Upper Red Pine Lakes are three lakes are located above the far more popular Red Pine Lake. Sometimes the bottom one is dried up. This could be a detour on the way up to The Pfeifferhorn or a destination itself.
Directions
As of 12/01/25 this will be a fee area $10/vehicle for a 3-day pass, $20/vehicle for a 7-day pass, $60/vehicle for a year pass, or $80/vehicle for the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass that includes all the National Parks and Monuments in the country.
Purchase pass online here.
This trail begins at the same starting point as the family-friendly Gloria Falls, which is a favorite! The longer and more challenging Maybird Gulch to Maybird Lakes, Upper Red Pine Lakes, White Pine Lake, and Pfeifferhorn Peak also begin at this trailhead.
All of these trails follow the same trail for the first 0.9 mile to the river. This part is great in all seasons and a fun place to snowshoe.
It is stunning in the summer and fall wildflowers or fall color!
As you hike up the trail here are some views.
The trail to White Pine Lake diverts next to the river, switching back behind you.
Head up the hill and you will see a bridge. The view up river is beautiful.
Shortly after the bridge is the turn off for Gloria Falls for its last 0.2 miles to the falls. It can be a quick detour on the way to or from Red Pine Lake.
The trail to Red Pine continues just after the bridge. Don’t continue on the trail that goes slightly right. Instead continue slightly left.
Head through aspen trees.
There are periodic views of Little Cottonwood Canyon into the valley below. This photo shows off the sunrise.
The wildflowers in July and August are on full display.
For the first two and a half miles this trail has a gradual incline.
A few years ago they rerouted part of the trail to create more a more sustainable trail. You can see where the old trail was going straight up verses the new switchbacks.
After a while the trail parallels the creek.
At this point there is a bridge (currently missing) that heads off to the right to continue to Maybird Gulch and Maybird Lakes.
To go to Red Pine Lake, continue straight. The path is probably wet here. Then there are often wildflowers.
The trail get much steeper and has more rocks.
As you get closer to the lake you start to see more and more wildflowers.
The trees thin out and you have views of the mountains around.
Then you come up over the rise.
And see the large and beautiful Red Pine Lake.
There is a trail that goes counter-clockwise around the lake, but it isn’t the main one.
The main trail goes clockwise.
There are some beautiful views on this side.
Red Pine Lake is a popular place to backpack due to its proximity of The Pfeifferhorn. Many camp nearby so they can summit the peak early in the morning.
Beyond Red Pine Lake, the trail gets steeper and rocky.
This one is looking down from near the top.
When you come out over the top there is sort of a meadow with a trail that continues straight, but you will need to head left instead (It’s the same spot where you turn right for The Pffeiferhorn). That bare spot in the second photo is the smallest of the Upper Pine Lakes all dried up. The other two lakes are just beyond.
Here are some photos of Upper Red Pine Lakes. I am going to include a photo of Red Pine from higher up the trail on the way to Pfeifferhorn just because it’s so stunning!
Red Pine Lake is to the left and Upper Red Pine Lakes to the right. You can see the steep trail in between.
It’s worth the extra hike above Red Pine to see the beauty!
Stats: Distance – 8.8 miles roundtrip
Approximate hiking time – 3-6 hours
Elevation gain – 2,674 feet
Difficulty – Difficult
Trail – well maintained trail of dirt and rocks
Bathrooms – At Trailhead
Seasons to hike – April – November
Permits needed – As of 12/1/25 this is a fee area and is $10/vehicle or a requires a National Parks Pass
Pets allowed – No
Other challenging trails nearby are White Pine Lake, Maybird Gulch to Maybird Lakes, Sunset Peak, Mount Superior and Monte Cristo, Red Pine Lake, and Sugarloaf Peak. Easier hikes are Gloria Falls, Albion Meadows, Cecret Lake, and Lisa Falls.
