft Mount Emmons. Our descent to the east is still scrambly / scree, so it will be slow. But we'll dismount the long finger just above the four Chain Lakes that will make for a nice photo before we turn northwest on established trail. Camp near the massive Lake Atwood.
Day totals 17 miles and 4,200 ft of gain.Day 3 - Saturday. Tear down camp, and some combination of trail and short-cutting lead us to the famous Anderson Pass. We can ditch our packs here and take summit bags south to Utah's highest 13,528 ft King's Peak and perhaps on to South King's Peak as well, rising to 13,518 ft. Expect exceptional views of the entire Uinta area, multiple drainages, and additional 13ers from Utah's highest point. Retrace the ridge to Anderson Pass and follow established trail down to South Pass Lakes near Red Castle Peak where we'll make camp.
Day totals 16 miles and 4,400 ft.Day 4 - Sunday. Tear down camp and follow established trail as it wraps around Red Castle Peak and dwindles out at its lake (pictured). We'll pick our way along the rocky shore and climb up and out of the drainage at an unnamed pass. It'll be a short boulder / scree descent to the Uinta Highline Trail that we'll take back east over Porcupine Pass to North Star Lake and Tungsten Lake. From there, Center Park Trail meanders along the western shelf of the Yellowstone Creek drainage with lots of little lakes and ponds. Camp near Five Point Lake, and perhaps take a short evening walk to explore the area after dinner.
Day totals 15 miles and 2,600 ft.Day 5 - Monday. Tear down one last time. It's hike-out day! Five Point Lake Trail descends steeply to Yellowstone Creek Trail which runs all the way to the cars. It'll be a long drive home, but we'll be back Monday night.
Day totals 14 miles and 453 ft (with 3,000 of loss).Link to the 5-day route:
Explore BP Uintas Kings Peak | AllTrailsI can email the GPX to anyone that needs it.