Page Type:
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Route |
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Lat/Lon:
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40.75780°N / 109.88384°W |
Route Type:
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Hiking, Mountaineering, Scrambling, Skiing |
Season:
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Summer, Fall |
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Time Required:
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A long day |
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Difficulty:
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Class 2 |
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Overview
The route up Lakeshore Peak from the Highline Trailhead/Hacking Lake is but one (and perhaps the shortest and easiest) of the many routes that could be used to climb Lakeshore Peak. Because it is the route I used climbed the peak, it will be the route with a route page.As peak climbs go, it’s a pretty gentle route and since the trailhead is at a relatively high elevation, it is a fairly mellow climb. The climb is above timberline for most of the way, so you have to keep a close eye on the weather.
Map:
Red = My route to Lakeshore Peak.
Purple = Alternate routes.
Getting There
From near the center of Vernal along Highway 40, turn north at the sign for Maeser and follow the road north to 500 North. Turn west here and follow 500 North to 3500 West. Turn north here. There is a sign for Red Cloud Loop Road. Follow the Red Cloud Loop Road through Dry Canyon. If you have time, make sure to stop at the pictographs and petroglyphs along the way.The road becomes a good gravel road at the Forest Service boundary. Follow the Red Cloud Loop all the way to a major junction with the road to Hacking Lake. A sign points the way to Hacking Lake, and follow the road to near Hacking Lake. Instead of turning left at the lake, follow the main road right and to its end. This is the trailhead.
Sunrise at the trailhead. The slopes of Leidy Peak are in the background.Route Description
From the trailhead and gate at 10,880 feet elevation, follow the trail/old road west. The trail divides shortly. Continue right on the old un-used road. After a short distance, notice the bench to the southwest. Leave the old road and climb up to this bench. There is a cairned route in places, but don’t worry if you don’t see it and don’t waste too much time looking for it; just head for the bench.Once on the bench, traverse to the southwest along the bench. There are scraps of trail and cairns marking the route, but as long as you are on the bench northwest of Leidy Peak, you are on route.
Follow the bench and route (cairns are in places) to where it becomes a ridge. From here, you can either head west along the ridge and over Point 11,651, or you can skirt Point 11,651 by staying on the bench to the south.
Either way, find and follow the old trail across the south slopes of Mount Untermann to Gabbro Pass. See the map for marked routes. You can also take an alternate route down to Lake Wilde (Little Blue Lake on some maps), but there will be more elevation gain.
Once at Gabbro Pass, head south along the very broad ridge to the summit of Lakeshore Peak. It's a little steep in places and the route has some scrambling, but it's pretty easy as far as routes in the Uinta Mountains go.
After enjoying the fine views, you can either return the same way or climb other peaks in the area such as Leidy Peak, Deadman Peak, and/or Mount Untermann.
This route to Lakeshore Peak is 9.0-9.4 miles round trip depending on the route variation and takes the better part of a day.
For variety you can also take the trail on the south side of Leidy Peak back to the trailhead. It is slightly longer and is faded in places, but as long as you stay on the bench and then along the southeast side of Leidy Peak, you are on route and it’s hard to get lost.
Lakeshore Peak from near Gabbro Pass.