Backpack to Silver Lake
Provo, Utah
Details
Distance
4.1 miles
Elevation Gain
1500 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Michael Johnston
The hike is quick enough that you can head to the lake and enjoy a quick day hike. If you choose to make it an overnight, there are primitive campsites at the lake to backpack to.
The trail is 4.1 miles roundtrip gaining almost 1,500 feet for the duration of the adventure. Some parts are exposed, so you can get a fair amount of sun.When you're on the trail, you'll get amazing views as you’re hiking to the lake of Mount Timpanogos and American Fork Canyon. This is followed by a breathtaking look at the hike once you reach it.
The trail is very empty on weeknights and may get crowded on the weekend. If you’re making this an overnight adventure and backpackpacking in, you can backcountry camp around the lake or camp at the reservoir and make the hike to Silver Lake a day hike.
On the hike, be sure to bring plenty of water as a large portion of it is exposed. The fee to enter American Fork Canyon is $6 for a three-day pass. A high clearance vehicle is suitable for the drive to Silver Flat Reservoir, however low clearance cars can make the journey with care. Fishing is allowed at the lake with a valid fishing license ($25/year in the state of Utah).
Silver Lake is reached by driving up American Fork Canyon, turning left towards Tibble Fork, and continuing up the dirt road to Silver Flat Reservoir. The Trailhead for Silver Lake is on the north side of the reservoir through aspens following the river up the canyon.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Reviews
Heres a video of exactly what its like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2zF2H1uueM
5.0
If you have a National Parks Pass entrance is free. The road above Tibble Fork Reservoir turns to gravel, but is fine for any normal car. It can take awhile to get up there on weekends as the lower portion of American Fork Canyon can be busy. It took us almost 1.5 hours fromSLC. Mid-week, it takes around an hour.
5.0
This hike was great, it gave me a solid workout. We went on a late Saturday morning, and it was so CROWDED! So many people hiking the trail and not too many hanging out on the lake until we returned from the hike in the afternoon. We hiked all the way around the lake, and I would definitely recommend bug repellent of some sort. It's also pretty hot still, but it is mid-July. We ended up hiking around the lake which proved to be a bit of a challenge in some places. We settled on some boulders on the north side. The views were gorgeous and we got a great workout on the trail. If you need to use the facilities, bring your own TP for the restrooms at Silver Lake where the trailhead begins.
5.0
Solid little trip with some beautiful scenery. Definitely would recommend hiking up in the evening to catch the sunset!
4.0
This hike really does offer wonderful views of American Fork Canyon and Mount Timpanogas, but make sure that you are prepared for the weather. I went with some friends during late May, and while the trail was dry lower down in the canyon the lake was still frozen and there was a substantial amount of snow at the top.
4.0
4 stars only because the trail was very busy. The valley views and lake backed by beautiful mountains were 5 star. On a Sunday we passed at least twenty people on the trail and there were a dozen more day-use people at the lake. Solitude was best had early in the morning and at night. There are probably less used trails nearby. The trail is listed as beginner but with a 30 pound pack it felt at least moderate. The road was very rough, even in a high clearance vehicle.
4.0
We went up on a Friday Night and there were no more campsites to sleep at. We were able to find a flat spot just large enough to put our pads on. I would suggest going up on a weeknight. With that said, the views are amazing, the hike enjoyable (if you are ok with some steep elevation climbs) and the water felt amazing. It's a really neat basin overlooking the valley below and well worth the effort.
4.0
It is amazing up at the lake but the later in the season you go the more people you will run into. I have always gone up to spend the night and fish and the lake will provide you with some great 12inch brook trout and some times a small Arctic grayling.
4.0
Camping lake side at the very top (don't get confused and think the flats that you can drive to is actually the named lake) is awesome. Great views with a great mountain backdrop behind the lake to the east. If you can, camp right on the edge of the lake where the creek empties out of the lake and continues down the mountain. I believe that you are technically not allowed to camp so close to the water, but considering there is no other places at the top of the trail to camp, you have no choice but to bend the rule.
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Camp at Silver Lake
Hike the Pine Hollow Trail
Ski Baldy's Main Chute at Alta Ski Area
White Pine Lake
Winter Hike the Pfeifferhorn
Camp at the Cottonwood Ridgeline
Community
Mobile Apps
© 2022 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy