Fish Lake is the largest natural mountain lake in Utah! Because of the depth and crystal clear water, Fish Lake looks incredibly blue! It is six miles long, one mile across and 160 feet deep. It has great fishing and bird watching. Motor boats can pull waterskiers or tubers. You can kayak and even go scuba diving! There are ATV trails and it has campsites and cabins. There are also several hikes in Fish Lake National Forest, but unfortunately I haven’t tried any yet.
We went to Fish Lake in June on our way to Capitol Reef National Park. It is only about 12 minutes off the road that leads to to Capitol Reef. The distance between the two is a 45 minute drive.
My husband and son pulled out fish after fish. Mostly they were rainbow trout and perch, but there are other varieties. Fish Lake is also popular for ice fishing.
It is nestled high in the mountains and surrounded by forest.
While the boys fished I took our three youngest kids in a kayak across the lake to the other side. It sure is beautiful! We will definitely be returning!
Stats: Distance – Varies
Approximate hiking time – Varies
Elevation gain – varies
Difficulty – Easy-Hard
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks
Bathrooms – At trailhead
Seasons to hike – Year Round
Permits needed – None (fees for camping)
Pets allowed – Yes (in most places)
A beautiful waterfall is also located in Fishlake National Forest. It is a moderate two mile round trip hike to the impressive 75-foot Bullion Falls!
