Those motorists looking for a natural high at this time of the year may want to consider a drive through the Uintas . . . along the Mirror Lake Highway.
It is one of the more popular roadways in Utah, but there is seldom enough traffic to diminish the pleasantries of the ride in any way.
It starts in Kamas and goes for 55 miles to the Utah border through the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. It's another 23 miles from there to Evanston, Wyo. Some people like to make the loop over the Mirror Lake Highway to Evanston, then down I-80 to the Ogden-Salt Lake split.
From Kamas, the highway passes through areas holding mountain cabins, then opens up into the high-country vistas of pines, treeless peaks and jagged mountain ridges.
Along with the mountain setting comes the mountain lakes, with Mirror Lake being the most recognized. In all, there are more than 400 lakes found in the High Uintas.
All of which, of course, has made this area an angler's paradise. Most of the lakes are supplied with fish from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' fish hatchery system.
Just outside of Kamas, in fact, sits the newly remodeled Kamas Fish Hatchery, which incorporates state-of-the-art rearing equipment for raising fish to catchable size.
Many of the fish from the hatchery are placed in the Uintas. Some of the more popular waters located along the roadway, such as Teapot, Lost and Mirror lakes, are planted about every two weeks.
The oxygen-rich water has made it possible for the hatchery to produce 140,000 pounds of healthy, hungry fish annually, or about 1.8 million fish. Three years ago, it was lucky to grow 70,000 pounds.
Scheduled tours take visitors past 16 new covered outdoor raceways; each one is 150 feet long and 4 feet deep. Guides explain that aluminum baffles in the raceways distribute the fish and prevent overcrowding. A four-inch clearance under the baffles allows for high water flow and creates a self-cleaning mechanism.
It is, as visitors will find, one of the most modern hatcheries in the country.
From there the road rises up to Bald Mountain Pass, with an elevation of 10,687 feet. Nearby is Bald Mountain at 11,947 feet.
Coming down from the pass, one of the first turnoffs is to Mirror Lake.
In additions to the views and the fishing opportunities, there are a number of popular camping areas along the road, including Soapstone, Cobblerest, Highline Trailhead and at most of the more popular lakes.
This is also a very popular area with hikers. Trails can range from short walks to overnight stays into the High Uinta Wilderness area. There are strict rules governing camping in the Uintas, and hikers are asked to check with the U.S. Forest Services to learn about rules and regulations.
The Great Western Trail, which runs from Canada to Mexico, passes through the national forest. Parts of the trail are on existing roads, while other sections follow trails through the forest.
Paralleling a good portion of the road is the Upper Provo River, which eventually runs down through Francis and into Jordanelle Reservoir. At a point 24 miles into the journey is a walkway that leads to the Upper Provo River Falls, an area of the river where the water falls over terraced cascades.
Further into the trip the road passes the Bear River Ranger Stations and its "Historic Tie Hack Cabin," From here on down, the road follows the Bear River, the longest river in the Western Hemisphere that does not flow into an ocean.
During the winter, the highway is very popular with snowmobilers.
For information call the Mountainland Travel at 801-229-3800 or the Kamas Ranger District at 435-783-4338.