Bald Mountain Trail is a short, very steep summit at the top of the Uintah Mountains. This hike reaches over 12,000 feet, making it the sixth highest summit in Utah. Because you can drive right to the base of Bald Mountain on the Mirror Lake Highway, the hike is very doable as a summit hike.
The Bald Mountain trail gains over a thousand feet in just 1.4 miles. That’s steep! But the trail is well marked and easy to follow, even though it seems like climbing a staircase for most of the distance. The views at the top are breathtaking. We thought it was worth the climb, and we saw a lot of kids on this trail. This hike is 2.8 miles roundtrip.
Where is Bald Mountain Trail?
To start this trail, go to the large S-Curve just before Mirror Lake if you are coming from Kamas. There is a signed turn that leads a short distance to the parking lot. There is plenty of room for more than a dozen cars as there are two trailheads to choose from.
Start down the trail and before you get 50 yards, you’ll turn right at a signed junction. You’ll begin to climb immediately, but it isn’t too bad. The Bald Mountain trail climbs along the mountainside through large boulder fields, but we spotted red, orange, white, purple, and yellow wildflowers toiling along despite the thin air. There were also pika and hummingbirds, and some have seen mountain goats, though we weren’t so lucky.
After the first half mile, the trail levels out, almost like you’ve reached the shoulder of Bald Mountain. From there, it turns back toward Mirror Lake and runs relatively flat for a short distance. Then the climb starts again.
This climb zigzags across the steep face, and it is a bit dangerous, so if you are hiking with kids, make sure to keep them back from the edge. The trail loops around to the south side again, and this is where it becomes a bit frustrating. You are getting close, and it looks like if you just make it up that last ridge, you’ll be at the top. Unfortunately, there are about 5 “last ridges” before you actually get to the summit. The final section is actually a staircase that you climb to the flat top. Luckily, you can stop as many times as you want, and the view is amazing for most of the Bald Mountain hike.
The summit is gorgeous! We counted 30 lakes (or smaller bodies of water), and it seems as if you can see forever. Stay back from the edge as a fall would be fatal, but you can easily look down on Mirror Lake and the tiny boats below. We sat and enjoyed the view for quite awhile.
The hike back down is much easier, though it is still hard on the knees and toes as you step down through the rocky terrain. At least gravity is working with you, but be careful where you place your feet as you hike down.
We loved hiking Bald Mountain! It is a great summit trail that is accessible for families. Was it steep and tiring? Yes! Did we love completing the hike and view? Yes again! One other thing to note is that this trail is so high up that the best time to hike is late July through early October. Otherwise you will probably run into snow!
If you are looking for easier trails on the Mirror Lake Highway, check out our list of family-friendly hikes here.
