Uinta Highline Trail
Uinta Mountains, UT
Elevation Profile
Current Conditions
Bottom Line
Wind Advisory in effect today with gusts to 44 mph — exposed ridges will be brutal and tents need bomber anchoring. Flows are well below normal so water crossings aren't a concern, but verify water sources given the below-average snowpack at some elevations.
35°/23°F · Sunny · 1 alert(s)
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48" depth
Normal flows · 5 gauges
No active fires within 50 miles
11h 46m daylight · Sunrise 7:39 AM · Sunset 7:25 PM
Full Briefing
The sustained 30-40 mph winds with gusts to 44 mph today make this a challenging start, especially on the exposed ridgeline sections of the Highline Trail. The Wind Advisory runs until 9 PM tonight, so you're looking at a full day of getting hammered. Plan your first camp in a protected spot — cirque basins or heavy timber — and bring extra tent stakes or guy lines. The wind drops to more manageable 20-30 mph by Friday but still gusty through Saturday when light snow is possible.
Stream crossings won't be an issue with flows running 41-87% of median across the region. The San Antonio River near Lockwood is particularly low at just 41% of normal, which reflects the mixed snowpack conditions — some stations showing decent depth like Long Lake at 98 inches, others like Annie Springs down to 35 inches and falling. This suggests water availability could be spotty at higher elevations, so don't count on every seasonal creek being reliable.
Saturday brings a weather change with temperatures dropping to 33°F during the day and 12°F Saturday night, plus a 31% chance of snow showers. That's a significant temperature swing from Friday's 35°F high, and combined with continued strong winds could create challenging conditions if you're caught on exposed terrain. The system looks light based on the precipitation percentages, but winds will make any snowfall feel more intense.
With less than 12 hours of daylight, plan for 7:40 AM starts to maximize hiking time. Get your camp established and secured before the afternoon winds peak, and have a backup plan for Saturday if the weather deteriorates on the high route.
Waypoints
Hayden Pass
Western terminus at Hayden Pass on Mirror Lake Highway.
10,696 ft
Naturalist Basin
Beautiful basin with numerous lakes. Good layover day option.
10,499 ft
Kings Peak Side Trail
Junction for Kings Peak summit attempt. 4-mile side trip.
11,499 ft
Chepeta Lake
Eastern terminus at Chepeta Lake. Long dirt road to nearest town.
10,200 ft
Route Details
Distance
104.0 mi
Elevation Gain
17,999 ft
Elevation Loss
18,999 ft
Max Elevation
12,500 ft
Estimated Days
7
Trailhead
Hayden Pass Trailhead
Best Season
July through September. Snowfields linger on north aspects into August.
About This Route
The Uinta Highline Trail traverses the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah—the only major east-west mountain range in the contiguous United States. The 104-mile trail follows the crest of the range, staying mostly above 10,000 feet with several passes above 12,500 feet. The trail passes through vast alpine meadows, past hundreds of lakes, and beneath Kings Peak (13,534 ft), the highest point in Utah. The Uintas have a distinct character from other western ranges—the broad, rounded summits and extensive plateaus create a feeling of vast openness unlike the jagged peaks of the Tetons or Cascades. The route is typically done west to east, starting at Hayden Pass and ending near Chepeta Lake. Water is abundant from lakes and streams. The terrain is generally less technical than other western high routes, making it accessible to fit hikers. Wildlife is abundant, including moose, elk, and mountain goats.
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