China Lake
- May–Sep
- best months
Is China Lake open right now?
No closures listed
The Forest Service lists no closures for Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest.
As of · Source: USFS · Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
China Lake is a fishing lake in the Smith Fork drainage, within the Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Utah. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land, and the lake is not reservable. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from the nearby Moon Lake weather station, which sits about 1,300 feet lower than the lake, show July and August highs around 77°F with lows near 48°F. Winters are cold, with January highs around 31°F. China Meadows campground is about half a mile away, and Marsh Lake Campground is about a mile off. The East Fork Smiths Fork and Wilson Peak hikes both start about 1.2 miles from the lake.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit China Lake
Best months: May–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
31° / 7°
Feb
34° / 12°
Mar
41° / 18°
Apr
49° / 24°
May
59° / 33°
Jun
69° / 40°
Jul
77° / 48°
Aug
77° / 49°
Sep
67° / 41°
Oct
55° / 31°
Nov
40° / 22°
Dec
31° / 11°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Moon Lake, UT, 26.5 mi away at 8,125 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more waters worth the drive
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Marsh Lake
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Deadhorse
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Bridger Lake
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Stateline Reservoir
~5 min drive
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Sawmill Lake
~10 min drive
Sawmill Lake is a 10-acre lake near Kamas, Utah, at about 10,587 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Bear Lake
~11 min drive
Bear Lake is a 17-acre lake near Kamas, Utah, at about 10,773 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Grass Lake
~13 min drive
Grass Lake is a 5-acre lake near Kamas, Utah, at about 10,807 feet. It is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
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Dollar Lake
~14 min drive
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