Mirror Lake is a popular recreation hub an hour and a half away from Salt Lake City. Located at 10,050 feet, it is the perfect spot to escape the summer heat.
Apart from fishing, camping, and kayaking, the Mirror Lake area is a fantastic hiking and backpacking destination. The thin air can make even the easiest hike challenging, and a couple of local climbs are strenuous. The rest of the trails are gorgeous lake hikes with incredible alpine landscapes all around.
Trails near Mirror Lake:
- Lofty Lake Loop
- Bald Mountain
- Wall Lake Trail and Clyde Lake Trail Loop
- Lakes Country Trail to Island Lake
- Notch Mountain Trail to Notch Lake
- Hayden Peak
- Fehr Lake Trail to Hoover Lake
- Provo River Waterfalls
- Duchesne River Trail to Naturalist Basin to Highline Trail Loop
- Mirror Lake Loop
1. Lofty Lake Loop
- Type: Loop
- Trail Length: 5.3 miles
- Elevation Gain: 978 ft
- Time to Complete: 3h
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: Trailhead Lot: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 2 miles (5 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Description: Lofty Lake Loop is the highest-rated hike in the area, with multiple stunning lakes along the way. It has a gradual incline and rocky terrain, nothing extreme. Coniferous trees and rugged mountain peaks make this trail absolutely gorgeous.
2. Bald Mountain
- Type: Out and Back
- Trail Length: 2.8 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,167 ft
- Time to Complete: 1h 30min
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: Trailhead Lot: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 3 miles (10 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Description: Bald Mountian is the most popular climb in the area that can get crowded during holidays. The terrain is rugged and steep, and you will definitely feel the altitude. Yet, it’s a short and attainable climb, and the alpine views from the summit are worth the sweat.
Related: 11 Stunning Lakes near Salt Lake City
3. Wall Lake Trail and Clyde Lake Trail Loop
- Type: Loop
- Trail Length: 5.9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 851 ft
- Time to Complete: 3h
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: Chrystal Lake Trailhead Lot: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 8 miles (15 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Description: Many hikers describe this loop as their favorite. It has over a dozen lakes and a gentler terrain compared to other routes in the area. It’s isn’t marked very well, so don’t rely on that. But the views are terrific and will leave you in awe.
4. Lakes Country Trail to Island Lake
- Type: Lollipop
- Trail Length: 9 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1,184 ft
- Time to Complete: 4h 30min
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Parking: Chrystal Lake Trailhead Lot: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 8 miles (15 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Description: Although this route to Island Lake is only 9 miles long, many prefer to do it as a backpacking trip. The terrain here is relatively flat but rocky, without major surprises. And the views are delightful at any time of the year.
5. Notch Mountain Trail to Notch Lake
- Type: Out and Back
- Trail Length: 5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 531 ft
- Time to Complete: 2h 30min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Parking: Bald Mt Trailhead Lot: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 3 miles (10 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Description: Notch Mountain Trail to Notch Lake is an easy trail with only 500ft of elevation gain. It first runs downhill and then comes back uphill to the car park. The terrain gets muddy after the rain but generally is okay. The views are fantastic, and it’s not as busy as other trails in the area.
Related: 11 Stunning Lakes near Salt Lake City
6. Hayden Peak
- Type: Out and Back
- Trail Length: 3.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,113 ft
- Time to Complete: 3h 30min
- Difficulty: Hard
- Parking: Highline Trailhead Lot: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 4 miles (10 min)
- Dog Friendly: No
Description: Climbing Hayden Peak is a very different adventure compared to the lake hikes in the area. It is an incredibly steep climb with clambering sections, including the vertical wall to the summit. If you are afraid of heights or don’t like scrambling, avoid this one.
7. Fehr Lake Trail to Hoover Lake
- Type: Out and Back
- Trail Length: 3.7 miles
- Elevation Gain: 631 ft
- Time to Complete: 2h
- Difficulty: Easy
- Parking: Trailhead Lot: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 1.5 miles (5 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Description: Fehr Lake Trail to Hoover Lake is another scenic and popular hike in the area. It is relatively flat with only a few really steep sections. However, the terrain is rocky with slippery, muddy segments after the rain. Still, it’s a very well-maintained trail with boardwalks and river crossings. Look out for a small waterfall to the right of Shephard Lake.
8. Provo River Waterfalls
- Type: Out and Back
- Trail Length: 0.2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 20 ft
- Time to Complete: 20min
- Difficulty: Easy
- Parking: Trailhead Lot: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 8 miles (15 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Description: More of a landmark than a hike, this trail will take you to the gorgeous Provo Falls – the best set of waterfalls in the area. It’s a top-rated stop on the Mirror Lake Highway that will only take half an hour to complete, and there are restrooms at the trailhead.
Related: 11 Stunning Lakes near Salt Lake City
9. Duchesne River Trail to Naturalist Basin to Highline Trail Loop
- Type: Loop
- Trail Length: 23 miles
- Elevation Gain: 3,518 ft
- Time to Complete: 2-4 days
- Difficulty: Hard
- Parking: Mirror Lake Campground: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 0 miles (0 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Description: This loop is an incredible backpacking adventure that will take 2 to 4 days to complete. There are plenty of wild campsites along the way, and the views change rapidly as you move from one basin to the next. It is one of the most popular backpacking routes in the area.
10. Mirror Lake Loop
- Type: Loop
- Trail Length: 1.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 40 ft
- Time to Complete: 1h
- Difficulty: Easy
- Parking: Mirror Lake Campground: Google Maps
- Distance from Mirror Lake: 0 miles (0 min)
- Dog Friendly: Yes
Description: Mirror Lake Loop is a short, flat, and absolutely stunning hike. It usually takes under an hour to complete. The lake is a recreation hub and a base for hikers, kayakers, and anglers, with a large campground nearby.
Final Thoughts
Mirror Lake is a unique location that allows you to experience the alpine wilderness from the comfort of the car or a campsite. There aren’t many places in the world where you can drive around at 10,050 feet, taking in sites and hiking trails. Utah has a lot of wilderness gems to offer, and Mirror Lake is one of them.
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