Mirror Lake's Legacy: A Guide to My Father's Favorite Place

Mirror Lake

Some places are more than just a location on a map; they are woven into the fabric of our memories. For me, Mirror Lake in the Uinta Mountains is one of those places. It was my deceased father's favorite fishing lake, and returning here always brings back a flood of fun, nostalgic memories of him. It’s a place that has changed over the years—the lush green slopes I remember as a teenager have been scarred by the pine beetle—but its charm is timeless. This is my guide to the Mirror Lake I know and love, a place of beautiful reflections, quiet paddles, and cherished memories.

The Golden Nugget 🌟

Don't Miss This: The sunset view of Hayden Peak. While Bald Mountain dominates the view for most of the day, if you take a stroll to the southeast corner of the lake around sunset, you'll be rewarded with a spectacular view as the evening light illuminates the magnificent Hayden Peak.

TRANSPORT YOURSELF TO MIRROR LAKE

Need to relax? Grab your VR headset and join me gliding on the calm waters of Mirror Lake. It's a wonderful way to get some "Me Time" and a dose of Nature Therapy. This no-motion video is safe for any viewer and is perfect for a quiet, positive boost. So, curl up in a comfy chair and transport yourself to the Uintas to enjoy a wonderful VR Getaway with me.

"For me, it is nostalgic for it was my deceased fathers favorite fishing lake and it brings fun memories of him while I am here."

Adventure at a Glance

🏞️ Location: Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, Utah
🚶‍♀️ Activity: Kayaking/Paddleboarding, Hiking, Fishing, Camping
⭐ Shauna's Rating: 💎💎💎💎💎 (5 out of 5 Diamonds)
☀️ Best For: Accessible alpine beauty, family-friendly activities, beautiful reflections.
⏳ Recommended Time: A full day for hiking and paddling, or a weekend for camping.
🧭 Can't-Miss Sights: The reflection of Bald Mountain, sunset on Hayden Peak, the easy lakeside trail.

My Mirror Lake Story

One of our favorite things to do at Mirror Lake is to camp for a few days. I love waking up to the beautiful view of Bald Mountain each morning. On our first day here, Todd and I immediately jumped in our kayaks to paddle the perimeter of the beautiful lake. The shoreline is gorgeous all around, with clear water, beautiful rocks, and lovely wildflowers. Todd had a wonderful time fly fishing from his kayak, catching a few beautiful Rainbow and Brook Trout. It’s a wonderfully relaxing and peaceful place.

It does sadden me a little to see how the Japanese Pine Beetle has taken a toll on the surrounding forest, leaving many dead trees. It’s not the same lush green landscape I remember from my youth. But if you can look past that, the beauty is still immense. The lake still has its incredible charm, and for me, it will always be a place filled with the wonderful spirit of my father.

Your Trail Guide: Helpful Hints

♦️ Go Early or Late for Peace: Mirror Lake is very popular and can be busy. If you're looking for a serene experience, plan your visit for the early morning or late evening to avoid the biggest crowds.
♦️ Easy Lakeside Stroll: The trail that goes around the entire lake is about 1.5 miles long, mostly flat, and very easy. It's a beautiful stroll for all ages.
♦️ Look Past the Beetles: Know that many trees in the Uintas have been affected by the pine beetle. Be prepared for this so you can focus on the incredible beauty that remains.
♦️ Mosquitoes!: Especially in the early summer, the mosquitoes can be intense. Bring plenty of strong insect repellent.

More Uinta Adventures

Mirror Lake is the perfect basecamp for exploring other incredible spots in the High Uintas. Here are a few of our favorites.

Bald Mountain: This is the iconic peak that looms over Mirror Lake. The hike to the top is challenging due to the altitude, but the 360-degree views of the surrounding lakes are absolutely epic.

Upper Provo River Falls: No matter how many times I visit, this powerful series of waterfalls is always a pleasure. It's a must-see stop on the Mirror Lake Highway.

1.5 hours East of SLC
Trail around lake is about 1 mile
Easy Beautiful Stroll, Level 1
Lake is great for Kayaking, walking around, and fishing.
Can have lots of mosquitoes
Hike to Bald Mountain is really enjoyable hike here to see from about the dozens of lakes that are in this area.

HINTS for Uintas.

💚Uintas have been hit super hard with the Japanese Pine Beetle, so many get super frustrated with this area that it is so ugly because over half the trees are dead. If you can look past that, it is still a beautiful area, and I think it films still quite lovely, but some come and can’t see past the depression of so many of the trees being dead. Know this is the case so you ca be prepare to still find the beauty.
💚 Bald Mountain Trail is only 4-5 miles long, but the altitude makes it feel longer or harder, so don’t be hard on yourself if you need a break. Allow yourself the time to not feel rushed and just enjoy the journey. .
💚Moosehorn lake has beautiful views of Bald mountain, but there is limited parking, so sometimes you just can’t get in to the lake. In the spring there are Marsh marigolds on both the south side of the lake and the Northwest corner. In the summer there are fields of a fun variety of wildflowers on the East side and in the north west corner. You can’t walk around the whole lake here, but there are trails at least 3/4 of the way around. .
💚Lily lake is where the yellow lily flowers are at. They bloom around Mid July.
💚Mirror Lake has a beautiful trail that goes around the entire lake that is easy to walk. It has a beautiful campground on the east side. Is it a busy lake, so if you want serene time here, you must be willing to go for the early mornings or late evenings or in the early spring when it is scary cold. Sunrise shots are beautiful of Bald Mountajn. Sunsets you can get beautiful photos of Hayden peak from the south East corner.
💚 Many admire Bald Mountain, but I think Reid’s Peak and Hayden Peak are even more stunning. There is a trail up to Bald Mountain by Pass Lake that connects with the Bald Mountain, with view of Reid’s Peak on the way up. Hayden Peak has a parking area to the trail to the top of Hayden Peak that has really beautiful views of Hayden Peak.
💚 If you are looking for a beautiful spot to get a shot of Reid’s Peak, your spot is at Pass Lake. Roam around the lake a little and you will find some great spots.
💚 While your in the Uintas, never forget about Upper Provo River Falls. No matter how many times you have seen it, it always is a pleasure to visit. Take time to wander above and below the falls to find about a dozen separate falls. Tone of the top falls has a great spot you can jump off a tall ledge and into the River.

2D Trailer Video of Bald Mountain that I did for the above Immersive Version

One of Todd & my favorite places to camp is Mirror Lake, Utah. For me, it is nostalgic for it was my deceased fathers favorite fishing lake and it brings fun memories of him while I am here. It saddens me a little being here, for I remember this lake with the mountain below bald mountain as lush and green as a teenager. A few years ago a Japanese Beetle was bought in and it has really taken a tole on this whole area. This lake however still has its charm. Bald Mountain looming in the background, and the Hayden Peak on the East lights up beautifully at sunset. I woke up to a beautiful view of Bald Mountain each morning, and one day I decided I am going to the top of that mountain today. Here is the blog post of my hike to the top of Bald Mountain.

Link to Bald Mountain Hike

To get to Mirror lake, you go to Kamas, and head East. I would highly recommend making sure you download google map of the area before heading in and have yourself an external GPS unit connected to your phone. Here are 3 great external GPS units that would give you confidence when you head into the back country. If you also hate being out of contact with loved ones for multiple days, the 4 Garmin In Reach Explorer is a great assess to be able to send two way text messages when you are out of cell range through GPS. It is very cool and handy to have.

Mirror Lake, Utah

When we got here, the first thing we did was jump in our Kayaks and paddle around the beautiful lake.

Kayaking the perimeter of Mirror Lake.

The shore line is beautiful all around the lake. The clear water, the beautiful rocks and ever green, and flowers are just very relaxing and wonderful.

Mirror Lake, Utah

360 Trail Kayaking Mirror Lake

Around Sunset, I took a stroll around the lake to the North, West, and the South side. The sunset made the Hayden Mountain range gorgeous.

WALK AROUND LAKE AT SUNSET

View of Hayden Peak at sunset by Mirror Lake, Utah

Mirror Lake, Utah

There were such a fun variety of Purple, yellow and red flowers all around the lake.

Mirror Lake, Utah

The more you look at these White Lousewort flowers, the more intriguing they are. They are so cool how the petal spirals.

Look around to the east and see Hayden peak all lite up bright.

MORNING STROLL AROUND EAST SIDE.

Awesome Flowers I enjoyed while walking around Mirror Lake

360 Trail Around South Side of Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake with Bald Mountain in Background and Yellow Flowers

Yellow Arrowleaf Balsamroot, and Bell Flower below are found all around the lake.

If you would like to see more of this area, click on the Google Earth link below
Mirror Lake Google Earth Link

Then click on the little dude in the bottom and any area you want to see more.

Conclusion

Mirror Lake is a place of deep personal connection for me, a landscape filled with happy memories. While it has changed over the years, its fundamental beauty and peaceful spirit remain. Whether you're there to fish, paddle, hike, or simply sit by the shore and watch the sunset on the peaks, it’s a place that has a special way of calming the soul. I hope this guide helps you find your own moment of peace at this beautiful Uinta gem.

Sending Love and Positive Vibes,

Shauna from VRGetaways

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SILVER FLAT RESERVOIR

Link to Silver Lake Flat