⛰️ Shauna's Top 8 Utah Lakes for Hiking & Kayaking
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| The magic of a calm morning at Mirror Lake. |
There is something magical about hiking to a place and discovering a beautiful lake at the end of the trail, or driving to a pretty spot, pulling out a kayak, and exploring the perimeter of a lake from the water. This post is a celebration of those moments—a collection of the beautiful, quaint, and grand lakes in Utah that I love hiking to and kayaking in. Just looking at these places helps me feel more relaxed and less stressed... imagine just chilling for a few hours in these beautiful locations. Enjoy this virtual tour of my top Utah lakes, and see if they inspire you to add a new adventure to your list this summer!
1. Silver Lake - American Fork Canyon
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| The crystal clear waters of Silver Lake. |
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: Approx. 4.5-mile strenuous hike
- 📈 Elevation Gain: ~1,450 feet
- ⭐ Best For: A challenging hike with a rewarding swim, wildflowers.
This is one of my favorite hikes, but be prepared—it's steep! The water is so clear you can see fish swimming below, and cold-plunging after the long hike up is an amazing reward. This lake has a beautiful natural dam made of granite rocks, with a waterfall spilling over the edge.
🌟 Golden Nugget: The adventure doesn't have to stop here! The trail continues steeply up to Silver Lake Glance, which offers incredible views looking back down on the main lake.
2. Sand Hollow Reservoir - Hurricane
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| Red rock islands meet blue water at Sand Hollow. |
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Activity: Kayaking, Paddle-boarding, Boating, Fishing, Scuba Diving.
- 📍 Location: Near St. George & Hurricane, Utah.
- ⭐ Best For: Warm water recreation and exploring red rock islands.
This massive desert reservoir is a paradise for water sports. The contrast of the deep blue water with the surrounding red rock and sand dunes is breathtaking. It's a popular spot for good reason, with camping available right off the lake.
🌟 Golden Nugget: The best way to explore Sand Hollow is from the water. Rent a kayak or paddle-board and spend the day exploring the many coves and crevasses around the red rock islands.
3. Mirror Lake - Uinta Mountains
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| Bald Mountain reflected in Mirror Lake. |
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: 1.5-mile easy, accessible loop trail.
- 📍 Location: Uinta Mountains, off the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway.
- ⭐ Best For: Easy family strolls, kayaking, fishing, iconic mountain views.
Mirror Lake is the crown jewel of the Uinta Mountains and one of the most accessible alpine lakes in Utah. It's wonderful for a family walk, a relaxing paddle, or a base for more adventurous hikes. The views of Bald Mountain and Hayden Peak are simply iconic.
🌟 Golden Nugget: Be prepared for mosquitoes in the early summer! For a bigger adventure, tackle the incredible hike to the summit of nearby Bald Mountain for panoramic views of the dozens of lakes in the area.
4. The Brighton Lakes - Big Cottonwood Canyon
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| The beautiful whitish-peach rocks of Lake Mary. |
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: 2.6 to 5 miles, depending on how many lakes you visit.
- 📍 Location: Brighton Ski Resort, Big Cottonwood Canyon.
- ⭐ Best For: A "three-for-one" hike seeing multiple lakes; accessible for all ages.
This is one of the best "bang-for-your-buck" hikes in Utah. A single trail leads you past the beautiful Lake Mary, Lake Martha, and Lake Catherine. I was thrilled with how pretty this area was, with its unique rocks and stunning reflections. Be aware: no swimming or dogs are allowed as this is a protected watershed.
🌟 Golden Nugget: Because Brighton is so high and far back in the canyon, snow often lingers on the trail until mid-July. This can be a fun adventure, but be prepared for chilly temperatures even in summer!
Explore the Brighton Lakes in 360°
5. Lake Blanche - Big Cottonwood Canyon
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| The iconic Sundial Peak overlooking Lake Blanche. |
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: Approx. 7-mile strenuous hike.
- 📈 Elevation Gain: ~2,700 feet.
- ⭐ Best For: A challenging workout with an iconic payoff, fall colors, moose sightings.
Lake Blanche is a classic, beautiful, and tough Wasatch hike. The trail is long and steep, but the reward is one of the most picturesque scenes in Utah: the clear waters of the lake reflecting the magnificent Sundial Peak. You also get two bonus lakes, Lillian and Florence, right nearby. Keep an eye out for moose!
🌟 Golden Nugget: There is one tricky part of the trail where it crosses a large field of orange boulders. It's easy to lose the path here. Remember that it's a very sharp switchback—the trail makes a 180-degree turn to your right to continue up the mountain.
6. Cecret Lake - Little Cottonwood Canyon
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| The beautiful alpine setting of Cecret Lake. |
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: Approx. 1.7-mile easy hike.
- 📍 Location: Alta Ski Resort, Little Cottonwood Canyon.
- ⭐ Best For: Families, wildflowers, seeing moose.
This is arguably the most family-friendly alpine lake hike in the Salt Lake area. It's a short, gentle climb to a beautiful little lake nestled under the imposing Sugarloaf Peak. It's a very popular trail, so expect crowds, but the scenery is worth it. Note that there is a fee to enter the Albion Basin area during the summer.
🌟 Golden Nugget: This hike is located right in the middle of Albion Basin, which is world-famous for its spectacular wildflower displays in late July and early August. Make this a two-for-one trip and enjoy the flowers on your way to the lake!
7. Silver Lake Glance - American Fork Canyon
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| The view down to Silver Lake from the Glance trail. |
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: Approx. 1.5 miles beyond Silver Lake (6+ miles total).
- 📍 Location: Above Silver Lake in American Fork Canyon.
- ⭐ Best For: An extra challenge with stunning views and solitude.
For those who conquer the hike to Silver Lake (#1 on this list) and still have energy, the trail continues up to this smaller, more secluded lake. The lake itself is not as spectacular as Silver Lake, but the journey to get there is the real prize. The trail is beautiful, surrounded by unique white boulders, cliffs, and wildflowers.
🌟 Golden Nugget: The best part of this add-on hike is the incredible view looking back down on Silver Lake. It puts the scale of the landscape into perspective and makes for an epic photo opportunity.
Explore Silver Lake Glance in 360°
8. Silver Lake Flat - American Fork Canyon
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| The panoramic beauty of Silver Lake Flat. |
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: Approx. 1-mile easy loop.
- 📍 Location: American Fork Canyon (at the start of the Silver Lake hike).
- ⭐ Best For: A relaxing stroll, paddle-boarding, and a fun scavenger hunt for kids.
This beautiful reservoir surprised me with how much I enjoyed it. It's the starting point for the tougher hikes to Silver Lake, but it's a worthy destination in its own right. The walk all the way around is relaxing and stress-relieving, with gorgeous mountain views, especially with a little snow left on the peaks.
🌟 Golden Nugget: The dirt road to get here is bumpy and has some drop-offs, which can be intimidating. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended. I created a fun scavenger hunt for this trail to keep kids entertained, making it a perfect family spot!
Explore Silver Lake Flat in 360°
⭐ Final Thoughts
Utah's mountains are filled with these incredible alpine jewels, each with its own unique personality. From challenging climbs to gentle strolls, there's a perfect lake adventure waiting for everyone. I hope this list inspires you to get out, explore, and find your own favorite spot to relax and recharge.
Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna from VRGetaway
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