Utah · Hiking

China Lake

3.3 mi
round trip
45 ft
climb
9,456 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 33 min ago

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 3.3-mile out-and-back hike on natural-surface trail in the Evanston-Mountain View Ranger District of the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest in northern Utah. It rises about 45 feet from 9,408 feet to 9,456 feet, so it is a short, low-elevation climb rather than a mountain ascent. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is open from July 1 to October 31. Bikes and horses are both allowed, but the route is not accessible. The closest parking is at China Meadows Campground, just 0.2 miles away. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Moon Lake weather station, about 26 miles away, run to highs near 77°F in July and August, though temperatures at the higher elevation of this hike run cooler. Winter is harsh, with January highs around 31°F and lows near 7°F. China Meadows is the closest campground. East Fork Smiths Fork and Wilson Peak are both about 0.8 miles away. Marsh Lake, roughly 1.7 miles off, offers fishing.

  • 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.

    1. Jan

      31° / 7°

    2. Feb

      34° / 12°

    3. Mar

      41° / 18°

    4. Apr

      49° / 24°

    5. May

      59° / 33°

    6. Jun

      69° / 40°

    7. Jul

      77° / 48°

    8. Aug

      77° / 49°

    9. Sep

      67° / 41°

    10. Oct

      55° / 31°

    11. Nov

      40° / 22°

    12. Dec

      31° / 11°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Moon Lake, UT, 26.1 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.