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Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains


Kamas, Utah

6.6 Miles Hiking (One way)
13.2 Miles Total
7-9 Hours total walking time.
1,950' Elevation gain.

Trailhead 8,790
Amethyst Meadows 10,360
Amethyst Lake 10,740
With Views of:

A-1 Peak
Christmas Meadows
Stillwater Fork
Ostler Fork
Ostler Peak
Lamotte Peak
Amethyst Lake
Pointy Peak Lake


Amethyst Lake, Ostler Peak

Looking southwest over Amethyst Lake toward Ostler Peak.

Amethyst Lake is located in one of the most pristine natural areas in Utah. Stocked to the hilt with wildlife, the Stillwater Drainage is heaven for nature lovers. There are many types of birds, chipmunks, squirrels, pika, marmots, deer, elk and moose. We encountered at least 5 moose.

Stillwater Fork is located in the first drainage on the north side of the western end of the Uinta Spine.

TO GET THERE:

If you're coming from Salt Lake take I-80 east, follow the signs to Kamas. In Kamas, follow the signs, you turn left after the supermarket, then right. After you leave Kamas, you will then drive past the Beaver Creek Nudist Ranch on your right. If you like old fat naked people, you could park a pervert van and watch through the pediphile port. If you're lucky, you might spot one.

Once you get into the Uinta National Forest, you'll need to buy a Recreation Pass for $3.00 or so.

As you drive along the Uinta Highway 150, you will pass Ruth Lake on your left and on your right, you will pass Hayden Peak, then Kletting Peak, then the road will start to curve around Kletting peak and trend to the east, after a few miles you will pass A-1 Peak on your right, then you'll cross Sulpher Campground, Stillwater Campground and the Bear River. From somewhere along this area you can see all the way to Amethyst Cirque from the Highway 150. When you reach Christmas Meadows Campground, take a right (South) up the dirt road.

THE TRAIL TO AMETHYST LAKE:

The trail starts at the southern end of Christmas Meadows, about 4 miles from the Uinta Highway at the overflow parking lot on the right end of Christmas Meadows Campground. Most of the people visiting are there to fly-fish in the river. Sign into the registery so in case you get lost, they can look for you.

The trail starts out walking along a pine meadow with alternating views of meadows, pine forests and rivers. It's mostly soft ground, and it's almost flat, except for a few steep rocky areas. I hiked this section in flip-flops. After you hike for about 2.5 miles there is a large, old, wooden sign that says "Uinta High Wilderness" right on the trail. Soon (3-7 minutes) afterward you'll need to look for a turn to the left. If you reach the Ostler Creek (Which is a river crossing with two small bridges, both of them washed out at the time of this writing) you have gone too far.

Once you turn left or east the trail starts to incline quite drastically, This part of the trail reminded me of Bell's Canyon in the Wasatch, lot's of steep hiking up rocks. To the right of the trail is a relaxing creek of spring water glissading over smooth, algae covered limestone. Watch for the post-card areas to stop and rest at, it's worth it to take your time along this part of the trail. After about 1/2 mile or so of hiking up Ostler Fork, the trail starts to flatten out and views of Ostler Peak on your right and Lamotte Peak on your left, open up. Small meadows start to become common through this section.

You will see some nice grassy meadows on your left and you might consider camping there, keep going, camp at Amethyst Meadow or beyond, it's well worth it. After about 2.5 miles up Ostler Fork, Amethyst Meadow opens up on your left, it's the largest meadow up Ostler Fork.

Soon after Amethyst Meadow, there is a nice unnamed lake just to the right of the trail under Ostler Peak (I will call it Pointy Peak Lake). There is also camping nearby this lake. From this point, the trail is very easy, and extremely beautiful, bring a camera, with a wide angle if you've got one.

After you walk for a little over a half a mile, you will see a massive rock talus coming down from near the summit of Ostler Peak (I wonder if you could get to the peak through this talus), and the alpine cirque walls at the end of the Ostler Drainage. Amethyst Lake waits just ahead.

If you have time, walk around the whole lake, there are many beautiful things to discover off the beaten path.

August - Tuesday 21 - Wednesday 22, 2007
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Christmas Meadows
Christmas Meadows
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
From near the mouth of Stillwater Fork, Looking southwest.Far in
From near the mouth of Stillwater Fork, Looking
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Moose
Moose
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Another Bull Moose near Christmas Meadows.
Another Bull Moose near Christmas Meadows.
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Amethyst Lake Turn
Amethyst Lake Turn
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
A-1 Peak
A-1 Peak
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Ostler Peak
Ostler Peak
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Some grassy meadows before Amethyst Meadow. The ridge on the rig
Some grassy meadows before Amethyst Meadow. The
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Amethyst Meadow
Amethyst Meadow
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Ostler Peak - 12,718'
Ostler Peak - 12,718'
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Amethyst Cirque from Amethyst Meadow.
Amethyst Cirque from Amethyst Meadow.
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Water furrows creating a network for fish in the Amethyst Meadow
Water furrows creating a network for fish in the
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
An unnamed lake (Pointy Peak Lake) along the trail with Ostler P
An unnamed lake (Pointy Peak Lake) along the tra
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Looking north from south of the Pointy Peak Lake, behind is Lamo
Looking north from south of the Pointy Peak Lake
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Precarious rock spires on the Pointy Peak below Ostler, waiting
Precarious rock spires on the Pointy Peak below
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Amethyst Meadow with Lamotte Peak 12,720' behind.
Amethyst Meadow with Lamotte Peak 12,720' behind
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Amethyst Meadow, Lamotte Peak
Amethyst Meadow, Lamotte Peak
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
The ridge south of Lamotte Peak, leading toward Amethyst Cirque.
The ridge south of Lamotte Peak, leading toward
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Amethyst Meadow, Ostler Peak, with the Pointy Peak rockface on t
Amethyst Meadow, Ostler Peak, with the Pointy Pe
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Ostler Peak
Ostler Peak
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Right before you get to Amethyst Lake, many meadows open up with
Right before you get to Amethyst Lake, many mead
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Amethyst Lake with some castle spire formations looming in the b
Amethyst Lake with some castle spire formations
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Colorful rock layers of Ostler PeakThis rock scree might be anot
Colorful rock layers of Ostler PeakThis rock scr
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Amethyst Lake, Amethyst Cirque and Ostler Peak.
Amethyst Lake, Amethyst Cirque and Ostler Peak.
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Here is a view of the point on the Pointy Peak Ostler Lake would
Here is a view of the point on the Pointy Peak O
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Many creeks, rivers and springs in the area.
Many creeks, rivers and springs in the area.
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Ostler Peak Summit, made of mixtures of purple and orange limest
Ostler Peak Summit, made of mixtures of purple a
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Looking south over Amethyst lake to the end of Amethyst Cirque
Looking south over Amethyst lake to the end of A
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Amethyst Lake Trout.Looking north with Lamotte Peak in the backg
Amethyst Lake Trout.Looking north with Lamotte P
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Uinta Trout
Uinta Trout
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Looking north over Amethyst Lake toward Lamotte Peak
Looking north over Amethyst Lake toward Lamotte
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Looking east over the clean, shallow waters of Amethyst Lake,tow
Looking east over the clean, shallow waters of A
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Looking straight north from the southern end of Amethyst Lake to
Looking straight north from the southern end of
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Interesting limestone slabs on the southeastern end of Amethyst
Interesting limestone slabs on the southeastern
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Looking west toward Ostler Peak's eastern face.
Looking west toward Ostler Peak's eastern face.
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Fom the southeastern end of Amethyst Lake looking toward Ostler
Fom the southeastern end of Amethyst Lake lookin
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Mildly evil looking castle spire structures on the east side of
Mildly evil looking castle spire structures on t
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Looking northwest over Amethyst Lake down Ostler Fork. Ostler Hi
Looking northwest over Amethyst Lake down Ostler
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Fom east of Amethyst Lake looking east over some sea-weed satura
Fom east of Amethyst Lake looking east over some
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
From east of Amethyst Lake looking west toward Ostler Peak.The P
From east of Amethyst Lake looking west toward O
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Darn Yellow-Bellied Marmot!
Darn Yellow-Bellied Marmot!
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Looking west over Amethyst Lake. The Pointy Peak and Ostler Hill
Looking west over Amethyst Lake. The Pointy Peak
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Looking south from the north end of Amethyst Lake Behind sits Am
Looking south from the north end of Amethyst Lak
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
A Meadow below Ostler Peak, just west of Amethyst Lake. The grou
A Meadow below Ostler Peak, just west of Amethys
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
Strange clouds create a more ominous view of the castle spires s
Strange clouds create a more ominous view of the
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
From Christmas Meadows, looking north toward the mouth of Stillw
From Christmas Meadows, looking north toward the
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
From the Uinta Highway looking south towards Ostler Peak.Ostler
From the Uinta Highway looking south towards Ost
Amethyst Lake - Uinta Mountains
 From the Uinta Highway 150 you can find a clear view of Amethys
From the Uinta Highway 150 you can find a clear





Message Board


Page Posts: 4

NAMECITYDATE
tom zabriskienew york city2008-11-07
having been born and reared in utah, leaving in 1965 i remember as a young boy scout making hiking trips to those remote lakes in the unintah mountains; few roads and many were very remote and difficult to find but a wonderful experience and! great fishing.


Mr ManBountiful2008-08-09
Good pictures, this is a good visual of the hike I plan to take next week!


Don OstlerDallas, TX2008-02-14
Great photos! I have always wanted to plan a trip to Ostler Peak. I plan to take my twin boys when they are old enough. Thank you for what you do.


saliBerlin2007-10-17
In Iran, Putin Warns Against Military Action: http://salihome.info/show/index.html



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