Mirror Lake

Alex Cabrero
Aug 2
4 min read

Updated: 6 hours ago

Wooden boardwalk curves beside a calm mountain lake and pine forest under blue sky. — *Part of the boardwalk near the start of the trail*

(Mirror Lake, High Uintas) First things first. Mirror Lake is beautiful and is one of the most popular stops along the Mirror Lake Highway. But, if you visit on a summer weekend, you can expect to find what looks like a small mountain village along its shores.

Blue Ozark Trail canopy with camp chairs and inflatables by a mountain lake, with pine forest and rocky peaks under a clear sky. — *This family had a nice setup*

That's what Kylie, Aspen, and I found when we recently headed into the High Uintas to hike the 1.5-mile Mirror Lake Loop Trail. People were fishing, swimming, boating, and relaxing along the shore beneath more tents and shade canopies than I could count. Even the large parking lot was packed, and finding an open spot felt like our first victory of the day.

Sunny parking lot with cars and pickup trucks lined by tall pine trees; blue accessible spaces in foreground. — *Busy parking lot on a summer weekend*

But here's the thing about Mirror Lake... even when it's jam packed, you can still find some quiet here. All you have to do is start hiking the trail that goes around the lake. Eventually, the sounds of nature take over the farther you get from the parking lot.

Clear alpine lake with sunlit ripples, pine forest, and two rocky mountains under a blue sky. — *It gets peaceful on the far side of the lake*

The Mirror Lake Loop Trail circles the lake and is mostly level, making this an easy hike for families or anyone who simply wants to stretch their legs. Most of the route is dirt, with some boardwalk sections carrying you over the marshier areas near the lake. I really like those parts. There's something about walking across a wooden boardwalk with water and mountain vegetation underneath that makes an otherwise simple walk feel like a little more of an adventure.

Wooden boardwalk along a grassy lakeshore with pine forest and mountains under a clear blue sky on a sunny day — *Walking along a portion of the boardwalk section*

Aspen approved of the trail for entirely different reasons. Water. And lots of it. She found several places around the lake where she could get in, cool down, watch birds, and chase a stick or two. We also passed plenty of other dogs, which means Mirror Lake basically provided Aspen with everything she requires for a successful outing. She loves being part of an adventure wolf pack.

Black dog with pink collar stands in shallow alpine lake, tail up, with pine-covered mountains and blue sky behind. — *Aspen told me she would pose for this picture*

One thing that's difficult not to notice around Mirror Lake, though, is the number of dead trees. There are areas where the forest almost looks half alive and half dead. Bark beetles have taken a significant toll on forests throughout the Uinta Mountains over the years, including mountain pine beetles attacking lodgepole pine and spruce beetles affecting Engelmann spruce.

Tall dead pine trees rise above green evergreens under a bright blue sky in a quiet forest scene. — *Some of the dead trees surrounding Mirror Lake*

Dead trees are a natural part of a forest ecosystem, and there are several things that can cause tree mortality. But when you're walking through an area this beautiful, it's hard not to notice just how many standing dead trees there are. I hope the living forest around Mirror Lake remains healthy for generations to come.

Two people in a red canoe and one in a gray kayak on a blue lake, with a pine forest and rocky shore behind them. — *People enjoying a day on the lake*

Kylie, Aspen, and I took our time making our way around the lake. We stopped whenever Aspen decided she needed to cool off in the water again. Or because she saw a bird. She has become quite good at fetching a stick in the water.

Black dog swims in a calm blue lake with a stick, pine forest shoreline in the background under a clear sky. — *Stick fetching time*

With very little elevation change, the Mirror Lake Loop isn't about conquering anything. It's an easy hike around a beautiful mountain lake that almost anyone can enjoy. We took our time before heading back to the crowds. With as hot as it gets in the summer in the valleys, getting up into the mountains gives you a break from the heat. It was about 20-degrees cooler at Mirror Lake than in Salt Lake City on the day we visited.

Pine trees on a small island in a calm lake, with rocky mountains and a clear blue sky in a peaceful summer landscape. — *I bet a hammock here would be perfect for a nap*

There's something else we need to discuss about Mirror Lake. The bathrooms. Look, I know this is a busy and popular spot. I also know the people responsible for maintaining them have quite the job keeping up with thousands of visitors on a summer weekend, and I appreciate what they do. But, if you're going in there, you might want to practice holding your breath beforehand. Go in. Do what needs to be done. Complete the download. Get out. The good news is the fresh mountain air waiting outside has never smelled better :)

Brick park restroom building with wood-shingle roof, women and men signs, trees and rocks under a blue sky. — *Scientific studies on human breath holding endurance could probably he held here*

Bathroom adventure aside, Mirror Lake is popular for a reason. It's a beautiful spot with a campground, other trails, and a great place to picnic or just hang out along the lake. Even when it's busy, I like seeing so many people outside enjoying it all. Of course, I have also been here during the off season on a weekday, and it's absolutely magical. No matter when you visit, you'll probably have a great time. All you have to do is start walking around the lake.

Smiling man and woman pose with a black dog by a lake under a clear blue sky, looking happy and relaxed. — *Kylie, Aspen, and I had a great time at Mirror Lake*

LOCATION: Google Map Link the parking area Mirror Lake Campground

Clear blue mountain lake with rocky shore, pine forest, and a flat-topped cliff under a sunny sky. — *The water is clear along the edges*

Sunlit rocky forest trail beside a calm lake, lined with pines and grasses. — *Most the trail is dirt and rocks*

Close-up of a cracked fallen log with yellow sap in a forest by a blue lake and mountains on a sunny day. — *One of the trees that was cut*

Clear blue lake with rocky shore, pine forest, and a large mountain under a bright cloudless sky, calm and scenic. — *Scenic backdrops no matter where you are on the loop trail*

Green pine branch in foreground over a blue lake, with dark conifers and a mountain under a clear sky, calm and sunny — *Pine needles, right?*

People paddle colorful kayaks on a blue mountain lake beside pine forest and rocky peaks under a clear sky — *Near the start of the trail*

Clear blue lake with rippling water and submerged rocks, pine forest shoreline, and tan mountain range under a bright blue sky. — *I'm happy that one cloud centered this picture*

Blue wildflowers blooming amid tall green grass in a sunny meadow, with vivid purple-blue petals and unopened buds. — *Pretty wildflowers were everywhere*

Smiling woman crouches with a black dog on a sunny lakeside trail, with pine trees, mountains, and blue water behind them. — *Aspen and Kylie wondering if I brought lunch with me*

Mirror Lake

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