In the High Uintas in Eastern Utah, there are hundreds of lakes and moutains on millions of acres of forest service land. In this region, there is a basin called the Grandaddy Lakes Basin. There are about fifteen good size lakes with lots more smaller lakes or big ponds in the region.
The biggest lake in the region is Granddaddy Lake. It is the first lake that you come to after hiking in from the trailhead. That hike is 4.5 miles and is uphill most of the hike. It is a tough climb especially because your pack is full with provisions for the week. You haven’t had a chance to eat any of your food or drink your water so the pack is as heavy as it will be all week.
Of all the Lakes in the basin, Granddaddy Lake has the best fishing in terms of the number of fish caught as well as the size of the fish caught. We spent a couple of days on Granddaddy Lake – one at the beginning of the trip and one at the end.
Also in the region is another Lake that I have hiked in to several times. It is called Island Lake and as the name implies, there is an island in the middle. Both the Granddaddy Lakes Basin and Island Lake are perfect locations for an overnight campout. You can see deer, antelope, moose, and the occasional bear. The mosquitoes can be thick in the late spring and summer, so be prepared with repellent. There is almost no fresh water, so be prepared with a water purification system as well.
Mountain Lake Reflection Images:
Stock photograph of Granddaddy Lake in the Granddaddy Lakes Basin. This mountain lake reflection was shot in the late afternoon as the sun was going down. I loved the coloring of the mountain contrasted with the trees and water that were already in the shadows of the evening. This stock image is available from:
Stock photograph of Island Lake in the High Uintas of Eastern Utah. This mountain lake reflection was shot in the mid afternoon and captures the beauty of the area. This stock image is available from:
Stock photograph of Island Lake in the High Uintas of Eastern Utah. This mountain lake reflection was shot in the late afternoon with a cloudy sky. The mountain in the background is lit by the sun but the rest of the terrain is dimmed by the cloud cover. This stock image is available from: