⚡ The Quick Scoop
The Vibe: A quaint, freezing-cold alpine lake completely hidden in the pine-covered mountains above the scorching desert of Moab.
The Catch: The fishing here is absolutely insane. Todd caught 13 beautiful trout in a single hour!
Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎 (4 out of 5 Diamonds for being the perfect desert escape!)
While in Moab, we were looking for a nice scenic drive to escape the crowds and the heat. The Manti-La Sal Mountains, with their beautiful snow-covered tips, were calling to us. As we drove this scenic loop from the red rocks into the national forest, we came upon signs for a lake.
Now, we absolutely LOVE finding alpine lakes, but a lake officially named "Oowah" is just too cool to ever think of passing up. We took the detour, and it ended up being one of my absolute favorite stops of the entire trip!
This fishing trip was the perfect add-on! If you want to see how this fits into a full road trip, check out my Ultimate Moab Guide for 5 other amazing stops nearby.
👇 Choose Your Path
Leaving the Desert Behind
The transition from Moab to the Manti-La Sal mountains is jarring in the best way possible. You leave the dusty, scorching hot red-rock desert floor and suddenly find yourself climbing into thick, cool pine forests and even hitting patches of snow! The temperature drops dramatically, offering the ultimate relief from the heat you were dying in just the day before.
The dirt road up to the lake didn't feel bad at all when we were there. While we didn't dare continue the full mountain loop this time because of the lingering snow, we have driven the entire scenic loop before. It eventually brings you out by the famous Fisher Towers, and it is an absolutely lovely drive filled with pine trees and sweeping vista views!
We ran into a herd of Wild Turkeys crossing the road on the way up to Oowah Lake!
The snow-capped peaks of the Manti-La Sal Mountains looming above.
The 13-Fish Frenzy
When we got to the lake, Todd was absolutely thrilled to break out his gear and do some fishing. The water was incredibly still, and the setting was pure peace.
🎣 Todd's Golden Hour & The Microwave
He fished for exactly one hour, and it was non-stop action. It was crazy—he caught 13 beautiful trout in just 60 minutes! We ate some fresh and threw the rest back in.
We actually have cooking fresh fish down to an absolute science. Back on this specific trip, we were in a very funny "gear-heavy" phase of our camping journey. We literally hauled a generator and solar panels out here just to run a mini-fridge! When we caught the trout, we would scale it, cut off the head, put it in a microwave-safe Ziploc bag with a little water, and microwave it for 4 minutes. The meat would fall perfectly right off the bones—it was shocking!
Nowadays, we are much more minimalist. We don't drag a microwave and fridge around the wilderness anymore; we just build a fire and cook the fish over a rack. But that wild "microwave" phase is definitely a fun memory.
Look... I found Todd! And his fish!
Interactive Maps & Video
The reflection on this lake is so perfectly glassy that it is honestly disorienting at first! The water was so dead calm that the reflection of the snow-capped mountains and pines looked flawless. It was one of those pictures you could have turned completely upside down, and people wouldn't have even been able to tell! Watch the video below to see Todd's catch and check out the crazy reflection.
🗺️ Pro Tip for Homebound Explorers!
To get the ultimate interactive experience: Click "View on larger map" on the map below. Then, grab the little yellow dude (Pegman) in the bottom right corner and drag him onto any of the blue dots or blue lines. This drops you right into the 360° view so you can look around freely, even if Google's navigation arrows are acting glitchy!
360° Walk Around Oowah Lake
Drag the screen around to explore the cute little trail that circles the water.
The Explorer's Guide
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 📍 Location: Manti-La Sal National Forest (About 4.5 hours SE of Salt Lake City, near Moab)
- 🥾 Hike Difficulty: Level 1 (Very Easy)
- 📏 Trail Distance: Cute trail around the lake is about 1 to 1.5 miles.
- 🎣 Activities: Good fishing and amazing photography!
🏕️ Camping at Oowah Lake
If you want to spend the night, the Oowah Lake Campground is managed by the United States Forest Service. The best part? It is only $5 a night!
Check out the campground road in this 360 view!
✨ Ask the Alpine Guide
Curious about fishing limits, the drive up from Moab, or the campground fees? Ask our AI Guide!
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