What is the Best 3 day trip in the Uintas?

What's the best 3 day trip in the western Uintas?

  • Amethyst Lake

    Votes: 4 23.5%

  • Four Lakes Basin

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Highline Trail out & back

    Votes: 1 5.9%

  • Long/Island Lakes from Crystal Lake TH

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Middle Basin

    Votes: 5 29.4%

  • Naturalist Basin

    Votes: 4 23.5%

  • Red Castle

    Votes: 4 23.5%

  • West Fork of Blacks Fork/ Deadhorse Lake

    Votes: 6 35.3%

  • Kings Peak

    Votes: 2 11.8%
  • Total voters
    17
uintahiker

uintahiker

Adventure Guru
Joined
Jan 20, 2012
Messages
719
I have my preferences, but I'm wondering if there's a general consensus on what the best 3 day trip in the Western Uintas is. I'm limiting this generally to the western half because more people are familiar with it then the eastern end.
Things to consider in your ranking are: Scenery, (lack of) crowds, fishing or peakbagging, and total impressions or enjoyment. You can all vote for your top two. Of course, if there's another place I haven't listed, I'd be interested in hearing why it should be on the list.
 
Oh I can choose. I just feel like the less information on the Uintas the better. Yes I am very selfish.
 
I don't mind sharing information (obviously), but I'm always hesitant to admit what my true favorites are publicly. I'll even admit to playing down certain places in my trip reports. I'll say this though. The best of the best in the Uintas, in my opinion, can be found east of 150 and west of Tokewanna. :)
 
Really you can't go wrong with any of those areas. I haven't been in any area of the Uintas I haven't enjoyed. some are more scenic, some provide better fishing, some more solitutude, it really just depends on what you are after.
 
I know that some people love the view from the top of the mountain, but I have to say that the most beautiful part of the Uintas are the wildlife and there aren't too many critters on the top of the mountain. You just cant beat the beauty of a brook trout and in the Uintas, you can enjoy that beauty 100+ times a day.
 
Brook trout.... eh. yeah, they are nice, but not as nice as the amazing views, wildflowers, glacier lakes, and the abundant high alpine meadows, and streams! :D
 
Of the areas I've visited, I have my favorite Uinta spots and campsites, some of those sites I saw in passing, that I'm not going to publicly reveal. Still a lot areas left for me to see and explore though.
 
I haven't been to all of the places you mention, but I've been to several of them. I went with Dead Horse lake because it's got the best views for the length of the hike.
 
I'll say that Kings Peak is worth doing at least once, if only to say you've done it. The views are incredible from up there. I thought Henry's Basin was pretty with some decent fishing in the many of the lakes. Certain parts of the basin can get real crowded with lots of scouts and others, but it's so big up there that it's not hard to get away from the crowds if you're willing to go off the main trails a bit. A few nice waterfalls and good wildlife viewing. I think that it offers a little bit of everything. Of course, Henry's Fork Basin isn't the only way to get there, but it's the shortest and thus the most popular route.

That said, as pretty as it can be up there, there are other areas that offer a bit of everything (fishing, wildlife, mid-week solitude, colorful flowers, waterfalls, etc) with much less of a drive that I see myself returning to more regularly.
 
Most of those are 2 days or even some day hikes - especially Amethyst, but I like to do mileage. I think Red Castle has the most secrets of any in the area, in that it has its crowded and named lakes, but...I have said too much. - since I have moved back to Wyoming, the locals have threatened me about telling the Utahns where all the hidden places are.

The last time I climbed King's Peak it seamed that most of the State of Utah had the same idea. There were over 50 people on the mountain, and several more groups on the way to the mountain - there needs to be a permit system in place for that area, or maybe our stinking friends from American Land & Leisure can get their grubby hands all over that trail head and start to institute a parking fee like they do at China Meadows. Something to thin the crowds a little.
 
I voted for Red Castle because Timothy Lakes was not on the list. Swasey Lakes is a good weekend trip as well.
 
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