The Armchair Traveler Ritual
To transport yourself to these beautiful shores: Grab a glass of ice-cold water, turn on a fan to simulate a crisp alpine breeze, and imagine the smell of fresh pine and wet stone. Let your stress wash away as we explore!
⚡ The Quick Scoop
The Vibe: There is something deeply magical about hiking to a place and discovering a pristine lake at the end of the trail, or sliding a kayak into glass-smooth waters.
The Mission: This post is a celebration of those moments—a collection of 8 beautiful, quaint, and grand lakes in Utah that I love exploring.
The Deep Dive: We aren't just looking at water; we are using these glassy lakes to reflect on finding our true, authentic selves.
Water is the ultimate reset button. Just looking at these places helps me feel more relaxed and less stressed... imagine just chilling for a few hours in these beautiful locations! From the high-altitude glacial bowls of the Uinta Mountains to the warm desert reservoirs down south, Utah is secretly hiding some of the best water escapes in the West.
Enjoy this virtual tour of my top 8 Utah lakes, complete with 360° hikes, some harrowing kayak bloopers, and tips for finding accessible, wheelchair-friendly shores.
Finding Your Reflections & Authenticity
Before we dive into the list, I want to share a recent video I made titled "Finding Your Reflections." As I watched these perfect mountain reflections mirroring the sky above, it made me think deeply about our own lives.
I would encourage you to ask yourself: Are my outside actions reflecting my internal beliefs? That, my friend, is the first step to living a life filled with joy—learning to be authentic.
🤍 Erasing the Gap
The book The Light After Death says being authentic is bringing the physical and spiritual aspects of yourself together, accepting them as they are, and not being ashamed for the world to know the real you. As you become more authentic, you raise your physical frequency to run at a closer frequency of your soul.
As Aaron Rodgers said, "Authenticity is everything. You have to wake up every day and look in the mirror and you want to be proud of the person who is looking back at you." My wish is that I encourage you to erase the gap between what you firmly believe inside and what you reveal to the outside world.
A collection of my favorite scenic reflections and nature therapy.
👇 Choose Your Lake
1. Silver Lake (American Fork Canyon)
🗺️ 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.
The crystal clear waters of Silver Lake.
2. Sand Hollow Reservoir (Hurricane)
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Activity: Kayaking, Paddle-boarding, Boating.
- 📍 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.
🛶 Behind the Scenes: The Sinking Kayak!
Speaking of southern Utah reservoirs... we have to talk about our absolute disaster at nearby Quail Creek! Todd was SO excited to modify his kayak with trolling motors so he could fish and just use his feet to steer. I looked at this massive rig and said, "Are you sure your kayak can hold all that weight?" He was like, "Of course! Look how good it's doing!"
Well, it lasted about an hour before he noticed he was taking on a LOT of water, and the motors were failing. He called me over and started frantically loading all his heavy motors onto *my* kayak to try and stay afloat. Sure enough, his kayak sunk!
Todd was in the water, close to hypothermia, with his fishing line wrapped around his legs, so he couldn't even help kick. I had to tow him in! The absolute hardest part was paddling around a huge wooden mount he had built to hold the motors. He was so proud of it, but I finally looked at him and said, "No freaking way. I can't paddle with this huge thing on my lap." He was quite sad when I dumped his wooden creation into the lake, but dang, it was terrifying trying to paddle him in with the anxiety of hypothermia setting in! A super scary moment I will never forget.
Red rock islands meet blue water at Sand Hollow.
3. Mirror Lake (Uinta Mountains)
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: 1.5-mile easy loop trail.
- 📍 Location: Uinta Mountains, off the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway.
- ⭐ Best For: Easy family strolls, iconic mountain reflections.
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 or a base for more adventurous hikes. The views of Bald Mountain and Hayden Peak are simply iconic.
🦟 The Mirror Lake Mosquito Swarm
A word of warning: if you go in early to mid-summer, be prepared for war! The mosquitoes up here really got me once. They were so incredibly thick and everywhere that we ended up running back and huddling inside our car, desperately wishing we had brought one of those cool, electric mosquito-zapper rackets!
Bald Mountain reflected in Mirror Lake.
4. The Brighton Lakes (Big Cottonwood Canyon)
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: 2.6 to 5 miles.
- 📍 Location: Brighton Ski Resort.
- ⭐ Best For: A "three-for-one" hike seeing Lake Mary, Martha, and Catherine.
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 whitish-peach rocks and stunning reflections. Be aware: no swimming or dogs are allowed as this is a protected watershed.
❄️ Lingering Snow
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 and muddy spots even in the heat of summer!
The beautiful rocks of Lake Mary.
5. Lake Blanche (Big Cottonwood Canyon)
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: Approx. 7-mile strenuous hike.
- 📈 Elevation Gain: ~2,700 feet.
- ⭐ Best For: A challenging workout with an iconic payoff.
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!
🫎 The Midnight Hostage Situation
If you want to read a hilarious reality check, check out my dedicated Lake Blanche post! The short version: we backpacked up here, and a massive 1,000-pound moose decided to bed down for the night right outside our tent. I had to hold my bladder all night because I was absolutely terrified to unzip the door in the pitch black!
The iconic Sundial Peak overlooking Lake Blanche.
6. Cecret Lake (Little Cottonwood Canyon)
🗺️ Adventure at a Glance
- 🥾 Hike: Approx. 1.7-mile easy hike.
- 📍 Location: Alta Ski Resort, Albion Basin.
- ⭐ 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. Because it is so accessible and stunning, it is incredibly popular, so be prepared to share the trail!
🌺 Albion Basin Magic
This hike is located right in the middle of Albion Basin, which is world-famous for its spectacular wildflower displays. If you go in late July or early August, it is a glorious two-for-one trip: stunning flowers and a beautiful lake! (Note: there is a fee to enter the basin road during the summer, and parking fills up fast, so go early!)
7 & 8. Silver Lake Glance & Flat
While they share a name with our number one spot, these two locations offer completely different experiences in American Fork Canyon!
Silver Lake Glance
For those who conquer the steep hike to the main Silver Lake and still have plenty of energy, the rocky trail continues up the mountain to this smaller, more secluded alpine bowl. The lake itself is peaceful, but the journey to get there is the real prize.
👁️ The Epic Perspective
The absolute best part of this add-on hike is the jaw-dropping view looking back down on the main Silver Lake you just hiked up from. It puts the massive scale of the granite landscape into perspective and makes for an epic photo opportunity.
The view down to Silver Lake from the Glance trail.
Silver Lake Flat Reservoir
This beautiful, large reservoir is actually the starting point for the tougher hikes up the mountain, but it is a worthy destination in its own right. The dirt road walk all the way around is relaxing and stress-relieving, offering gorgeous panoramic mountain views.
🚙 The Washboard Warning
Be warned: the dirt road to get up to Silver Lake Flat is incredibly bumpy, washboarded, and has some steep drop-offs that can be intimidating. A high-clearance vehicle is definitely recommended. However, once you make it, it is a phenomenal spot for paddleboarding on a calm morning!
♿ The Accessible Lakes Guide
While hikes like Lake Blanche and Silver Lake are grueling, Utah has some amazing water access for those with strollers, wheelchairs, or limited mobility who still want to soak in the reflections!
- Tibble Fork Reservoir: This beautiful spot in American Fork Canyon has a fantastic, smooth dock that is fully handicap accessible, right next to a bathroom that is also handicap accessible. It’s perfect for getting right over the water without dealing with rocky, uneven shores!
- Utah Lake Boat Harbor: Another fantastic option. The paved walkways and gentle harbor edges make it very easy to navigate with a wheelchair or a stroller while watching a vibrant Utah sunset.
- Mirror Lake: As mentioned above, Mirror Lake definitely has sections of the trail that are great for a stroller or wheelchair, allowing you to see the reflections... but be warned, the paved sections quickly disintegrate into dirt and roots if you try to go too far around the loop!
✨ Ask the Lake Guide
Curious about the kayak sinking disaster, where to find accessible docks, or what 'Authenticity' means in nature? Ask our AI Guide!
Reflect and Recharge
I hope this list inspires you to get out, explore, and find your own favorite spot to relax and recharge. And remember: just like these lakes perfectly reflect the sky when the wind dies down, may your mind find the stillness it needs to reflect your own inner beauty and wash away the stress of the world!
🛶 Easter Egg Hunt: Did you spot the hidden Kayak emoji in today's story? Tell me where you found it in the comments!
Sending Love and Positive Vibes,
Shauna @ VRGetaway
.jpg');%20background-position:%20center%20center;%20background-size:%20cover;%20border-radius:%2012px;%20color:%20#888888;%20display:%20flex;%20height:%20350px;%20justify-content:%20center;%20margin:%2020px%200px;%20width:%20100%;)
Social Plugin