The Utah Road Trip To Utah's Most Gorgeous Mountains
By Catherine Armstrong|Published July 11, 2017
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Catherine Armstrong
Author
Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
One of the best things about exploring Utah is that we enjoy different biomes. From the deserts in southern Utah to the wetlands and forests that dot the landscape, we get a little bit of everything. During the heat of summer (which is right now, in case you didn’t realize that it’s 100 degrees outside!), it’s time to head for our alpine forests. Here’s a road trip that immerses you in Utah’s most beautiful forest landscape. You’ll see some waterfalls, drive along a road lined with fragrant pines, and visit multiple lakes. What are you waiting for? Hop in the car and head to Kamas, where our road trip begins.
The distance from Kamas to Mirror Lake is about 35 miles. Plan on spending the entire day along this byway, though...there are so many places to stop and explore along the way!
The portions are huge, and the pancakes are to die for.
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Make a quick stop at the Kamas Ranger District office at 50 E. Center Street. It's open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, and the rangers can give you a heads up about any additional points of interest along the way. Then, hit the road!
Pull off to the left and park at the small parking lot for Provo River Falls. You can view the falls right from your car, but you'll want to hop out and take a look from the overlook. You can also walk down along the falls, but you'll need to scramble a bit over small boulders.
Lost Lake is the next stop on our list, and the first of several lakes you can visit right off the road.
It's pretty small, and features a trail that goes all the way around. It's a great spot to get out and stretch your legs again, if you're just driving through.
It goes without saying that you want to bring your camera or make sure your cell phone is fully charged before you take this trip. This is one of Utah's most scenic places!
You can see why they call it "Mirror Lake!" This is the crown jewel of the Mirror Lake Scenic Byway, and it's absolutely gorgeous.
On your way back through Kamas, stop at Hi-Mountain Drug for a delicious burger. Yes - it's located inside the drugstore...but you'll love the burgers here!
