dead horse lake - uinta mountains the west fork of the black fork trailhead is located off the north...

Dead Horse Lake - Uinta Mountains - Road Trip Ryan, LLC - Copyright 2006-2020 1 / 5

Trailhead 12T 527798mE 4525950mN

N40° 53' 03" W110° 40' 12"

Trailhead (4wd) 12T 528055mE 4524179mN

N40° 52' 06" W110° 40' 01"

Old Fence and Gate 12T 528649mE 4522148mN

N40° 50' 60" W110° 39' 36"

Crossing 12T 528723mE 4521589mN

N40° 50' 41" W110° 39' 33"

Old Fence and Gate 12T 528683mE 4521472mN

N40° 50' 38" W110° 39' 35"

Wilderness Boundary 12T 528687mE 4521079mN

N40° 50' 25" W110° 39' 35"

Fence and Crossing 12T 528596mE 4518756mN

N40° 49' 10" W110° 39' 39"

Fence 12T 528530mE 4514485mN

N40° 46' 51" W110° 39' 43"

Old Cabin 12T 528394mE 4518148mN

N40° 48' 50" W110° 39' 48"

Junction - Right 12T 527940mE 4510759mN

N40° 44' 50" W110° 40' 09"

Dead Horse Lake 12T 527680mE 4510616mN

N40° 44' 46" W110° 40' 20"

Ejod Lake 12T 527370mE 4511078mN

N40° 45' 01" W110° 40' 33"

DEAD HORSE LAKE - UINTA MOUNTAINS

Rating: Moderate Backpack

Length: 2 Day Backpack (20-22 miles)

Gear: Standard Hiking / Backpacking Gear

Maps: Elizabeth Mountain, UT; Red Knob, UT; Explorer Peak, UT;

Water: Flowing stream alongside the trail most of the way.

Season: Summer, Fall

Waypoints:

Hype

This hike epitomizes the cliche "sometimes the journey is the destination". The hike ambles gradually up the West Fork of the Blacks Fork River through a deeply carved valley with towering ridges surrounding the valley. What makes this hike so extraordinary is the valley is filled with wide, lush meadows that allow for big views of the ridges instead of just a forest hike.

Dead Horse Lake, tucked up along the top of the Uintas at nearly 11,000' is an excellent overnight backpacking destination, but Buck Pasture and the other meadows along the hike are equal or better destinations in my mind. The hike gains elevation slowly and makes for a good family outing because there are ample campsites for wherever the group’s motivation begins to wane.


Though stunning and gorgeous, the West Fork of the Blacks Fork sees much less visitation than many of the other areas in the Uintas that are closer to pavement. On a holiday weekend in July, we say only a couple of groups and felt we had to drainage to ourselves.

Note: Reaching the trailhead requires high clearance. A river crossing 1.2 miles from the trailhead will be the stopping point for most. During lower water conditions, those with a 4x4and a bit of moxie can drive this last 1.2 miles. There are many great primitive camping sites near the trailhead.

Note: You'll be getting your feet wet, either during the several river crossings or in the many marshy areas along the way. Bringing wading shoes or at least camp shoes to change into highly recommended.

Tags: hike, wildflowers, dog friendly, access: paved

Trailhead

The West Fork of the Black Fork trailhead is located off the North Slope Road in the Uinta Mountains. To get there, head south out of Evanston, Wyoming on highway 150. Follow this about 30 miles to where the signed North Slope Road takes off on the left. This is at Mile Post 48.7. Reset your odometer as you turn onto the North Slope Road. This is also Forest Road 058.

Follow the forest road for 17 miles to a 4-way junction. Left goes to Lyman Lake and a small campground. Go right here, on Forest Road 063 and reset your odometer.

0.4 miles - Right2.8 miles - Right3.6 miles - Left4.9 miles - Left5.2 miles - Trailhead on the left, just before the river crossing.

Route

To The First River Crossing (1.8 or 3.1 miles)From the river crossing, follow the road as it goes south up the meadow. The road then wanders through the forest for 1.2 miles to a locked gate and the 4x4 trailhead.

At the gate, continue on the West Fork of the Blacks Fork trail, which follows an old road to the south and crosses a small stream quickly. The Smith Bear River trail crosses the Blacks Fork trail at the gate. The old road is overgrown in a few spots but makes for easy travel. 1.85 miles from the gate, the trail reaches the first major crossing of the West Fork of the Blacks Fork River.

To Buck Pasture (1.9 miles from the first crossing)Just past the crossing, an old fence marks the end of the old road and the start of the old trailhead before the road was closed. Continue on the trail. It follows the meadow and soon enters the High Uintas Wilderness Area. Good camping begins from here on up.


The trail skirts the edge of the meadow in the trees to a fence about 1.9 miles from the first major crossing. The trail crosses the very marshy meadow and river here, offering views all the way to the ridges that surround Dead Horse Lake. Excellent camping opportunities abound here.

To Deadhorse Lake (about 6 miles from the fence and crossing)The trail, now on the east side of the drainage, follows along the many big meadows. After about 5 miles, it passes near a small pond on the left. Several good campsites are available here, be sure to camp a minimum of 200' from any water source.

Continue on about a mile to the junction with the Highline Trail that branches left here to cross Red Knob Pass. Go right instead about 0.25 miles to Dead Horse Lake.

There are quite a few good camping sites around Dead Horse Lake. Be sure to make the short hike to Ejod Lake as well, it is very photogenic.

dead horse lake - uinta mountains the west fork of the black fork trailhead is located off the north...

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