Jordan Pines Cg
Campground
Campground · 1.4 mi from the trail
Utah · Hiking · Near Heber
Desolation
- 5.9 mi
- round trip
- 989 ft
- climb
- 9,550 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Is Desolation 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.
Desolation is a moderate out-and-back hike in Utah's Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest, within the Salt Lake Ranger District. The trail is about 6 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 989 feet, taking you from a low point of about 8,600 feet to a high of about 9,550 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Silver Lake Brighton, which sits about 800 feet lower than the trail's high point, show July highs around 72°F with lows near 47°F, while winter highs stay around 30°F. The hike is open from May 1 to October 31. Reynolds Peak Trail and the Big Water mountain biking area both lie about 0.4 miles away. Jordan Pines Campground is about 1.4 miles off, and Lake Desolation, a fishing spot, is about 2.2 miles away.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after 
If it rainsSaalebaer, CC0 · Wikimedia CommonsPark City Museum
Museum
On your way back · 8 mi
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · Photos: Saalebaer, CC0 (commons)
More in HeberLocal outfitters
- Midway Adventure Company14 mi away
- Rocky Mountain Outfitters15 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Sep
Best time to visit Desolation
Best months: June–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° / 11°
Feb
31° / 12°
Mar
37° / 17°
Apr
43° / 22°
May
52° / 30°
Jun
64° / 39°
Jul
72° / 47°
Aug
71° / 46°
Sep
62° / 38°
Oct
49° / 28°
Nov
37° / 18°
Dec
30° / 11°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Silver Lake Brighton, UT, 5.5 mi away at 8,740 ft. The station sits about 800 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.
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