Backpack to Silver Lake

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.

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.

Solid little trip with some beautiful scenery. Definitely would recommend hiking up in the evening to catch the sunset!

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 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.

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.

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.

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.