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

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