Spring Canyon - Blue Lake

Went to the Uinta's finally this year.  Finally got family matters in order and was able to get away.  Dropped off the wife at her mothers and continued into the wonderful Beaver Creek/Provo River drainage.  Drove approximately 17 miles to the Spring Canyon turnoff and went for a trail ride,on the Uinta trail system it is marked 041 and connects to Trial Lake. Today I was in the Jeep, so I brought along my light weight spinning rod with 2lb test. The trail is rough and needs a high clearance vehicle on the majority of the trail. I was initially looking for Alexander Lake just 4 miles up the trail and few hundred yards off the trail. I drove past the trail head not even seeing a sign for it. Ended up at a small lake about 6 miles up the trail.


The small lake gave nothing but took a favorite spinner, I figured a sacrifice to the Uinta's. Continued up the trail another mile and came to the fork of Buckeye and Blue Lake to the left, well marked with signs, this was at mile 7. Took the left hand fork and continued to Buckeye lake the first large lake on this trail, a pretty kettle lake in a meadow. I looked around for a bit but didn't see any movement or top water action and continued on. This trail is for high clearance machines only, seen a few atv's as well. I went approximately another two miles and started seeing water to the left of the trail. There were pull offs headed toward the lake and I took the 3rd unmarked trail that lead to a small meadow lake very shallow with nice camping. I went further in and came upon Blue Lake. A typical high Uinta lake with a steep hill or cliff bordering one side and shallow water on the opposite side. I stayed on the shallow side but could cast half way across the lake. My intentions were to hike to the deep side but there camps on both sides of me in the trail, not wanting to disturb them I stayed where I was. I actually couldn't believe I found this many people in this area, 3 camps in all, one had driven there in an Armada, might explain some of the fluids I seen on the way up. I fished for about hour or so, throwing all types of kastmaster and got a few brook trout to shore.

It was great outing glad I was in the Jeep, my Tundra would have picked up some pin-striping on the narrow trail. I returned on the same trail I went in on and got back on trail 041 and followed it the rest of the way to Trial Lake area. There are many lakes on trail 041 that I will hit this summer. I will return to Buckeye Lake and give it try as well. The trail is rocky and rough, but with enough clearance the most part of it can be done in 2WD, but I would recommend 4WD to get through some areas without beating up your vehicle.

Typical Brook trout of the Uinta Mtn Lakes.
Excellent colors and if you are camping make a fine meal.