Mirror Lake is a beautiful natural lake in the Uinta Mountains. It is 55 acres and situated at the base of Bald Mountain.
When I was there for the sunrise it was easy to see how it got it’s name. It is a popular location for kayaking, fishing and camping. It is high in the mountains and sits at 10,400 feet above sea level. There is a beautiful accessible path around the lake.
It is accessed from the main highway through the Uintas, the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway (Highway UT-150). It is also the border between Summit, Wasatch, and Duchesne Counties. Mirror Lake lies on the Duchesne side. It gets very popular on weekends. We arrived just after 7:00 AM on a Saturday in August and were the first car in the day-use parking lot. The close lot filled about 9:00 and by the time we left at 12:30 there were cars lined clear up the street. There had only been a couple fisherman and the sound of the people in the campgrounds at the beginning and slowly more and more people, but the lake is large enough to give plenty of room for fisherman and kayakers. No motorized boats are allowed. Mirror Lake is stocked with rainbow trout, brook trout and tiger trout. My husband reeled in fish after fish so fast he lost count. Our favorite was the tiger trout!
There is a beautiful trail that goes around the perimeter of the lake. It is mostly a flat dirt path, but has some boardwalk areas. It would be possible to push a wheelchair all the way around.
The views around the lake are stunning! The mountain in the above right and lower left photos is Bald Mountain.
I saw a few birds and there were signs that explained more about the wildlife and other facts.
FYI, there is not much cell reception in the Uintas. We brought walkie-talkies to communicate with each other. This is also near beautiful Upper Provo Falls, which is a viewpoint and can be little hike. It is near many great other great hikes. A good short one for families or beginner backpackers is Ruth Lake. For other quick stops and overlooks, see this post.
Stats:
Distance – 1.5 mile loop
Approximate hiking time – 30-90 minutes
Elevation gain – 39 feet
Difficulty – Beginner/Easy
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and boardwalk
Bathrooms – At Trailhead
Seasons to hike – June-October
Permits needed – $6 for a 3-day pass or a National Parks Pass
Pets allowed – Yes
