Conditions Right Now
Use sunset as your turnaround alarm.
Why Hike This
Most Uinta hikes hand you one lake at the end. This loop strings together four of them in under four miles, which is a lot of payoff for 833 feet of climbing. The Forest Service route leaves the Pass Lake trailhead about 32 miles east of Kamas, climbs past Kamas Lake and Lofty Lake, then drops toward Scout Lake and Camp Steiner. You need a Mirror Lake corridor recreation pass or an America the Beautiful pass on the dash.
The Trail
Four alpine lakes on one family-doable loop.
Pack Loadout (Moderate)
2 liters water, trail shoes, sun layer, snacks, small first-aid kit.
Getting There
Make it a weekend: Mirror Lake (Uintas) (Fishing, 2 mi) · Mirror Lake Campground (Camping, 2 mi) · Moosehorn Campground (Camping, 2 mi) · Trial Lake Campground (Camping, 5 mi)
More hikes nearby: Ruth Lake (Hike, 1 mi) · Fehr Lake Trail (Hike, 2 mi) · Bald Mountain (Hike, 3 mi) · Amethyst Lake (Hike, 7 mi)
Quick Answers
- How long is the Lofty Lake Loop hike?
- 3.9 miles round trip with 833 feet of elevation gain.
- How hard is Lofty Lake Loop?
- Moderate. Kid rating: 4 out of 5.
- When should I hike Lofty Lake Loop?
- Best season: July-Sept.
- Why hike Lofty Lake Loop?
- Because the lake-per-mile ratio is hard to beat. Four alpine lakes fit into a 3.9 mile loop with 833 feet of gain, which is a short day by Uinta standards. The Forest Service trail also links Kamas Lake and Scout Lake to Camp Steiner, so you can stretch it if the kids still have gas.