Amethyst can drop from monsters. DO you need any sort of permit to camp overnight? AMAZING lake! The weekend of 21 Jun 08, Tracy and I headed back to hike the Stillwater Creek Trail in the Uintas. From camp you can watch the evening light scrape the face of Ostler Peak as the sun disappears below the horizon. Trip Length: 6 miles each way + optional day-hikes. It’s a short 13.2 mile round-trip hike, so it can easily be done over a … There were a few people at Amethyst Lake, some at a camp a short distance from the water and some fishing along the shoreline. In other places, the forest floor turned into wetland with water several inches deep and mud you could really sink your feet into. You can head up the trail to Amethyst Lake, or one of the other smaller lakes in the area. The campground and trailhead are around 3.5 miles down the road dirt road. Total Elevation Gain: 1,900' to the lake (It's only 1,500 to the camp at the meadow). There are just 11 sites here, a few of which are first-come, first-serve. Moderately challenging, this hike takes you up to a high alpine lake with gorgeous campsites options. It was amazing to think that there were others up there, especially considering the extreme solitude we thought we had experienced the night before. Strong hikers can do this hike in one day, however, as long as you are ... Just four miles from the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, this limited site campground is a great alternative to the larger, busier campgrounds at lower elevations. The trial gains over 500'+ in the next half mile or so with the remaining elevation gain spread out over the next two miles. It was a very peaceful moment. Went end of August and there were quite a few campers, which is fine, just something to consider if you want to be alone. During that 6 and a half miles there is a 2000 foot elevation gain – much of which is condensed into a single grueling mile just after the fork. Itinerary 1 (2 nights, 3 days): Hike from the Portal trailhead to Portal Creek Campground on day one. At this point we were more than ready to set up camp in any meadow we could find and just relax until bed time. And that was it! The Hill from Hell, Christmas Meadows Trailhead. The Uinta Mountains are bisected by a long, winding spine of Precambrian rock that runs for about a hundred miles in an east-west direction across northern Utah. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from July until September. So, we bush whacked our way there and back from the trail. We had a great freeze-dried dinner, and sat in our own private meadow as day turned to night. The road is suitable for low clearance vehicles. And there were a ton of barking dogs running around ruining the peace and quiet the whole time. The beauty of anywhere in the Uintas is always a 5/5 stars, but the amount of people up Amethyst Basin was kind of a bummer for somewhere this far from civilization. We backpacked to Amethyst Basin on 9/1/17. With easy access to the trailhead, a reasonable hiking distance to the lake, and stunning views, it is easy to see why the area receives so much use. (photo: Ryan Malavolta/Utahoutside.com) This is an outstanding area of the Uintas, and it’s no shock that Amethyst ranks as one of … Surprisingly enough, the going didn’t get much easier once the path leveled out. A lot bigger than I thought it would be. We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Expect even more people if it's a holiday weekend like Labor Day. The parking lot is divided into a lower section (for general parking) and an upper section reserved for trailers (primarily for horse riders and shepherds). This is a difficult one way trail in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Amethyst Basin is considered one of the high use zones in the Uinta Mountains. Leaving from the Christmas Meadows area at 8,800 feet, the trail meanders through wildflower-filled grasses gaining little elevation. The trail begins a steep ascent. There are plenty of previously used sites in the woods surrounding the meadow so there's no need to make a new one. However, at only a 2 hour drive from Salt Lake City and a hike of 6 miles each way, this basin is hard to turn down. Up until this point, the trail was fairly easy. Did this as a day hike. There really isn't much difficulty to this hike other than the 0.5 miles right after the turn off to amethyst lake. When you're all done enjoying the amazing-ness that Amethyst Basin has to offer, tear down camp and head back out the same way you came in. Once you reach Amethyst Meadow, the large alpine meadow below Ostler Peak, find your campsite for the weekend. This past weekend I headed up to the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah for a quick overnight bakpacking trip with Katy, John, Keith, and Melissa (and Stoli and Tonic!). But this was early in the season, and I figured this might be my only chance to hike the trail without lots of other people. The hike’s first 2.3 miles follow the easy-flowing Stillwater Fork, popular among fly-fisherman. This view showcases the western half of Amethyst Basin. Highly Trafficked, but Absolutely Stunning! We’ve already featured one of our favorites, Bear Lake, which is considered the “Caribbean of the Rockies.” And, of course Lake Powell has some of the bluest water in Utah. Amethyst Basin was a last minute decision, because you have to pay $3 to park, and we all know how much I hate paying to hike. Juice worth the squeeze...however, don't underestimate the incline. The forecast was a chance of rain, but the skies were clear (enough) and we were determined so we set out bright and early in the morning. The ... Overview Around 2 AM we peeled off our many layers of soggy clothes, changed into dry socks and climbed into our mummy bags to await a (hopefully) dryer morning. I am surprised there is no official trail to Ostler lake because it is a pretty lake. Clouds from the storm earlier poured over the mountain and formed as a low-lying mist over the grass and river, revealing the stars high above. Set up some hammocks on the east side and relaxed for a bit. It was a magnificent view. | Christmas Meadows Trailhead, 2014, alpine, Amethyst Basin, backpack, backpacking, Hearts Like Ours, High Uintas National Forest, mountains, Naked and Famous, national forest, summer, uintas, utah. Then do and out and back easy hike without a pack to the Amethyst Lakes Campground for some great views of the Ramparts. See the best features of the High Uintas Wilderness with a tour of Amethyst Basin. https://www.theoutbound.com/utah/backpacking/backpack-amethyst-basin It was truly a sight to behold, and quite possibly one of the most beautiful things I’ve experienced in the entire state of Utah. Start at the Palomarin Trailhead located in the parking lot near the restrooms. The Sapphire Lakes In Utah That Are Devastatingly Gorgeous. adventures and follow local regulations. It will gain about 2000 feet between the trailhead and Amethyst Lake. It was a 7 mile hike into where we camped and the boys did surpisingly well. Started at about 6:30am and got up to amethyst lake at 9:30 ish. It can be achieved in one long day though many opt to spend the night at Amethyst … Moosehorn Campground is located just off the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway on the shores of Moosehorn Lake at an elevation of 10,400 ... Ryder Lake is accessed via the Stillwater Trail, beginning at the Christmas Meadows Trailhead off of Mirror Lake Highway. The first two and a half miles of the hike go down quickly. Naturally we had to set up camp. Mirror Lake Campground is located just off the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway on the shores of its beautiful namesake lake at an eleva... Overview You should plan to camp in the area adjacent to the large meadow below Amethyst Lake since firewood is scarce higher up and there is more protection from the weather here. The hike to Amethyst was about a mile from camp with 300′ of elevation gain–still extremely easy compared to what we’d already done that day with our packs on. .. Bugs were non-existent. Stillwater Campground is located 32 miles from Evanston, Wyoming, just off the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway at an elevation of 8,500... Overview On the third day, hike out to the Portal trailhead. Definitely take the time to do an overnight trip. |  Amethyst Basin, Lower Shelf. © 2020 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy. We're committed to building a better, more inclusive home for the modern outdoors. From what I had researched, there is no actual trail to it. This isn’t exactly a beginner trail, but the moderately challenging hike is great for new backpackers with a healthy set of legs — especially if you break it up into three or four days. We had success using caddis behind a bubble and several different spinners. Easily accessible from Salt Lake City, the hike to Amethyst Lake and Basin is probably the most popular hike into the rugged, north-slope drainages of the High Uintas. One last selfie with our meadow, and we were on our way! Length 13 miElevation gain 2326 ftRoute type Out & back It requires one inventory space and cannot be stacked, and it can be sold to any vendor in town for 2,500 gold.It adds the following modifiers to an item when placed in … Amethyst Basin Backpacking Guide - High Uintas July 20, 2018 / Dave Collins. Do a bit of research on the fishing before you go. That was with a lot of stops and sight seeing along the way up. Once you hit the fork in the trail (make sure to stay left at the fork to stay on the amethyst basin trail. For Father's Day I got a new backpack, an Osprey Atmos 65, hoping I could get into backpacking without having issues like I had with my old backpack when doing the Uinta Highline It was probably the coldest water I have ever been in but definitely worth it. The trail to Amethyst Lake and Amethyst Basin starts at the Christmas Meadows trailhead. The water, especially with the sun shining, is an intense clear, aqua color. We had reached the basin, and the meadow was so picturesque it was almost absurd. But definitely an awesome experience if that kind of thing doesn't bother you. The picturesque basin boasts multiple alpine lakes and waterfalls surrounded by a grand mountainous landscape. Utah has so many pretty lakes, that it’s hard to choose just one to write about! The fish are all pretty small but they seem to be very hungry. Dane had been doing a lot of peak bagging over the summer and we … Amethyst Lake is one of several lakes that is accessed via Christmas Meadows. Some light mist hung near the ground and in the trees when we woke up, giving the whole area a surreal wonderland. Amethyst Basin in Utah’s High Uinta Wilderness is another popular destination for impressive mountain scenery. I’ve made this trip before, but we got stopped so short on the way that we never actually made it to the basin. This is definitely a must do hike in the Uintas. The moon was out above the meadow, brightly lighting entire scene. At 13.5 miles round trip, the hike could be made in a long day, but we made the decision to spend the night and it was beyond worth it. Before we knew it, we were back at my car safe and sound. Despite looking like we could pass out at any moment, the hike back was pretty uneventful and took about half as long. There were only a few mud holes to climb around and for the most part there was very little elevation gain. The hike to Amethyst Basin is about 6.5 miles long. Not too long into the hike, the thunder started. Morning came, and overall the day was pretty uneventful. Moderately challenging, this hike takes you up to a high alpine lake with gorgeous campsites options. As we worked on putting our packs back on we saw a moose cross the trail in front of us. We fished Amethyst lake where all the scouts caught small brookies, many of which was there first ever fish. Christmas Meadows Campground is located just a few miles off the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, 36 miles from Evanston, Wyoming. On day 2, hike to the Maccarib Campground, drop your gear and set up camp. Finally arriving at the Christmas Meadows trail head, we rearranged our bags, took a selfie, and we were off! Ostler Peak is the rugged summit forming the western rim of Amethyst Basin, in the High Uintas Primitive Area of north-eastern Utah. Pair that with a raging thunder storm and it makes for one hell of a hike. Amethyst Basin Backpacking Guide - High Uintas The High Uinta WIlderness is home to a plethora of great backpacking options and a hike to Amethyst Basin is among the very best. That’s why when my friend Ashley mentioned that she wanted to go camping, I immediately suggested Amethyst Basin. Ostler Peak – Amethyst Basin It was the middle of August and the time had finally come for me to embark with my good friend Dane on a backpacking trip I had been planning for months. Amethyst Lake Trail is a 13 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Oakley, Utah that features a lake and is rated as moderate. Two well … The trail will be very steep for the first two miles, but then it levels out in a meadow basin area. A hike to the summit of Ostler Peak can be made either as a long day hike, or an enjoyable and scenic backpacking trip. We had checked out the trail the weekend before and we were pretty sure this tr I wandered around camp, heading here and there within about a half mile of my tent, trying to see what I could see in this basin. From Mirror Lake Scenic Byway (US 150) turn on Christmas Meadows Rd. After about 2 miles on the trail, near the base of Ostler Peak, the basin opens up with nice views in all directions. Not as awesome as amethyst, but with Ostler peak in the background, Ostler lake makes for some pretty sweet photos. I estimate there were people in approximately 50 campsites, but the basin is large with lots of great campsites, so it didn't feel crowded. As the storm was rolling in we frantically grabbed for our ponchos; we weren’t going to let a little rain deter us. Starting off at the amazing Christmas meadows, following a river, seeing a few water falls on the way and amazing peaks keeps your mind off the burning legs. Christmas Meadows is situated perfectly to view Ostler Peak, Hayden Peak, and among the Stillwater Fork of the Bear River. Although, it's clearly signed) things get a little steep. Please explore responsibly! Although the hike in is somewhat tough (especially if you are carrying a 30-40 lb pack), the reward and view is well worth the hard effort. This is not the place to go if you're looking to escape the crowds and be alone. In the morning, there was a breeze that made the glacial-green lake water choppy. Make sure you bring your camera because this place is a photographer's paradise. This only lasted about two miles though, because once we hit Ostler Fork things got rough. The Outbound works best with JavaScript enabled. The hike to Alamere falls is ~8.4 mile out-and-back. On the way down we decided to explore over to Ostler lake. There is also excellent fishing in the meadow below the lake. @Isaiah Ort - there is an overnight fee of $6 for stays of 1-3 days, $12 for stays of 7-14 days, or $45 for an annual pass, or free if you have a National Parks Pass. There's no defined trail to the summit so route finding skills and a map are needed. The trailhead is best reached from Evanston, Wyoming but can also be accessed from Kamas, Utah. It was moving too fast to get a picture, and it disappeared completely upon entering the trees. About an hour and a half in, we stopped at Bald Mountain Pass to take in the view and stretch our legs. Having hiked a ton in the Unitas, this is probably one of the more challenging hikes due to all the elevation gain you do to get there. Backpacking to Amethyst Lake in the High Uinta Wilderness is a backpackers dream - a high alpine lake, lots of hiking and fishing, great campsites, and cooler temperatures. Passing through several promising meadows, we trudged on to reach the basin. A mountain meadow on the hike along Ostler Fork, Near our Campsite, Amethyst Basin Lower Shelf. We decided to hike in Amethyst Basin because it's just a two hour drive from Salt Lake City to the trailhead at Christmas Meadows and we only had the two day weekend. Hiking the High Desert - Backpacking in Canyonlands NP - Duration: 1:03:27. Amenities inclu... Getting thereThis trip could be crammed into a really long day or even two days, but give yourself three days to really enjoy the area and not be too pressed for time.Your departure point is the East Fork of the Bear River Trailhead on the north s... Camp at Christmas Meadows in the Uinta National Forest, Backpack Mount Beulah via East Fork of the Bear River Trailhead. My brother and I also took a dive in Ostler. Amethyst Basin sights The views from the north ridge of Ostler Peak are outstanding. Finally nearing the top, the rain slowed to a stop and the mountains started peeking through the clouds. We made it! Enjoy incredible scenery, rugged terrain, and Ostler Peak, which towers above a classic alpine meadow. Backpacking Ostler Peak - Amethyst Basin - Uintas - Duration: 52:08. It was hot in SLC with zero chances of rain, so the Uinta's were packed. Nearing the top of our last big hill, we looked up to see a mountain with sheer cliff sides appeared directly overhead. As we were filtering some water from the nearly 6 foot deep creek, another group of campers emerged from the forest headed home. Did this hike on 8/22/16. It’s really a shame I didn’t pack my DSLR to capture that perfect night. Amethyst Basin, High Uintas Wilderness Delight is what you feel when you get a call from your boss about flying out to Salt Lake City for a meeting in Deer Valley that starts on a Monday night. Backcountry Exposure 1,954 views. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/utah/high-uintas-wilderness/fishing High Uintas Wilderness continues to Amaze! But, wish I would have taken the planning to back pack into amethyst basin and make it an overnight trip because this place is truly magical. Directions: The trail leaves from the Christmas Meadows Trailhead. That might sound fantastic, and silly me, I was actually purposely avoiding the Amethyst Area because of all the attention it gets – I seek solitude, beauty, and unpressured water to fish on most of my backcountry treks. The view from our tent. At the sign pointing toward Amethyst Lake and Uinta High Wilderness, turn left to begin the climb toward Amethyst … Amethyst Lake is located in the Christmas Meadows are of the Uintas, with a wide open meadow strewn with trees, resembling, well, Christmas trees. Go left. The camping at the meadow is better than the camping at the lake just a little bit further up the trail. If you're a photographer, you might be interested in packing a tripod to get some images of the night sky. We both ended up with muddy shoes and even muddier socks before it was over. The hike to Amethyst Basin begins at the Christmas Meadows Trailhead (40.822571,-110.80123), just east of Highway 150 on the north slope of the Uintas. I can’t express how glad I am that we held out just a little longer. Overview The night skies are very dark and full of stars. If you're feeling ambitious, you can even try for the summit of Ostler Peak. Hiking to Amethyst Lake in Jasper National Park via the ... Middle Basin High Uintas Drone 8.5 ... 3:23. 52:08. Amethyst lake is amazing. We hiked into Amethyst basin in the uintas and I think the kids had a good time. Go PRO to support our mission and get benefits like gear deals, no ads, and more! At the trail junction, left is signed Amethyst Basin, right is signed Ryder Lake. The following day there are a few day-hike options available. Typically, this hike is done over 2-3 days, with an overnight at the beautiful Ostler Lake. You'll have to be a little sneaky if you want to catch any, though, The water is shallow and slow-moving so the fish can easily see you standing on the bank. Amethyst Lake to Ryder Lake and Middle Basin 11mi, +1,950ft/-1,800ft. This hike has it all. The nice thing about this part of the hike is the fact that it runs along Ostler Fork, a river cascading down the side of the mountain in truly magnificent fashion. The raging storm caused some streams to overflow, sometimes making the trail into something more akin to a riverbed than a real path. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your The hike to Amethyst Basin is about 6.5 miles long. What that means is you're going to book a flight for Friday afternoon so you can get to those mountains a few days early and explore. The trail heads due south from Christmas Meadows along the Stillwater River. During that 6 and a half miles there is a 2000 foot elevation gain – much of which is condensed into a single grueling mile just after the fork. Hiking Ostler Peak in the High Uintas Wilderness is a serious challenge for anyone. Amethyst lake has no trail to it so bring a good topographical map and a good compass. The cascades alongside the trail keep your mind off your burning calves, however. Amethyst Basin This 13-mile round tripper is as photogenic as they get, making it a classic Uinta hike. Dogs and horses are also able to use this trail. 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