One of the most beautiful, challenging and inspiring hikes we have been on in Utah. The hike was inspiring from the moment we stepped on the trail. From your first step you have beautiful views of Mount Timpanogos, but it also shows the challenge that awaits.

Hike to Emerald Lake via Mount Timpanogos Trail

This trail is located in Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest which is only an hour and a half from Salt Lake City, so the area is quite busy. However, this trail was not that busy. It could be from the stats and people actually take it seriously. There is a waterfall about a mile in and that is as far as half the hikers went that we encountered. Otherwise it is a hike straight up and then straight down.

Miles: 11
Elevation Gain: 3,520′
Trailhead Elevation: 8,500′
Parking Lot: Stewart Falls Trailhead
Difficulty: Hard
Dogs: Dogs are welcome on a leash.
Time: It took us 6:24 and that included about 20-30 minutes at the top.
Water Safety: There are multiple places to filter water along the way. So either make sure to carry enough or have a filtration system.
Cost: If you enter the national forest on Utah State Route 92, you will potentially have to pay a fee. Check their website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/uwcnf/passes-permits

Trail head

As you enter the parking lot, the trailhead is actually on the right before you get too far. It is not near the bathrooms at the end of the parking lot.

You have a short jaunt to the actual start of the trailhead. So make sure to find this area to get to the actual trailhead.

You will reach the stand in less than a quarter mile and make sure to fill out the registration.

After the stand you will hit the Wilderness area within .35 miles.

The views start here and are so amazing. I kept wondering if we would make it into the bowl at the top and you actually do!

This is the waterfall that most people hike to. It is a mile up the trail and provides a spot to view and relax before you continue on or turn around.

The views never end and we loved that about this hike.

There were waterfalls the entire way. Once you hit the switchbacks you basically are just switchbacking up a waterfall. Our favorite was this one where you could walk behind it, but even on a hot day this water was really cold! This waterfall is around 3.5 miles, so grab some water and cool down before continuing on as it is exposed from here.

July is wildflower season and so you will be hiking through them midway to the top.

At 4.5 miles you reach the top of the switchbacks and enter the bowl! It was so beautiful.

For a short while, you have a relaxing hike through wildflowers. So rest the legs for the last climb.

This doesn’t even look that steep but dang it felt grueling. It was only .1 miles but ooftah.

Just the last little climb to amazingness! You have reached the top at 5.37 miles and it was worth every step!

We were so lucky to have all the mountain goats! There was a herd of about 50 of them. We never think we will be lucky enough to see them and so we didn’t bring our good camera. These were all taken with a phone at a safe distance. Please do not feed them, approach them or try and play with them.

Oddly enough, we never hang out at the destination for too long. This time, we stayed for awhile. We sat and had a snack while watching the goats. While the destination was the lake, which was beautiful I am a sucker for wildlife in the WILD.

Emerald Lake was so peaceful and definitely had the emerald color. It was nice to see the glacier still there but it is in danger. We actually saw people who had went all the way to the top, sliding down to get back to the lake. It didn’t look that safe, but it was doable.

Then back to the parking lot you go. I love hiking, but for some reason the last mile of every long hike feels like it will never end and I get so excited to see the parking lot. This one had a beautiful view, but we have a house rule where you cannot say you are close to the end unless you can see the RV or a car in the parking lot. So it makes it that much more exciting and then fulfilling to think of what you just did!

We are early in the season so make sure to follow along to see what hikes we find this year. This was an incredible hike to start the season and get us into shape for our training for our next 50k in November. Let us know if you have experienced this hike in the comments below!

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