Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Mirror Lake Scenic Byway

    4.9 (19 reviews)

    Mirror Lake Scenic Byway Photos

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Mirror Lake Scenic Byway

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Stephen S.

    The Uinta's is an incredible gem that's really not that far away from Salt Lake. Mirror lake is probably one of the most popular lakes there. It is beautiful to look at and is big enough for human powered watercraft vehicles, a nice walk around the lake or fishing.

    Rod S.

    There are a number of great drives in Utah, however very few this close to Salt Lake and Utah County. There is great camping, hiking, picnicking, and just plain driving through with turnoffs. The best snowmobile trip I ever did was renting one for the day and bringing it here. We made it to the top and back. Fantastic. The hiking to Three Divides Lake, Trial Lake, and Clyde Lake, perfect. Whether it's backcountry camping at Three Divides (it has a hidden water pipe that taps into the mountain with giardia free water), or bringing the 5th wheel, there is camping for all tastes. I've been coming here in all seasons for decades. It's been unfortunate to see the trees dying from beetles helped by the winters warming up, and the droughts, over the last few decades. I hope it's still there when my children get to be my age.

    The MLH in Autumn.
    Jeffrey S.

    One of the greatest stretches of Highway in the United States. Boom. Now, that's a pretty bold statement. But it's probably well-deserved and here's why: this stretch of Highway 150 is the poster child for drives through the forest. You pass deep gorges, a cascading waterfall, scenic overlooks, campground after campground, a tumbling mountain river, roadside lakes, a bald mountain peak, stunning views, and then slowly descend back out of the trees as you leave the state. The scenery is what makes this so stellar. Starting in Kamas, you climb up the Upper Provo River until you leave the last bit of the civilized world and reach your first aspen stands. They're shimmering, quaking leaves are resplendent in the summer, fiery yellow in the Fall, haunting like bony fingers reaching skyward through the Winter only to swell with bright green life each Spring. The snow falls early and heavy in these parts, so the road is closed each Winter. Although they try to have it open by around Memorial Day, some years it just doesn't happen that early. Some years it opens mid-May. The one thorn in this beautiful mountain rose is that it's now a fee area. If you're driving straight through, then you don't have to pay. But parked cars must display a pass. As of this moment, the Forest Service website is incorrect. The correct fee schedule is: 3-day pass -- $6 7-day pass -- $12 Annual pass -- $45 I get it. I really do. And in some ways, I think it hopefully keeps massive mobs away. But it stings. I pony up and buy the annual pass (available at the Forest Service fee station a few miles up the byway from Kamas, self-serve stations near Provo River Falls, or a few local places like Kamas Food Town) but I'm not super pleased about it. I don't use too many of the facilities (campgrounds, restrooms, picnic areas) but rather launch off from the area into the backcountry. So what's to do? Where to begin. There are dozens of hikes, both day and backpacking trips, that you can begin from the MLH. There are dozens of lakes either on the road or a very short walk from it. Most are managed put-and-take fisheries because of the heavy angling pressure, but they're amazing opps for the kids. Picnicking? Check. Wildlife? Lots of it (bring bug spray, too). Camping? Official campgrounds dot the side of the road. They're an additional cost beyond the MLH pass. In the Winter you've got snowmobiling and snowshoeing as well. Now, there are plenty of folks who use this area. Holiday weekends are kind of a zoo, and most summer weekends you'll need to get there early. But it's really just so accessible and beautiful it's hard to blame anyone for wanting a piece of the action. So it's also extra important to take care of the area. Stop hacking down the trees and leaving garbage and it'll be there for our kids' kids to enjoy. Whether a nice mountain drive or a weekend destination, the ML Scenic Byway is terrific. Load up the kids, the dog, and a few cans of beans and make a moment out of it.

    Camping
    Tyler R.

    We found a nice little campground with clean bathrooms. This is one of our favorite places to visit for the day or camp. So much to do and see.

    Ashley L.

    Loved this area! It's a great place to have a picnic or set up a hammock. It was absolutely beautiful and the drive up there was very amusing.

    Hiroko P.

    After staying for 4 months in high dessert Morgan,Utah surrounded by aspen trees and sage brush, never thought I see this beautiful lake just 1hour drive. Smell of fresh mature pine trees and beautiful lake reminded of me a picture I've seen in travel magazine before. On the way to Mirror lake, stop by @ mile mark 26 Provo river fall!

    Mirror Lake
    Maggie L.

    Oh boy. This is by far my absolute favorite place on earth. This is a beautiful drive in Spring, Summer and Fall!! This byway will take you from Kamas, UT to Evanston, WY. It is about 60 miles of camping, fishing, hiking, photography, horseback and what not with, rivers, lakes, waterfalls and wildlife all over! My favorite activity up there is fishing. We've been dozens of time this year. Sometimes driving from Centerville 3 days in a row. It's worth it. The lakes are heavily stocked with various types of trout. Rainbow, tiger and splake are some. Brown and cutthroat also. Easy to catch and delicious. My second favorite thing to do is sitting. Yup. The scenery is breath taking! I could sit and WILL sit all day just taking it in. Bald mountain towers above my favorite place to fish, Pass Lake. The weather up there changes on a dime so prepare for all types of weather if you're planning on spending a day. If you would love to take a dirt road, turn off the highway and go to Soapstone Pass. There is some beautiful scenery up there too. Big, open fields, rolling hills and wild flowers. This will take you to Wolf Creek Highway. I've had my cars up there, because I'm crazy....or determined. But I recommend a truck or a vehicle with higher ground clearance. Dirt road conditions can change quickly. What was possible in a belly dragging, lowrider could call for a 4x4, 3 days later. HEADS UP: This is the perfect playground for dirt bikes, ATVS and 4 -wheelers, and hikers so please be courteous, drive safe and keep an eye out for riders, hikers and hunters. You don't want to end an awesome day in the Uintas with an accident. From late November to late May/early June, Mirror Lake Highway is closed. Being closed doesn't mean the fun has to stop! Mirror Lake Highway offers some of the most superb snowmobiling country! If you'd like to take it easy, the trail is groomed 30 miles, from Soapstone Pass to Bear River Lodge. I just got into snowshoeing last year and can't wait to give these areas a try. I would like to go on, but this is getting long hehe. Enjoy a day in the Unitas! Don't forget your rec. pass. $6 for 3 days. Go! Now!!

    Crystal Lake
    Shauna S.

    It costs $6 for a three-day pass--have the correct amount. We hiked to Long Lake (2 miles from trailhead). Several signs on the trail were missing so it was confusing if you don't know the area. Big parking lots with toilets. Good fishing. We saw several deer, squirrels, birds, etc. Lots of rocks--be careful not to twist your ankle!

    This October babe loves her fall colors
    Sara S.

    A must do! Spent a few days in SLC & enjoyed this drive. So much to see along the way and a nice workout. I was here early October and although it was pretty cold(11-15°), this San Diegan had a blast. Blessed with fall colors as well as snow!

    Mirror lake
    Mike H.

    Best camping/relaxation and picnic area closest to Salt Lake. Absolutely gorgeous. DO NOT forget your fishing license though.. DNR is everywhere. A true Utah hidden gem.

    See all

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Rod S.
    467
    1196
    1337

    8 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lacey T.
    478
    973
    15433

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeffrey S.
    3070
    2527
    8089

    14 years ago

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tyler R.
    47
    39
    14

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ashley L.
    253
    24
    17

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    The food is so good. Small town feel with delicious like- home made food. Try the scallop Portales and snap peas and thank me later!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sara S.
    22
    91
    154

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mike H.
    101
    28
    6

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Britt W.
    60
    28
    10

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Pete E.
    3
    323
    23

    12 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Ask the Community - Mirror Lake Scenic Byway

    Was considering doing this Byway even though it would add an hour to my road trip time. Is it worth the extra hour just to drive through? and are there drop offs or really step inclines? I'm driving by myself and get pretty nervous. Thank you!

    For me, it's always worth it, but I really love this type of scenery. It runs through the heart of national forest and is much more scenic than taking I-80, for example.… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Mirror Lake Scenic Byway

    This is close to the ranger station (super nice ranger!) at 50 E Center St, in Kamas.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Hiking 573 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Butterfly Lake Campground

    Butterfly Lake Campground

    5.0
    (1 review)
    8.6 mi

    Perfectly situated off of the Mirror Lake Highway, and perched near the tranquil waters of…read moreButterfly Lake, this campground is probably my favorite designated camping area along this great stretch of scenic road. Winning that distinction is no small feat, as there are so many spots to stay along Utah's most prominent scenic byway, but it's just got so much going for it. First, it's at about 10,300ft in elevation, which means that in the blazing heat of summer, you may just kiss the '70s, spend most of the day in the '60s, and have those incredible nights in the tent in the '40s where you thank your lucky stars that you have someone who will go up the Mirror Lake Highway with you and hike by day, and snuggle up in a sleeping-bag-for-two by night. I've not actually had that last experience, but it's on my list. At any rate, the elevation is just what you need in summer, and is not to be messed with in cooler temps. The Highway actually closes during winter, so this campground typically doesn't open until around Memorial Day each spring. The namesake lake is delightful, and planted with willing trout. There are no monster fish lurking in the deep, but the kids will get a kick out of drowning a worm beneath a bobber. I also like that the lake is far enough away from the campsites that you're not constantly worrying about little ones wandering off to play in the water. The further up the road in the campground, the more true this is. If you're looking to launch off for adventure, there are hikes on hikes on hikes. My favorite ever lackadaisical hike I've ever had was on the MLH, but you can find your own. The western terminus of the Highline Trail is just a few hundred feet away down the road, so check that out for a starting point, or grab one of the other many trailheads at your disposal-Ruth Lake, Mirror Lake, Fehr Lake-those are all bodies of waters and names of nearby trailheads. I typically stay in dispersed campsites, but having a few resources, restrooms, parking, and a picnic table is nice sometimes too. I dream of staying here in the height of summer, of making overly-complicated camp meals, of wandering the creeks, of homemade marshmallow s'mores, hand-churned ice cream, and that warm sleeping bag at night.

    Photos
    The lake
    The lake
    Lake, highway in background
    Lake, highway in background
    Site 6

    See all

    Site 6
    Knotty Pine RV Resort

    Knotty Pine RV Resort

    4.1
    (17 reviews)
    7.8 mi

    I first heard about Knotty Pine RV Resort on social media-someone had posted about the beautiful…read morescenery and the plethora of activities to do, but what hooked me were the pictures of the tiny house (cottage) available to rent. I'm a sucker for tiny houses, in fact I dream to live in one someday, so I was looking forward to my stay here. We do a decent amount of "camping" in our trailer, but this weekend, it was the tiny house that called to me. I was absolutely shocked that I was able to reserve it last minute for Friday through Sunday. We arrived after the registration office was closed, but found our information in a box by the front door. The cottage was far better than the pictures on the resort's website-it has a main bedroom with a queen bed and four single beds up in the loft. There's also a small couch in the living area. You could fit six people in here easily. Note that the loft is only about five feet tall, so most people won't be able to stand upright. But it's a kid's paradise! The kitchen is stocked with basic dishes and utensils plus full oven, stove and refrigerator. The bathroom has simple shampoo/conditioner/soap. The quality is pretty low, so if you want nicer stuff, bring your own from home. There is a TV in the living area, but not in the bedroom or loft. There is a picnic table and fire pit outside, so you can get a taste of the camping experience while still enjoying the luxury of a "home." The campground itself is very pretty-lots of beautiful trees and a tranquil river that runs nearby. There is a clubhouse with pool table, arcade game and several seating areas to socialize. They have activities occasionally, mostly geared toward the littles. The layout of the campground is slightly disjointed, and the further toward the back you go, the less it's maintained. There were some spots that appeared to be storage areas rather than camping spots, but they were dispersed between the others. Since we did not pull our RV, I can't talk to how hard it was to navigate, but there are back-in as well as pull-through spots available. The pool and hot tub were always hopping-people seemed to enjoy those. They advertise having wi-fi, but it's terrible. Some people may not care about that, since you're going camping in the mountains. But if you're online reading reviews, I reckon you might want at least a little internet connectivity. It's there, but it's pretty slow. And the cellular data (I have T-Mobile) is nonexistent. It's a beautiful place, and once I get over my with drawl from being online, I'll find myself extremely relaxed and one with nature.

    Had an amazing weekend. Staff was so incredibly friendly and helpful.. Pool was a definite plus…read more. Will Definitely be going Back.

    Photos
    Cottage living area
    Cottage living area
    Clubhouse seating and pool table
    Clubhouse seating and pool table
    Cottage stairs

    See all

    Cottage stairs
    Ledgefork Campground

    Ledgefork Campground

    4.5
    (2 reviews)
    11.8 mi

    Ledgefork is an incredibly beautiful campground in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. The…read morecampground is managed by the Utah Recreation Company/Go Camp Utah. It is located about 30 minutes Northeast of Kamas, with the last 5 miles on a dirt/rock road. Reservations are easily made on the Recreation government website. The campground is on the edge of the Smith and Morehouse Reservoir, with access to a number of hiking trails nearby. While the Reservoir itself is open to boats, many areas seemed shallow and mucky to me, and I did not see boats in the water. I did see plenty of people fishing, however, so it's likely a good spot for that. The section of the Reservoir near the campground is dried up, leaving behind an eerie looking landscape of jagged tree trunks and aquatic plants. It's not the most beautiful sight, but it is definitely very interesting. The campsites themselves are located across 2 loops. While the campground was completely full during my visit, Loop A definitely felt spacious and private, whereas Loop B felt crowded and like a huge fishing and country music party (although I didn't see the "tent only" sites). Which would probably be fun if that's your thing, but I prefer private, quiet, and wooded sites. So our site (32) in Loop A was perfect for me! The site itself was very large and had lots of beautiful trees, just as many of the sites in the loop were fairly heavily wooded. We saw a number of different types of birds in addition to squirrels and chipmunks among the pine and aspen trees. We also awoke to bear poop along the path to the dumpster, so keep in mind you might have some large guests lurking around at night! The campsites do not have water (a few spigots are located throughout each loop), electricity, or a dump station. As we were heading back to SLC, we stopped at Jordanelle to use theirs, but the line was VERY long and we had to pay $10. My husband and I visited Ledgefork on our first trip with our vintage trailer and had an amazing time that we will always remember! We will be back when the campgrounds open for the season next year.

    The campsite was very nice. Although the reservations were not up to date when we arrived and it…read morecaused some confusion. The creek is nice to explore. I would recommend bringing a small boat to fish on the lake

    Photos
    Drone photo from Recreation website
    Drone photo from Recreation website
    Ledgefork Campground

    See all

    Aspen Campground

    Aspen Campground

    5.0
    (1 review)
    24.9 mi

    Aspen (not to be confused with Aspen Grove) Campground is a beautiful spot WAAAYYYYYY out in the…read moremiddle of nature! The campground consists of 31 regular sites (some doubles) and a group site, with no hook-ups. When I visited (Memorial Day weekend), there were hardly any people there, so it felt like we had the entire beautiful place to ourselves! Site 24 was beautiful, private, and had easy access to the river behind. There were multiple people fishing in the river and some kids with inner tubes, but the water felt really cold and seemed too shallow for any kind of swimming. But it would be great for kids wanting to splash around a bit in the summer! Since the campground is so far up in the mountains, the weather is cool when it's too hot for camping in the valley. Nighttime temps got to around 40 when we were there, which was fine for us in our camper trailer. The grounds were kept clean, and while we didn't see the camp host(s), we had no need for assistance during our trip. The drive to the campground from SLC was tough on our vehicle, which is an older SUV hauling a 17' vintage trailer. Even after getting up Parley's Canyon, there were additional significant stretches of incline and then about a mile on a dirt road before getting to the site. I do love being in the middle of nowhere, so this was fine, but I would take this into consideration the next time we are wanting to visit.

    Photos
    Shallow river behind campgrounds
    Shallow river behind campgrounds
    Shallow river behind campgrounds

    See all

    Shallow river behind campgrounds
    Currant Creek

    Currant Creek

    3.3
    (4 reviews)
    31.6 mi

    worst fucking reservoir EVER, fishing is genuinely dog shit... first time i went i caught about 25…read moreshitty small rainbows, and the second time i caught 1 of the shitters. And no i'm not some fisherman who doesn't know what they're doing, im advanced and know how to fish, the fishing is just shit, do NOT go there, wasted an entire day where i was super excited to go just to be fucked

    I love to camp. Usually I just find a spot off a dirt road and call it good. However I do camp…read morewith people who like the comforts of an established campground. Current Creek campground is a large place with 4 loops. My favorite is D loop because it's closest to the lake. Bathrooms have flush toilets but no showers. Each camp site has a picnic table, grill, fire pit and concrete pad. The camp host station sells ice, firewood and some bare essentials. The star of the show is the lake. Usually you'll find me sitting on the shore waiting for a fish to bite. I've caught rainbows and tiger trout. But even if you don't catch anything the views are spectacular. If you should get lucky and decide to keep your catch there is a fish cleaning station by the boat ramp. Directions, there are 3 ways to get there all involve a bit of graded dirt road. You can take hwy 40 to the Current Creek Road and drive up next to the river, then around the lake. Next option is to turn off hwy 40 at the chicken creek area and take FS road #82. The turn is just before the UDOT facility. Lastly you can take center street from Heber past the Timber Lakes community. There is no cell phone service at the lake or campground. :)

    Photos
    Buck deer
    Buck deer
    Currant Creek
    Fishing in the rain.

    See all

    Fishing in the rain.
    Jordan Pines Group Campground

    Jordan Pines Group Campground

    4.8
    (4 reviews)
    19.2 mi

    Beautiful campground. It's in Big Cottonwood Canyon, so I wouldn't expect anything less. Camp…read morehosts were nice and helpful the few times we interacted with them. I specifically stayed at the Pine Grove Camp Site. It has a lot of large mature trees, 4 bathroom facilities, plenty of camping areas, and an extremely large fire pit/picnic area. It's in walking distance to both Doughnut Falls and Dog Lake, plus it's a short drive to Solitude, Brighton, and many other beautiful trails. We arrived here on Friday and stayed two nights with a large group. The event brought out a lot of people for the daytime, but most people opted to not stay the night. This meant we had more than enough room to camp and have our own space. We picked a spot a little ways up the trail which made us a little too far from the bathrooms, but we weren't disturbed by anybody who woke up early or stayed up too late. Big Cottonwood gets extremely busy and this campground offers a few other group campsites. However, this campground was secluded enough that you were never bothered by the hustle and bustle of others and you were really able to feel like you were in the great outdoors. The campsite says that it can hold 100-125 people. The large picnic/fire pit area can definitely hold this many, but I feel like that many people camping could get pretty cramped. Our group was mostly couples so that would be close to 50-60 tents. I could see it working with families where you'd only need 20-30 tents. We definitely enjoyed the site though and would happily come back.

    I have to credit this review to Jeffrey S our Community Manager. He planned the most amazing Yelp…read moreEvent at one of the most beautiful places on earth. Thank you for letting us find this beautiful place. Well be back but will never have as much fun as we did at the Yelp Elite Event. I honestly felt like I had been burned back to my summer camp days.

    Photos
    Our spot for the weekend. Quite a bit away from the main group area.

    See all

    Our spot for the weekend. Quite a bit away from the main group area.

    Mirror Lake Scenic Byway - hiking - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...